DARKE COUNTY — U.S. Sens. Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno, U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy are among the confirmed speakers for the annual Darke County Republican Party Hog Roast on Sunday, Oct. 18.
The event begins at 1 p.m. at the Darke County Fairgrounds in Greenville. Organizers have moved the gathering to the youth building to accommodate attendance. Admission and the meal are free, and everyone is welcome.
The gathering continues a decades-long tradition of bringing Republican officials, candidates and voters together.
“That’s an all-star cast of characters,” said Jim Buchy of Greenville, a former Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives.
Additional confirmed speakers include Ohio Auditor Keith Faber, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, state treasurer candidate Jay Edwards, and Judge Dan Hawkins.
State Sens. Susan Manchester and Steve Huffman and state Reps. Angie King, Johnathan Newman, and Phil Plummer are also scheduled to attend, along with Brian Holsapple, Darke County auditor candidate, and Darke County commissioner candidate David Coons.
Buchy said the annual gathering reflects the importance elected officials and candidates place on hearing from Darke County residents.
“The yearly hog roast has become a tradition of the Darke County Republican Party for the last many years, and each year it grows in stature,” Buchy said.
He encouraged residents to attend, meet the speakers, and discuss issues affecting their communities.
“The importance is that these people that are coming, who are in office now or seeking office, want to come to get to know all of us,” Buchy said.
Buchy said those conversations help officials understand what residents want from their government. He pointed to Manchester, Huffman, King, Newman and Plummer as lawmakers who regularly make themselves available to constituents.
“The thing about these five is that they’re visible,” he said. “They come to us on a regular basis to listen to us, so that when they’re working for us in Columbus, they are representing what we want done in government.”
Buchy also expressed support for Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign, saying he appreciates the candidate’s goals for Ohio.
“The more I’m around Vivek, the more I like him, and the reason is he wants to make Ohio the number one state in the United States of America,” Buchy said.
Discussing the county commissioner race, Buchy described Coons as part of a younger generation of local leaders. He cited Coons’ business experience and concern for taxpayers as reasons for his support.
“He understands that the taxpayers need to get the best return off their investment,” Buchy said.
Turning Point USA also will attend and plans to launch a door-knocking effort after lunch, according to organizers.
Buchy said he hopes residents take advantage of the opportunity to meet the officials and candidates.
“So I just hope to see everybody Sunday at the hog roast,” he said.
