Delaware County GOP endorses Carfagna for March primary

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The Delaware County Republican Party has formally endorsed Genoa Township Trustee Rick Carfagna for state representative for the 68th Ohio House District.

Carfagna is seeking the Republican nomination in the March 2016 primary election for the seat currently held by Rep. Margaret Ann Ruhl, R-Mount Vernon, who will vacate the office at the end of next year due to term limits. The district is comprised of the eastern half of Delaware County and all of Knox County.

Carfagna received the majority vote of the party’s 138-member elected central committee at its recent meeting.

“I’m very grateful to have earned the official endorsement of the Delaware County Republican Party for my campaign,” Carfagna said. “There is no greater honor than to be recognized and trusted by your peers, and I proudly look forward to carrying my party’s banner through the March primary and beyond.”

Carfagna’s endorsement follows a report conducted by the county party’s candidate screening subcommittee, which solely recommended Carfagna for the county party’s full endorsement. That panel had vetted Carfagna and two other candidates for the position in October, conducting thorough background checks, rigorous interviews and extensive discussion of each candidate’s potential to hold office, party officials said.

In his remarks to central committee members at the meeting, Carfagna touted his private and public sector achievements and pledged to bring a positive, collaborative spirit to the Ohio Statehouse if elected. “I’m planning to go down there to work constructively, to establish some credibility, and to generate enough influence that can then be leveraged to do some meaningful things for Delaware and Knox counties,” he said.

“Rick Carfagna is a highly respected conservative with a long track record of leadership in Delaware County and central Ohio,” said Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Jim Schuck. “As state representative, Rick will be a tireless advocate for the needs of our community and for continuing our region’s positive economic momentum.”

The Delaware County Republican Party central committee’s endorsement will allow the party to expend funds in support of Carfagna’s campaign, including listing him on the Republican slate card for March 15 primary election, officials said.

Earlier this week, the Eastern Delaware Republican Club announced that it has endorsed one of Carfagna’s primary opponents, Beth Lear, to replace Ruhl.

A graduate of John Carroll University with a degree in political science, Carfagna first began his career under a fellowship with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission before serving as a legislative aide in the Ohio House. For the past 13 years, he has worked as government relations manager for Time Warner Cable, acting as a company liaison to more than 400 local governments and two dozen area chambers throughout central and southeast Ohio. He was elected Genoa Township trustee in 2009 and was later re-elected in 2013.

Staff Report

Information for this story was provided by the Delaware County Republican Party.

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