Nearly one month away from the November General Election, U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno and members of his campaign and family spent time in downtown Bellefontaine Friday, Oct. 4.
Following a tour of downtown businesses and the Holland Theatre, the Republican candidate met with business leaders and other community residents for lunch at Bella Vino Wine & Event Room, 112 S. Main St., Suite 2, to share about his platform and to answer questions from attendees.
He is hoping to continue the momentum of his grassroots campaign, which fared well in the March Primary Election, to unseat thrice-elected incumbent Sherrod Brown in the Nov. 5 General Election race that could tip the power balance in the U.S. Senate.
Moreno said recently, his campaign has been knocking on 150,000 doors a week. The resident of Westlake, who was joined by his wife of 35 years, Bridget, urged all area residents to get out and vote, including taking the opportunity to vote early, beginning Oct. 8.
“This election is razor thin. Every vote in Logan County counts,” he said. “I’ve been spending time in many rural communities across the state. Ohio is a lot more than the three C’s: Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland.
“Bringing rural communities back to life is so important. It’s been amazing to see the revitalization and entrepreneurship here in Bellefontaine. In small towns, small businesses are so important; they’re the heartbeat of America.”
Moreno shared about his unique upbringing, relating that his mother, at 40 years old, packed up her seven children and immigrated from Colombia to the U.S. for the chance at a new life.
“It allowed her to live a life like she never expected. She eventually became a realtor and broker. She had a desire to make this country better.”
The former car dealership owner and co-founder of ChampTitles, said he felt a similar calling to make America a better place to live. He called the Biden-Harris administration, “so extreme that it’s unrecognizable to anyone here” and a “sad reality where we are in America,” while addressing his concerns about parental rights when it comes to transgender procedures and puberty blockers for children.
He also strongly criticized current immigration policy for its lack of safeguards and the amount of money that has been spent to fly immigrants into the U.S.
Moreno said among his top priorities are a focus on cutting tax rates, supporting small businesses and families and empowering parents to make education choices.
“Our parents and local communities should be the ones making the decisions for our schools, not our federal government,” he said.
