Candidate Parker comes out firing in speech
State Senator Teresa Fedor (right) was in Jackson County Thursday to serve as the keynote speaker for Democratic Jackson County commissioner candidate, Lisa Parker (left).
Lisa Parker, a Democratic candidate for Jackson County commissioner, often speaks proudly of her military background.
And she was not afraid to come out firing when she spoke at her campaign fundraiser last Thursday evening at the OSU/County Extension Office near Jackson.
Parker is seeking the January 3rd term commissioner’s seat in November’s General Election and faces the Republican candidate, former County Commissioner Jim Riepenhoff. Also speaking at the event on Parker’s behalf were State Senator Teresa Fedor and one-time Democratic state representative candidate, Nick Rupert of Vinton County.
Parker, who is seeking county office for ‘the first time, was assertive and on the offensive much of the time against Riepenhoff and accused him of ducking her challenges for a debate. She cast herself as the underdog running against a powerful and wealthy opponent. Using the David-and-Goliath analogy, she even pulled a slingshot out of a brown paper bag for full effect. “I’m not afraid of money and billboards, but he must be afraid of me, because he won’t debate me,” Parker declared.
She also claimed Riepenhoff missed 20 percent of the commissioners’ meetings during his previous term from 2003 through 2006. She noted that she had missed only six commissioners’ meetings since she began attending them in September 2007 — and that these absences were due to work-related obligations. *
Riepenhoff’s campaign literature touts “experience, integrity and fiscal responsibility,” but Parker challenged him on each topic.
“Money doesn’t equate to integrity and fiscal responsibility is living within your means,” she stated. “Yes, he’s outspent me, but what is he going to do with your tax dollars”?
As for own platform, Parker says the county needs to be more aggressive in seeking jobs and that local officials failed to secure available grants. She says all parties need to work together to show that “Jackson County is open4or business,” and added that Republican County Commissioner Tom Walton deserved “tons of credit” for being present for her event.
Parker also feels the county should work to expand broadband Internet service and is in favor of establishing a commissioners’ website to better communicate the public. In order to reach out to more people, she thinks it would be a good idea also to conduct meetings from time to time in the evening and in Oak Hill and Wellston.
Fedor spoke positively of Parker as a person and feels she has ihe dedication and commitment to be an outstanding public servant and would strive to “do the right thing.” They struck up a friendship after they met at a governmental event in Columbus.
“She has been attending every commissioners’ meeting, every single week for more than a year,” Fedor commented. “Now, that’s commitment.”
Fedor concluded, “Lisa just loves people — you can tell. She just wants to help. I am very proud to call her a sister soldier and great friend.”
In his remarks before introducing Fedor, Rupert noted that Jackson County Democrats have five candfdates bn the ballot this fall, the largest representation in 40 years and that all them are working hard to get elected.
An unscheduled speaker was Jackson City Auditor Jim Humphreys, who was extremely critical of the federal financial bailout plan that has been proposed by President Bush. He was also fearful that race will be a factor in Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama gaining support from white voters.
– original article by Pete Wilson - The Telegram News
