I endorse Ann Jacobs for 1st District Representative to the state board of education. I have served with Ann for the past four years, and greatly admire the seriousness and diligence with which she has performed her responsibilities and the many principled stands she has taken on several issues, in order to look out for the interests of schools and students and to protect the independent, non-partisan nature of the state board. We need Ann Jacobs at the board table to continue her good work on behalf of students and citizens.

Robin C. Hovis
5th District Representative
State Board of Education of Ohio
Millersburg

I'm asked am I better off now than I was four years ago. I can honestly say yes, even better than five years ago under the Bush era when we lost almost half of our retirement when the stock market crashed. It's taken almost four years but we are finally seeing our retirement fund on the upswing again. Yes, it's been slow but we are heading in the right direction again.

Did you know that under the old health care if you took out health insurance your cost was based on your age, sex and health condition? Under the new health care they can't ask your age, sex or health condition. Under the new law I was able to bring my RX plan down from $44 to $17 a month. My secondary insurance which covers 20 percent that Medicare doesn't went from $107.23 to $74 a month. It just didn't make sense that I should be paying more for my secondary insurance which only covers 20 percent while Medicare covered 80 percent for $99 a month.

Glenna M. Theis
Zanesfield

On Monday, Dec. 8, 1941, the United States had just lost 2,403 Americans, along with many battleships, cruisers and aircraft at Pearl Harbor. The Japanese then had three times as many naval vessels and four types of aircraft better than anything America could put in the air. The 1st Marine Division was using 1903 bolt-action, single shot Springfield rifles. America had half a Navy and essentially no Army nor Air Corps. In Europe, the Germans were dining in Paris and bombing England at will. Civilization itself was in peril. In fewer than four years this country, with great leadership, defeated Japan, Germany and Italy on opposites sides of the earth.

In fewer than four years this administration has made America worse off: $5 trillion in added debt, 23 million Americans unemployed, under employed or no longer looking for work, 600,000 lost manufacturing jobs, median household income down by $4,500. Greatly reduced home values and family health care premiums now $2,500  higher. Gasoline prices have doubled. One of every six Americans live in poverty and 16 million Americans have been added to the food stamp rolls. Here in Summit County we have 14,900 fewer workers than in September 2008.

Wake up Ohio, in this election you are voting for the rest of America as well as yourself.

George Nehlsen
Stow

If you want truth, justice and equity, Bridget Hawkins for judge! Ms. Hawkins has been an active part of this community for many years. She is a self-employed business woman who is a true leader in her office, home and community. As a single working woman she raised her nephew from second grade through high school so her sister who was active in the military could serve her country. The well-being of the people and especially the children in our community has been her focus for many years. She has been a Boy Scout leader, foster mother, guardian ad litem and has served or is actively serving agencies in different capacities to help our community achieve its full potential and resolve issues. We don’t need a commander in the courthouse, we need a leader! We need a judge that is in it for the people not the paycheck. Bridget is a leader who will move our court in a new and constructive direction to enable our citizens to be served in a proper and equitable manner.

Patricia Leslie
Bellefontaine

Bridget who? Bridget Hawkins.

Many people seem to be asking this question since they have read she was running for Logan County Family Court judge. We would like to introduce you to our friend.

Bridget grew up in Milwaukee, Wis., where she attended public school and began dreaming of being an attorney since the age of eight after watching Perry Mason shows on TV. She attended the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, graduating in 1981. She migrated to Ada, Ohio, to attain her juris doctor in May 1991 from Ohio Northern University's College of Law. She worked her way through college by serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and remained in the reserves for 14 1/2 years.

After passing the bar in 1991, she began her law profession in the Lima area working as a staff attorney for legal aid where she practiced in the area of domestic relations representing parties in divorce, custody, visitation and support actions. She remained in that position for three years. In 1995 she moved to Bellefontaine and joined the law office of Beck & Beck, where she practiced law in the area of family law; including divorce, custody, support, juvenile cases, probate and criminal defense. She also serves as guardian ad litem for children representing their interests as well as being a certified mediator in domestic relation cases where she helps parties resolve their disputes in an amicable manner.

Bridget has been very active in our community having served as president of the Logan County Bar Association, president of Bellefontaine Branch of American Association of University Women. She was also a board member of the Mad River Chapter of the American Red Cross, Logan County Metropolitan Housing Authority, in addition to numerous other boards. She has been involved with the Boy Scout Troop 94 serving as the committee chair beginning in 2005 to present, Blue Jacket District commissioner from 2006-2012, Tecumseh Council Boy Scouts executive board in Springfield as well as a former member of the Bellefontaine Kiwanis Club.

We know her best as an elder at our church, First United Presbyterian Church and a board member of the Bellefontaine Presbyterian Women's Association. She is very active in all our activities and comes to us with new and refreshing ideas.

Because of her impressive background in law and our knowledge of her character as a person, we sincerely feel she would serve our community best as the next Logan County Family Court judge. We hope you will sincerely consider our recommendation of Bridget D. Hawkins and cast your vote for her.

Thank you.

Stephen H. Mast, Becky Mast, Robert B. Fulton, Janet Fulton, Jeanne Zupp, Martha J. Lang,Ruth Miller, Dottie Cost, Martha Marine,Nancy C. Wisse, Laurie Harris, Mark Barlow,Gene Marine, Judith A. Wical, Betty Hunt,Warren Taylor, Michael Chervenak, Kevin Harris,Sue Dearwester, Betty Kindell, Art Lloyd,Ralph E. Morrison, Larry McCarthy, Robert B. Day, Julie McCarthy, Eric Adelsberger, Betty Lloyd,Jeannie Lloyd, Katie Amidon, Marilyn Crisler
First United Presbyterian Church
Bellefontaine

If you want truth, justice and equity, Bridget Hawkins for judge! Ms. Hawkins has been an active part of this community for many years. She is a self-employed business woman who is a true leader in her office, home and community. As a single working woman she raised her nephew from second grade through high school so her sister who was active in the military could serve her country. The well-being of the people and especially the children in our community has been her focus for many years. She has been a Boy Scout leader, foster mother, guardian ad litem and has served or is actively serving agencies in different capacities to help our community achieve its full potential and resolve issues. We don't need a commander in the courthouse, we need a leader! We need a judge that is in it for the people not the paycheck. Bridget is a leader who will move our court in a new and constructive direction to enable our citizens to be served in a proper and equitable manner.

Patricia Leslie
Bellefontaine

First and foremost, President Obama inherited a lot of bad policy baggage upon becoming president. There is not one president that has done everything he would say after he got into office in four years. Look at the good he has done even with an inherited failed economy. It takes more than just one president to get us to a better economy. The Senate and House have not been the greatest for their help.

Let me give you a scenario on the Obamacare that Gov. Romney puts down all the time. My grandson works all the time and one day became short of breath with severe chest pain. He called his mother to meet him at the Marysville hospital. On arrival after many tests they found he had blood clots in his lungs and had to be hospitalized for treatment and today has to be checked monthly and is on a blood thinner. He is only 23 years old and was unknown as to what caused these clots. If it was not for Obamacare, since he was able to stay on his parents' insurance, this young man of 23 would be paying for many years or bankruptcy as a last option. His employer does not offer insurance to his employees, so Obamacare saved him and his family from serious debt.

Gov. Romney wants to refurbish Medicare that we pay the first $6,200 or set us up on vouchers. I would like to know where people on fixed income are supposed to get this extra money to pay for the above. I myself have lung cancer, 71 years old, am on disability PERS and I do not receive Social Security. I have Medicare and my secondary insurance, but it still does not pay for everything. Gov. Romney takes care of the rich but us middle class he could care less. One of the bits on TV where someone was taping him, you could hear the real Romney. He said then exactly what he thought of the middle class people. Look at all the things he wants to take away from us, Planned Parenthood, female tests that we need, rape victim rights and many more. He talks the talk but can he walk the walk. I guess we need for all of us to vote and the ones that don't vote do not have a right to complain.

We received stimulus money to make the economy better, but Romney complains about that. All received a check and I wonder how many were returned back to the government. Not heard anything about that.

If you notice some presidents do better the second term. I believe President Obama with another four years, we will see a big change for the better. We all need to work together and do what we can to give him the chance.

There is no way Gov. Romney can do all he says except take from the Medicare, Social Security, elderly and us middle class working people.

Voters think hard and look at both sides, not just the economy by itself. It takes everything to make the government work.

The above statements are my opinion only. We all have a choice.

Everyone vote.

Suzanne Morris
Lakeview