Republican Victory Center open in Norwalk

NORWALK — Volunteers were still putting together the Huron County Republican Party's Victory Center, 30 Benedict Ave. in Norwalk, Sunday afternoon when residents started stopping by to pick up campaign signs. "This headquarters is open by demand from the people of Huron County who want to get out the Republican vote," said Brandon Schwinn, party chairman. "People have been waiting for it to open up." He said people from five different households stopped by to pick up signs for national, state and local campaigns while the volunteers were still putting the final touches on the headquarters. The Victory Center will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. until noon Saturday through Nov. 3. Each Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. local candidates Dick Stein, State Representative for Ohio's 57thDistrict, and Terry Boose, Huron County Commissioner, will be on hand for "Question the Candidates" sessions. They are the only two local Republican candidates with opponents in the November election. The Victory Center is distributing signs and literature for U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Representative Jim Jordan, U.S. Representative Bob Gibbs, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith French, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy, 6thDistrict of Appeals Judge Charles Sulek, Stein and Boose. Local Republicans who do not have opponents in the election are not distributing signs and literature. Those include commissioner Bruce (Skip) Wilde, prosecutor James J. Sitterly, clerk of courts Susan Hazel, recorder Jan Tkach, probate and juvenile court Judge Timothy Cardwell, sheriff Todd Corbin and engineer Lee Tansey. Schwinn said visitors also can have a little fun by posing with life-size cutouts of Donald and Melania Trump, on display in the center's front windows. He is asking supporters to take only two Trump signs for each address. "They are very popular and we want to spread them out across the county," Schwinn said. Voter registration forms and forms to request absentee ballots are also available. Voters must register by Oct. 5 to be eligible to vote in the November election. Schwinn said six-foot spacing has been marked off in the center and masks will be available for visitors, in accordance with executive orders.