U.S. Senator Rob Portman will be the guest speaker when the Highland County Republican Party holds its annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at the First United Methodist Church in Hillsboro.
“If our collective memory serves us, Senator Portman will be the first sitting senator to speaker at our Lincoln Day Dinner in modern history,” the party said in a news release.
There will be a social time at 6 p.m. followed by a dinner catered by Shoelaces Catering at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased from any Highland County Republican Central or Executive Committee member or by calling Paulette Donley at 937-402-1866, Peggy Hite at 937-763-8305 or Kay Ayres at 937-763-6512.
In the March 15 primary election, Portman will be running against challenger Don Eckhart.
U.S. Senate candidates on the Democratic ballot will be Ted Strickland, Kelli Prather and P.J. Sittenfield.
After representing the 2nd Congressional District from Cincinnati along the Ohio River to Portsmouth in the House of Representatives and serving in two cabinet level positions in the Bush Administration, Portman was elected to the United States Senate in 2010, winning 82 of Ohio’s 88 counties and winning the state by an impressive 18 points, a news release from his office said.
It added that Portman has an A rating from the NRA and a 100 percent rating from National Right to Life.
In the Senate, Portman has been fighting against President Obama and Harry Reid’s excessive spending, and he is a leading voice in conservative efforts to balance the country’s budget, make the tax code more competitive, reduce burdensome regulations, and improve worker retraining programs, the news release said.
“Portman is the co-founder of the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking and he has authored multiple plans that have been signed into law to protect our children and bring criminals to justice. Rob is also a leader in the fight to protect Lake Erie and has passed legislation to help keep our drinking water clean,” the press release said. “Since his time in Congress, Rob has been active in the fight against drug abuse. He has introduced comprehensive legislation using proven techniques to help those struggling with addiction to get their lives back on track.
“In 2014, Rob served as the finance chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and thanks to his work, Republicans won back the Senate majority from Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats.”
The Highland County news release reminds new voters or those who have moved and wish to update their registration that Feb. 16 is the deadline. You can register at the Highland County Board of Elections, 1575 N. High St., Suite 200, Hillsboro. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The local Republican headquarters, located at 200 W. Main St., Hillsboro, will be open from noon to 5 p.m. for voter registration beginning Thursday, Feb. 11 and running through Tuesday, Feb. 16, except for Sunday.
Early voting begins Wednesday, Feb. 17 and the board of elections will have extended hours as follows:
• Beginning Feb. 17 and for the following three weeks, the office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• During week four of voting, office hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• On Saturday, March 12 the office will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• On Sunday, March 13 it will be open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• On Monday, March 14 it will be open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• On Election Day, Tuesday, March 15, the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
