GREENVILLE — A large crowd welcomed Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to the Great Darke County Fair, where he outlined his vision for Ohio before spending time meeting fairgoers and visiting attractions around the grounds.
Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker introduced Ramaswamy, who spoke and answered questions for nearly 50 minutes.
“Good to be back in Darke County,” Ramaswamy told the cheering crowd. “You guys are the best. We gotta have some time for some funnel cake and sugar waffles after as well.”
Ramaswamy discussed his reasons for seeking the governor’s office and said gratitude for the opportunities he has received in Ohio and the United States played a role in his decision.
“I’m doing this because I’m grateful to this state and to this country for giving me opportunities that would not have been available to a kid like me in any other country on planet Earth,” Ramaswamy said.
“My faith teaches me that we have a moral duty to use the blessings we have been given to leave this place better than we found it, and I believe we have a chance to make Ohio now the top state in the country to raise a young family and to live the American dream.”
Ramaswamy used his appearance to discuss several of his campaign priorities, including taxes, energy production, education and government efficiency.
He told those gathered that he wants Ohio to become a state without an individual income tax, pointing to states such as Texas and Florida as examples. He also advocated eliminating the state capital gains tax and proposed reducing property taxes by $1 billion.
Ramaswamy said reducing the size of government and eliminating what he considers bureaucratic inefficiencies would help provide property tax relief.
Energy was another focus of his remarks. Ramaswamy said increasing energy production within Ohio could help lower electric bills for residents and businesses.
Education also figured prominently in his appearance. He called for greater support for trade schools and vocational education while advocating for a stronger emphasis on civic education.
Ramaswamy also criticized actions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the closing of public schools, and contrasted his position with that of an opponent in the governor’s race.
He encouraged attendees to participate in the election and urged supporters to bring others to the polls. Ramaswamy also voiced support for Issue 3, which he described as requiring photo identification to vote.
Following his remarks and question-and-answer session, Ramaswamy traded the campaign gathering for the sights and sounds of the Great Darke County Fair.
He made his way through the fairgrounds, stopping at the cattle barn and veterans building and visiting with fairgoers along the way.
Ramaswamy later attended the Darke County Tractor Pullers Association tractor pull in front of the grandstands, continuing a fair visit that combined campaign issues with one-on-one interaction with Darke County residents.
His stop in Greenville was part of his campaign for Ohio governor and gave local voters an opportunity to hear directly from the candidate, ask questions and meet him during one of Darke County’s largest annual events.
