Former Ohio Democratic Party chairman and current state representative from the 22nd Ohio House District David Leland will be the featured speaker at the annual Highland County Democratic Party carry-in dinner.
The dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 27 at the basement meeting room of the Highland County Administration Building. The event is free, but attendees are asked to bring a carry-in food entrée or dessert and an auction item. The Highland County Democratic Party will supply meats and drinks, along with table service, said Dinah Phillips, party chair.
Leland serves as state representative for the 22nd Ohio House District. He serves on the following House Committees: Energy and Natural Resources; Financial Institutions, Housing, and Urban Development; Agriculture and Rural Development; Federalism and Interstate Relations.
Leland has been honored for his service by numerous organizations, including the OSU Alumni Association, which presented him with their Citizenship Award.
First elected to the Ohio House of Representatives at age 29, he authored seven bills into law and was voted the outstanding freshman State Representative of the 115th Ohio General Assembly.
Leland was elected to four terms as chair of the Ohio Democratic Party and chaired the Ohio delegations to the 1996 and 2000 Democratic National Conventions.
In 2000 he was appointed to the Federal Service Impasses Panel by President Bill Clinton.
As finance chair and senior advisor for Ted Strickland’s successful 2006 campaign for Ohio governor, Leland raised a then-record amount of over $17 million.
An avid baseball fan, Leland serves on the Board of Trustees of the Columbus Clippers, the Cleveland Indians Triple-A franchise.
During his 12 year tenure on the Clippers’ Board, the team has won back-to-back National Championships and built its award-winning stadium, Huntington Park.
Leland is a graduate of Columbus North High School, The Ohio State University, and Capital University Law School and is currently a partner at the Columbus Law firm Carpenter Lipps & Leland.
Phillips said all local Democratic Party officeholders, candidates or their representatives are expected to attend.
Democratic candidates for municipal offices in Hillsboro include: David McKenna, municipal court judge; Patricia Burns, treasurer; Brandon Leeth, council at large; Robert “Lee” Smith, council, Ward 1; Jason Burns, council, Ward 2; Tim Countryman, council, Ward 3; and Mary Stanforth, council, Ward 4.
Phillips said any candidates running for the non-partisan offices of school board, township trustee or village office are welcome to attend.
The evening will conclude with an auction with Layton Grover.
“All families are welcome to join us for an evening of fellowship and information about the candidates,” said Phillips.
