×

Renforths working hard this campaign

To the editor:

The Nov. 6 general election will culminate in possibly the most exhilarating political experience Jerry and I have had since leaving public service in 2003. Getting to know Scott and Christy Renforth and watching them work a crowd and getting the positive response was enough to make you want to jump in and enjoy the moment and the movement they were creating.

Scott and Christy burst onto the political scene in 2014 when he ran for county auditor and nearly defeated the popular incumbent of his own party. They quickly realized that if they could have flipped two votes in each precinct the election was theirs and they have been campaigning ever since making new friends and supporters on both sides of the political aisle. “Renforth for Auditor” signs popping up in prominent Republican yards countywide is proof positive that their efforts are paying dividends.

What really defined them in my mind is they did not cozy up to deep pockets such as the gas, oil and coal industries. Instead, they each worked side jobs and squirreled that money away for Campaign 2018. It’s truly a joy watching them buy postage by the rolls and passing out trinkets and T-shirts paid for out of their own pockets. Truly these folks are the real deal.

The recent Ohio Valley Business and Professional Women’s candidate forum was covered objectively by the Herald-Star and WTRF-TV and WTOV-TV and and produced an interesting claim by Renforth’s opponent, who proudly proclaimed his experience in the auditor’s office effectively trumps Scott’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees heavy in accounting from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. I respectfully ask, no I beg, anyone who is tempted to fall for this claim to google “county auditors association Ohio handbook,” find his or a similar job and decide for yourself if a Franciscan master’s in accounting is inferior to his job experience. Please do it.

The county commissioners should continue to be commended for their accomplishments in improving/stabilizing the employee health insurance program and, perhaps with a fresh pair of eyes and ideas from Scott Renforth in the auditor’s office, a tweak should be explored. Currently an employee with a $10,000-plus hospital bill will end up owing some $2,000 out of pocket, and no family making $12, $15 or $20 per hour has that much money in a savings account. Currently, the only help from the auditor’s office is a payroll deduction sent directly to the health care provider to avoid wage attachment or worse.

Finally, many Republicans still abhor progressives. I’m just saying.

K. Eileen Krupinski

Vice chair

Jefferson County Democratic

Executive Committee

Steubenville

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today