On the opening night of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla, dozens of students kicked off BGSU Students for Romney in Olscamp Hall Tuesday night.
Several area officials and politicians gave speeches in support of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan and promoted their own elections for this November.
In attendance were Wood County Commissioners Tim Brown and Jim Carter and Ohio House Rep. Randy Gardner.
“We’ve got some Romney hype,” said senior Mandy Wise, chairman of BGSU Students for Romney.
The goals for the organization this fall are to get students registered to vote and inform students about the importance of Wood County in national politics.
“We want to get the conservative message out there,” she said.
For the next few months, the group will organize a grassroots campaign around town, knocking on doors and hosting political debates.
Wise first got involved in politics as a volunteer for the Wood County Republican party. As the student chairman, Wise said it was important for college graduates to elect Romney to help their job prospects.
Local Republicans campaign for Romney
Matt Reger, Wood County GOP Chairman, echoed those sentiments, saying over-taxation, too much government and over-regulation contribute to a struggling economy.
“The ideas of the Republican party…are better for your future,” he added.
A representative from the Romney campaign also spoke to students, emphasizing the importance of direct interaction with citizens.
“Contacting voters is how you win elections,” said Frank Kohstall, the northwest Ohio field director for Romney for President.
Kohstall represents over 20 Ohio counties, but called Wood County his “most important.”
Though he spoke for the Romney campaign, Kohstall didn’t specify or promote any of the candidate’s policies or positions.
“I try not to get too much into policy,” he said.
The same was true for most other speakers as well.
While arguing taxes were too high, there was no mention of the current tax rate or any proposal for a future one.
Similarly, over-regulation was often cited as a constraint on business and economic growth, though no speaker mentioned any specific regulations or laws they supported repealing.
Area politicians campaign for November elections
Rep. Gardner, a University graduate, told the crowd of students rising textbook costs were becoming a legitimate problem.
In the campaign for Ohio Senate 2nd District, a position he held from 2001-2008, Gardner said he would pursue solutions for textbook costs if elected.
“That’s not a promise, but a commitment,” he said.
Another University graduate, Wood County Commissioner Tim Brown, said meeting with voters and knocking on doors has played a pivotal role in all his campaigns.
The four-term commissioner is running for Ohio House of Rep. 6th District against Democrat Kelly Wicks, owner of Grounds for Thought downtown.
Earlier this summer, Brown was contacted by the Romney campaign to help introduce the candidate during a stop at the Bowling Green Community Center.
“It was a unique opportunity to talk about Wood County and introduce a governor and presidential candidate,” Brown said.
Following the campaign stop, he and other local Republican officials were able to meet with Romney briefly.
Brown took the opportunity to invite Romney to come back to Bowling Green, this time to speak to students directly on campus.
BGSU Students for Romney will also convene this week to celebrate the Republican National Convention.
Republican Congressman Bob Latta will attend a meeting of Students for Romney next Tuesday night, said Daniel Lipian, Wood County executive director for the Republican Party.
