Country Over Party Town Hall calls for ‘new generation of leadership in Washington’
Ken Harbaugh answered questions ranging from campaign finance reform to TV ads to jobs to the polarized state of American politics at a recent town hall event in Millersburg.
Ken Harbaugh, Congressional candidate for Ohio’s 7th District, held a “Country Over Party” Town Hall at the Darb Snyder Senior Center in Millersburg last night. Harbaugh invited the more than 65 attendees to “ask him anything” and for the next hour-and-a-half, they did.
Harbaugh answered questions ranging from campaign finance reform to TV ads to jobs to the polarized state of American politics. “We have a right, as voters, to know where the money is coming from that pours into our elections,” he said. Applause rang through the room as Harbaugh said that campaign finance reform should be a top priority. “It is the legislature’s job now to demand transparency.”
Harbaugh also spoke about bringing in a new generation of leadership in Washington. “It’s time to pass the torch,” he said, perhaps alluding to the tight battle that he and incumbent Rep. Bob Gibbs are engaged in for this seat.
Harbaugh asserts that Gibbs has not been listening to his constituents, and that Gibbs simply does not show up to do the job. “The word "present" is in the word representative,” said Harbaugh. Gibbs has been under fire from all directions lately for his refusal to participate in a single candidates’ debate with Harbaugh.
The former Navy pilot also addressed one of his personal motivations to run for office: healthcare. Harbaugh’s daughter needed four surgeries before she was 4 years old, the first of which he and his wife scheduled not knowing how they would pay for it. “It shouldn’t be a roll of the dice in the richest country in the world,” Harbaugh said about the accessibility of life-saving medical care.
Emily Miller from Millersburg said Harbaugh continues to impress both she and her husband. “Country over Party won us over,” they said.
Voters asked Harbaugh about the way he would carry out his duties once elected. “I’m going to do what’s right,” Harbaugh said. “I’m not going to concern myself with the DC chess game; I’m going to follow my Ohio values, and my oath to the Constitution.”
“I felt more represented tonight by Ken than I have felt from my current representative,” said Reverend Joanna Lance of Millersburg.
“I thoroughly support Ken and his political views and his approach,” said Robert Kauffman of Millersburg after the event was over. Kauffman’s family has lived in the area since 1876 and he respected Harbaugh’s Naval background. “Ken’s military service was certainly something that I admire and thank him very much for.”
Mark Shroyer, a retired city letter carrier from Millersburg, was hopeful at the end of the night. “I feel very strongly that he did listen, that he did care about the questions that I had and that other people had. His responses made me hopeful that he is going to be somebody who’s going to care and do something about these issues.”
Early voting for the upcoming midterm election begins Oct. 10.