Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose joined state Rep. Susan Manchester at the Allen County Courthouse on Saturday ahead of Ohio’s primary election on Tuesday, August 2.
Shannon Bohle | The Lima News
LIMA — With the primary election this coming Tuesday, Aug. 2, incumbents Susan Manchester (R-Waynesfield) and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) stopped in Lima Saturday to meet supporters and volunteers at the Allen County Courthouse and to remind voters to get to the polls as part of their door-to-door campaign efforts.
Manchester said she was most proud during her tenure of her work to preserve the right to life.
For example, in April 2021 H.B. 157, a bill she co-sponsored, was introduced that would preserve the life of a child after an attempted abortion. Manchester also co-sponsored H.B. 480 introduced in Nov. 2021 which authorizes legal action against an individual performing, aiding or abetting an abortion. She also co-sponsored H.B. 598 introduced to the House in March 2022 to prohibit abortions even in cases where the pregnant woman would die or suffer “substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.”
To Manchester, the decision on June 24 by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade was a major triumph, and she said she would be completely opposed to the formation of sanctuary cities in Ohio.
Going forward, Manchester indicated there is a lot of work to be done next to help overburdened foster care programs in need of foster parents and to assist families in overcoming the high-cost barrier when it comes to adoption. Community support organizations for pregnant women will also be a high priority. As an example, Heartbeat of Lima is one organization that falls into this category now that the injunction against Ohio’s Heartbeat Bill has been lifted, banning abortion in Ohio after six weeks of pregnancy.
LaRose emphasized that Ohio elections are easy and secure. He expressed his endorsement of Manchester for Representative of Ohio’s newly drawn 86th House district, against her single challenger J.J. Sreenan of Lima. Manchester currently represents Auglaize, Darke and Shelby counties in the 78th District. LaRose also endorsed Keith Cheney over his two opponents Jake Eilerman and George Andy Roberts in the 12th District race for the Republican state central committee; and of Katie DeLand over Stephanie Kremer also in the 12th District of the Republican state central committee.
LaRose also provided updates as to the health of Ohio’s economy and its small businesses.
According to LaRose, in 2019, 2020 and 2021 new small businesses were formed in Ohio at a record pace despite the uncertainty of the pandemic, but the picture is quite different now.
“Unfortunately, what we’re seeing this year is a drastic reduction in the number of new businesses that are starting,” LaRose said. He believes is related to the “massive inflation that we’re seeing coast-to-coast” as well as lingering “struggles to find adequate workforce” and “supply chain issues.”
He indicated his office is there to continue to connect entrepreneurs with the tools they need to be successful.
