07/20/2018

Gannett, ONMA partnership helps bring candidates to Ohio State Fair

Political candidates, including both major party candidates for governor and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jim Renacci, will appear at the Ohio State Fair on Saturday, July 28, thanks to a partnership involving the State Fair, Gannett’s USA Today Network Ohio and the Ohio News Media Association.

The Ohio Soapbox program is modeled after a similar program that the Iowa State Fair has offered for years in partnership with the Des Moines Register. Political candidates are invited to give “old-time” political speeches to gathered fairgoers.

“We’re excited to be part of the Soapbox,” said Beryl Love, editor of the Enquirer and USA TODAY Network Ohio, which includes news organizations in Mansfield, Chillicothe and eight other communities in Central Ohio. “We’re committed to keeping voters informed of their choices, whether it’s through our reporting or facilitating events such as this, where people can hear the candidates in their own words, unfiltered and in real life.”

Here is the complete schedule of candidate appearances:

• 11 a.m., Jill Schiller, Democratic candidate for Congress in Ohio’s 2^nd Congressional District. (The incumbent, Republican Brad Wenstrup, was invited to appear as well.)
• Noon, U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. (The incumbent, Democrat Sherrod Brown, was invited to appear as well.)
• 1 p.m. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Republican candidate for Ohio governor.
• 3 p.m. Franklin County Recorder Danny O’Conner, Democratic candidate for Congress in Ohio’s 12^th Congressional District. (Ohio State Sen. Troy Balderson, the Republican candidate, was invited to appear as well.)
• 4 p.m. Richard Cordray, Democratic candidate for Ohio governor.
• 5 p.m. Steve Dettelbach, Democratic candidate for Ohio attorney general. (Ohio State Auditor Dave Yost, the Republican candidate, was invited to appear as well.)

“We really appreciate that the Fair brought this cool idea to us, and the USA Today Network Ohio is a great partner for the program,” said ONMA Executive Director Dennis Hetzel. “Voters across Ohio will be able to hear from these candidates in person, through live streaming or with follow-up coverage.”

The Ohio Soapbox will be at the south end of Cardinal Hall on the fairgrounds. According to Alicia Shoults, the fair’s marketing director, media outlets that wish to cover any of the candidate appearances must enter the Fair through the Media Center located on 11th Avenue, just west of the OHIO Gate. Parking and admission credentials are available at the Media Center upon arrival. It is helpful to send a list of staff members who will be working the Fair to the Public Relations office online at ohiostatefair.com/media-registration, or by email to a.shoults@expo.ohio.gov or fax at 614-644-4031.