GREENVILLE – On April 10, 2025, the Darke County Republican Party hosted its annual Lincoln Day Dinner at the Eldora Ballroom. The event featured Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel as the keynote speaker, drawing a crowd of over 250 attendees.
Lieutenant Governor Tressel, appointed by Governor DeWine in February, brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as head coach at The Ohio State University and as president of Youngstown State University. His address focused on his version of G-O-P: Gratitude, Opportunity & Perspective. Anecdotally, he told the crowd that after the Governor visited him at his home in Youngstown and asked him to be his LG, he called his wife, who was down in Florida, expecting her to be a little skeptical. Instead, “she thought about it for a minute and thoughtfully said, “It sounds like God has more work for you to do.””
The evening commenced with a welcome from Darke County Republican Party Chair Katie DeLand. Pastor Johnathan Newman delivered the invocation, followed by the Darke County Honor Guard presenting the colors. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by VHS Senior Luke Kaiser, and Kaitlyn Tollefson, Ansonia HS, sang the National Anthem. Senator Kristina Roegner, candidate for Ohio Treasurer, also provided a brief state update. Matt Finkes, graduate of Piqua High School and Defensive End for both Ohio State & the New York Jets, introduced Lt. Governor Tressel.
Attendees included students from every school in Darke County, as well as Edison Community College and Miami University, emphasizing the party’s commitment to engaging the next generation of leaders.
Darke County Commissioners Aultman, Combs, and Flatter presented the 2025 Republican Business Supporter of the Year to Bryan Geis, who donated office space for the headquarters. State Reps King, Newman, and Creech as well as State Senators Huffman, Manchester and Roegner presented Jim Buchy with a miniature replica of the bench that was dedicated to him last year on the Buchy Mile, which is a part of the Darke County Arts Trail. “Representative Buchy has invested his life to Darke County, and we are so fortunate to be touched by his leadership,” said Creech, who led the effort to get the miniature bench commissioned by Joshua Sheppard, the statue’s artist. Lastly, the Commissioners and Senator Manchester helped to surprise Katie DeLand as the 2025 Republican of the Year. An elephant statue was presented to DeLand by Aultman, who designed and created the gold elephant on his 3D printer!
In a fun twist to the evening, an autographed Make America Great Again hat was donated minutes before the dinner began. It was live auctioned off by Bill Coomer and assisted by Commissioner Combs, who entertained the crowd with their auctioneering skills.
The Darke County Republican Party is thankful to all attendees and volunteers, including the event committee: Rachel Fearon, Denise Elsas, Kennedie Goubeaux, Hillary Holzapfel, Katie DeLand, Marshall Combs, Matt Aultman, and Aaron Flatter.
For more information on upcoming events and initiatives, visit darkegop.org.
