By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Kelly Wicks, a Bowling Green Democrat who ran for state representative in 2012, would like to take another run at the legislative office now that his former competitor, Tim Brown, has left the race.
“With the sudden resignation of Tim Brown, it put a whole new spin on the election in November,” Wicks said Monday afternoon.
Since Brown, a Republican, announced last week that he was resigning to take the top position with the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, Wicks said he has been approached by local constituents about applying for the position.
“They asked if I would be willing to step up and make another run,” he said.
After a great deal of talk with family members, who would be most affected by a campaign, Wicks decided to put his name in the race.
“Ultimately, it will be up to the Democratic Central Committee,” he said. That committee will review all the Democratic applications, then make a decision who will appear on the Wood County ballot.
Wicks said his strongest qualifications are his willingness to be available to constituents and his experience running a business, Grounds for Thought in downtown Bowling Green.
“I think my three decades of private sector work make me a good candidate,” he said. “I would be able to hit the ground running.”
Wicks praised Brown’s efforts at the Statehouse, and said he looks forward to working with Brown on TMACOG issues such as high speed rail transportation.
State Rep. Tim Brown’s decision to resign from the Statehouse has given the Wood County Democratic Party a glimmer of hope that it has a chance to take the state seat.
Wicks is the second local Democrat to make an official announcement of his interest in the seat. The first was Bowling Green Councilman Daniel Gordon.
There is already a Democrat on the ballot for state representative, but David Walters, of Bowling Green, has stated he plans to resign his place on the ballot for the Statehouse.
According to Mike Zickar, head of the Wood County Democratic Party, the process for finding a replacement candidate will be made in the next few days.
The new candidates from both parties for the state representative seat must be filed with the Wood County Board of Elections by Aug. 15. Any Democrat interested is encouraged to send a resume to mikezickar@yahoo.com.
Brown’s departure has also opened wide a possibility for another Republican to move into the state representative seat.
“I have not heard from anyone,” Brown said about potential candidates last Thursday. “I’m sure there will be a lot of people thinking about it. This area is rich with talent.”
