Chairman’s Corner

"Let Me Welcome You To The Lorain County Republican Party"

David G. Arredondo

Executive Committee Chairman

In less than three years, our Party has seen a major transformation in the political landscape of Lorain County. This is due to the hard work of our leadership, donors, candidates and volunteers who have connected with voters throughout the county. Republicans went from one countywide elected position in 2020 to five in 2023, and we aren’t done yet.

Had we had had candidates for the other county offices, it’s possible we would have won those as well. Looking to 2024, we already have candidates for several county offices as well as our incumbents seeking reelection.

The days of Democrats running unopposed are over. A major transformation took place last year that made it possible to win the third county commission seat. Republicans narrowed the gap with Democrats countywide.

Prior to the 2022 primary, we had 17,069 Republicans versus, 30,832 Democrats. After the primary there were 32,360 Republicans and 32,766 Democrats a difference of only 406 voters. Republicans are a Big Tent party with many different groups and viewpoints. Despite these differences, we need to remain united in order to help our candidates win election.

Equally important is to grow the number of Republican voters by reaching out to Independent and Democrat voters whose party has left them.

We need to communicate our values and principles to them and make them welcome in our party. If we do so, we can expect to win more elections in Lorain County, Ohio, and the United States of America.

My Stance

New Beginnings With End of Affirmative Action

The end of Affirmative Action is long past due; the America of 2023 is not the America of 1964. The greatest testimony to this is the 2008 presidential election in which a majority of voters elected Senator Barack Obama as the first African American president.

Thankfully, the Supreme Court has ruled that Affirmative Action is in fact discriminatory and must be ended. How ironic. In fact, the Court had the opportunity to do this in 2003 in the Grutter v. Bollinger case but it did not do so.

Who decides who benefits fairly from Affirmative Action?

Today, the biggest excuse for retaining Affirmative Action is diversity. Again, what is diversity? Who decides who is Asian? Black? Hispanic? Native American? Why is it largely defined by race and ethnicity as opposed to diversity of thought and opinion, geography, social-economic background?

My solution to replacing Affirmative Action in college admissions is that socio-economic and legal immigration status be used to help less advantaged college applicants. We should boost working class and non-college graduate households and first generation immigrant families.

The bottom line should be for colleges to support these students with no-loans financial aid and lower tuition. Above all, the Federal Government needs to remove itself from the student loan process and return it to the private sector where it belongs. No President should be allowed to unilaterally forgive college loan repayment. The guaranteeing of student loans by the government only enables colleges and universities to raise their tuition and other costs far above the normal rate of inflation. For the benefit of all students and their families, this needs to stop.

Going forward from today’s historic Supreme Court decision, we should no longer see ethnic and racial check boxes on college applications. Selective college admissions must consider the best and the brightest, not race or ethnicity.

David G. Arredondo was a Senior Associate Director of College Admissions at Oberlin College from 1988-2000. He was also the Director of International Admissions at Lorain County Community College from 2000-2014--

Issue 1

I strongly support the passage of SB2 by both Houses of the Ohio Legislature today. Herein is Article 5 of the U.S. Constitution regarding amendments:

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress;...

If the American Constitution requires two thirds and three fourths for the ratification of amendments, why shouldn't the Ohio Constitution require something similar?

As it stands now, all that is needed to amend the Ohio Constitution are the following: valid petitions from forty four counties in order to be placed on the ballot. Why not all eighty eight counties? Currently, only 50% of votes cast in an election is needed to approve the amendment. Why not 60% or 66%? I urge all voters to support the SB 2 legislation in the August 8 special election.