This is the 2014 General Election edition of the Clermont Liberty PAC newsletter. We are NOT endorsing candidates in this newsletter because we believe most of the key races in our county this election have either been pre-determined by the primary or are not significantly competitive to warrant our influence. This year’s November election may have a lower than usual turnout. One of the reasons for this is that outside of the regular U.S. Congressional races, there are no high-profile-statewide federal contests to draw the fanfare that is so common in our state at election time. In prior elections similar to the one this November, Clermont County has tended to strongly favor the candidates from the Republican Party. We think that trend will continue this year. When one party is so dominant in an area, the important lesson to learn is that the best opportunity to make changes is during the primary election. All this said, we strongly urge you to vote in this November’s election! Oftentimes, it is during lower-profile elections that voters decide levies or other important local ballot issues – such as those this election in Jackson and Pierce Township, see our website for details. Two important resources for voters this election are: The Clermont County Board of Elections. Contact the board of elections with questions about voter registration, early voting, polling locations, absentee voting, and more. Phone: 513-732-7275 | Online: www.clermontelections.org The Clermont County Republican Party. The local GOP has produced a general election voter guide that is now available on their website. Importantly, the guide includes judicial recommendations. Judges are NOT noted by party on the ballot, so a party voter guide is crucial to determining which judges to support. Visit www.gopclermont.org to obtain a copy of the voter guide. As you know, the focus of the Clermont Liberty PAC is to support candidates that represent our values of fiscal responsibility, Constitutional limited government, and free markets. Our work to send forth principled representatives in our state is far from complete. In recent years, Ohio has seen its budget escalate rapidly and, in spite of cheerful claims about how our state is adding jobs, Ohio’s labor force remains down substantially since the recession ended in June of 2009. 1 Long-term, our state’s economy gives us many causes for concern. Free-market think tank Opportunity Ohio reported recently that, since 1990, Ohio ranks fifth worst in the nation for private sector job growth. 2 Our state has a large unfunded pension liability and has done little to improve its labor environment. In 2012, neighboring states Indiana and Michigan both passed laws to give individual workers the freedom to decide whether or not to join a labor union. Since 1990, states giving3 workers this freedom (also called rightto-work states) have grown jobs at an average that is more than four times faster than Ohio. Regardless of these facts, politicians in our state have not yet had the courage or the competency to follow suit. The economic and political health of Ohio is critical not just for the millions of us who live and work here, but for all of America. In the battle between Democrats and Republicans, no Republican has ever won the White House without winning our state. It is our responsibility to participate fully in the electoral process so we can help Ohio grow jobs, allow people to keep more of their hard earned money, and open more doors to the American Dream. Join us in winning more freedom for the people of our state and our county. Help us move forward the principles our founders stood for by voting in this election and encouraging others to do the same. If you would like to support the Clermont Liberty PAC with a donation, please visit our website: www.clermontlibertypac.org IMPORTANT DATES Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. Polls are open from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM. EARLY VOTING October 7 through October 31: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays. November 3: 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Clermont County Board of Elections. See www.clermontelections.org for special weekend hours on October 25, November 1 and November 2. ABSENTEE REQUESTS Must be received by the Board of Elections no later than noon on Saturday, November 1. Request absentee ballots from the Clermont County Board of Elections, 76 South Riverside, Batavia, OH 45103. (513) 732-7275. Absentee applications may also be obtained from or through the board of elections’ website. 1 2 3 http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LASST390000000000006?data_tool=XGtable http://www.opportunityohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/OPPOHIO-monthly-report-worker-freedom-201409.pdf Ibid Paid for by Clermont Liberty PAC. Stuart Kennedy, Treasurer, 600 Kennedy Trails, Cincinnati, OH 45255