They say that all politics is local.

They have been proven right, once again.

That reminder came Monday night, when the Ohio Valley Business and Professional Women’s Club held its annual political forum in the auditorium at Steubenville High School. The event offered area residents the chance to hear from local candidates and about issues that appear on the Nov. 5 ballot.

While there are several open positions at the county level this time around, three — the Jan. 2 and Jan. 3 county commissioners spots and the clerk of courts — are contested. That’s why the forum was important — the candidates for county commissioner, Republican Ron “Jake” Kleineke and Democrat Charles Newburn for the Jan. 2 seat, and incumbent Republican Tony Morelli and Democrat Todd Mazzaferro had the chance to weigh in on several topics during the 45 minutes or so of questions they faced from a panel made up of members of the local media.

Questioning from the group, which included Steven Moore of WTRF-TV, Dylan Cleland of WTOV-TV and me, covered a wide range of topics, with subjects ranging from economic growth to the situation involving the Amsterdam sewer system.

Also taking a question from the panel was Candy Newburn, the Democrat running against incumbent Republican Andrew Plesich for clerk of courts. Plesich was not able to attend Monday’s session because of a previously scheduled event.

Having the chance to hear the candidates in the contested races respond and interact with their opponents — and those who are running for the other seat — was important for voters who have not yet made up their minds about who they plan to vote for. And that’s why the BPW and club President Megan Presley and Political Chair Sara Lane felt it was so important for the event to happen,

Even though their races are not contested, incumbent Prosecuting Attorney Jane Hanlin, a Democrat, and incumbent county Recorder Scott Renforth, a Republican, had the chance to talk about their accomplishments in office and their goals going forward, as did Republican Brian Scarpone, who will be replacing longtime county Treasurer Ray Agresta, and independent Eric Hilty, who is unopposed in his bid to replace longtime county Engineer James Branagan.

Scarpone took a moment to commend Agresta.

“I think that’s monumental,” Scarpone said of many decades of service Agresta, who will be retiring from the office once his term expires at the end of August, and his late father, also Ray, who served as treasurer, done for the county. Combined, they have been serving county residents in that office since the mid-1980s.

The elder Agresta was first elected in November 1984, and his son succeeded him after being elected in November 2004.

Interestingly, the current treasurer said he and county Commissioner Dave Maple both were elected in 2004, and both are retiring at the same time. Maple’s seat is the one Kleineke and Charles Newburn are competing for.

Bill Holt, executive director of the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board, offered details about the 10-year, 0.5-mil replacement levy the agency has placed on the ballot.

If approved, the issue would generate about $938,000 that will help provide funding for mental health, alcohol and drug addiction programs. It will place a levy that was first passed in 1976.

“It’s difficult to continue our work wrought modern day support and modern-day dollars,” he said. That money would allow for the expansion of services, including an increase in crisis care for children and prevention efforts.

Details were offered about Ohio Issue 1, the proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate gerrymandering. If passed, it will require the state to form a 15-member Ohio Citizen Redirecting Commission that would include Republicans, Democrats and independents from all areas of the state. Current politicians, lobbyists and donors would be prohibited from serving on the board.

Speaking against the issue was state Rep. Ron Ferguson, R-Wintersville, while speaking in favor was Kevan Brown, business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 246 in Steubenville.

“It’s bad enough when politicians draw maps. That’s what happens now,” Ferguson explained. “What’s worse is when politicians choose bureaucrats. Those bureaucrats are not accountable to people at all, and that’s what this sets up.”

“It’s all about fairness,” Brown said. “It’s about making sure that no matter where you live, no matter if you live in a small city, a big city or a rural area, your vote counts.”

Thomas “Tip” O’Neil, who was a member of Congress from 1953 to 1987, is the person most of us associate with the saying that all politics is local.

It’s likely, though, that the powerful Massachusetts Democrat who served as speaker of the House between 1977 and 1987 wasn’t the first person to use it. We can never know about that for sure — some records indicate it was first used in 1932 by Byron Price, who served as the Washington, D.C., bureau chief for The Associated Press, while others show it goes back to the late 19th or early 20th century and was first used by newspaper columnist Finley Peter Dunne.

Regardless of where it originated, the phrase rings true today, and that’s why events like Monday’s political forum continue to play vital roles in the weeks before every election.

(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times)