By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
At a time in the election process when party faithful normally rally around their presidential candidate, this year’s non-traditional frontrunner is causing some Republicans to casually distance themselves or outright reject the candidate.
So where do some local Republican leaders stand on Donald Trump?
State Sen. Randy Gardner, State Rep. Tim Brown and Wood County Republican Executive Committee Chairman Mike Marsh stepped delicately around the issue, not voicing support but not burning any political bridges.
“Interesting,” Gardner said when asked about his opinion of Trump.
“Politics is always about choices,” he said. “This is clearly a much different set of choices than the American people have faced before.”
Gardner acknowledged this election year is unlike any other in recent history.
“I’ve always been able to support the Republican nominee,” he said. So does that mean Gardner will back Trump? “Ask me when there’s a nominee,” he said.
Brown said he was supporting John Kasich as the nominee.
“My candidate was the governor,” he said. “I think he would have had much broader appeal.”
But now that Kasich is out, where does that leave Brown?
Sign opposing Trump in Pemberville yard.
“I could more than live without his third grade bullying,” he said of Trump’s conduct. “I don’t understand that. My wish is he would develop a better sense of decorum.”
But Brown does understand why Trump is winning over voters – and will walk away with more Republican primary votes than any other GOP candidate in history. “That’s a powerful statistic,” Brown said.
“I get how he taps into the sentiments of the people,” he said. “I get that he’s tapped into some people’s anger” on issues such as national security and trade.
“There’s a difference between free trade and fair trade,” Brown said. He listed the three major standards that U.S. businesses adhere to – OSHA safety rules, child labors laws, and environmental regulations.
“And yet China violates all those tenets and takes American jobs. It’s no wonder they’re angry,” he said of American voters.
Brown said he has concerns about the integrity of both parties’ frontrunners. But all the numbers are pointing to Trump and Hillary Clinton.
“In a country this big, we’re coming back to the Clintons and Trump,” he said.
Brown said he looks at it like this – aligning yourself with a political candidate is like having a spouse. “You can’t expect to agree on every issue, every time.”
“He’s my party’s nominee,” Brown said of Trump. So does that mean Trump has Brown’s vote? “I don’t typically draw those firm lines in the sand,” Brown said.
Marsh said he keeps his attention on local political races.
“I don’t follow that national stuff that much,” he said. “I look out for Wood County, and the city and townships in between.”
When asked about the chances of local Republicans being harmed by sharing the ballot with Trump, Marsh said the leading candidates for both parties have weak spots.
“The same could be said of Mrs. Clinton. If there’s ever a time when negatives will balance out, this may be it,” he said.
Marsh added that this election year is not the norm. “All the usual rules don’t seem to apply this year.”
