SIDNEY — Julie Ehemann, chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party, officially opened the party’s headquarters as she welcomed a roomful of supporters Tuesday afternoon. The headquarters is located at 100 S. Main Ave.
“I’m so pleased to see so many people here,” said Ehemann. “We’ve moved into campaign season and we need to get some qualified Republicans elected.”
William Zimmerman, of Sidney, who is running for Court of Appeals, 3rd District, along with state school board candidate Martha Manchester, were introduced to the group. She also introduced all the unopposed Republican candidates running for re-election in the county: Commissioners Tony Bornhorst and Bob Guillozet, Prosecutor Tim Sell, Clerk of Courts Michele Mumford, and Sheriff John Lenhart. David McDonald, coroner, was unable to attend the event. Neither Ehemann nor Auditor Amy Berning are up for re-election this year.
“There’s only one contested race in Shelby County,” said Ehemann.
Republican John Coffield is seeking the treasurer’s seat. He is facing incumbent Democrat Linda Meininger in the Nov. 8 election.
“It’s a pleasure to have everyone here,” said Coffield. “This is a change election, from the top of the ticket. We have sent a message loud and clear that the same old same old is not working.”
Coffield said the election is seeking an assault on tradition with Donald Trump as the GOP candidate for president.
“We need someone to shake things up,” said Coffield. “Maybe the nominee was not your first choice, but 14 million primary voters — the most for a primary ever — said yes. Maybe we have to shake things up with an outsider to have the right candidate. Change is coming.”
A native of Sidney and graduate of Lehman Catholic High School and Miami University, Coffield was in the banking business for 36 years until his retirement from Chase Bank. In 1992 he transferred from the Sidney office to Bank One Corporate in Columbus. In 2009, after his father developed health issues, he moved back to Sidney.
“I was happy to move back home,” said Coffield. “There are a lot of dedicated people here helping out the country, state and county. Jim Jordan and Jim Buchy have both stated if the rest of the country was like Shelby County, there would be no problems.”
Coffield said he has knocked on 2,000 doors in Shelby County to introduce himself to its residents.
“I have dedicated myself to this community,” said Coffield, who is a member of the Kiwanis, Shelby County Association for Retarded Citizens, Raise the Roof and the Republican Central Committee. “We need a change at the top of the ticket and we need a change at the county level.
“I think I can do the job and do it well,” he said. “I look forward to working with all the elected officials if I’m elected. My 36 years in the bank business makes me qualified to be your treasurer. I’m asking for your vote on Nov. 8.”
After Coffield’s speech, Donald Trump yard signs, along with signs for other candidates, were distributed.
The headquarters will be open Monday through Friday in the afternoons and on Saturday mornings until the November election.
