Republican Club hosting non-partisan picnic
Crossing party lines to unite community, meet candidates
The North Royalton Republican Club is hosting a family picnic at the lower pavilion along Memorial Park Lake as a way to unite the community, celebrate summer and give residents an opportunity to meet local candidates. File photo by JAIME ANTON
NORTH ROYALTON – Politics can undoubtedly divide but the North Royalton Republican Club is crossing party lines to bring the community together.
The club will break bread, enjoy a summer day and give everyone, regardless of political affiliation, the chance to meet their local candidates in a casual, informal atmosphere at its annual family picnic and meet the candidates. The event is planned for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 at Memorial Park’s lower pavilion during the community festival.
Club members will be grilling hotdogs and serving up pizza, chips and pop. It’s free and open to the public at large.
Of course the club, like any in North Royalton, would like to attract new members, but the picnic’s intent is to be an informal gathering to fellowship and get to know all the candidates vying for seats this November.
“We like to draw in new members if we could, but it is really just a chance for the community to get together, meet any candidates that are running, shake their hand, say hello and talk to them a little bit all in one place,” member John Kohl said. “Everybody is invited, doesn’t matter what your politics are.”
All six of North Royalton’s ward city council incumbents are up for re-election and have been invited, though as of press time, all six were unopposed. The filing deadline was Aug. 9.
The entire school board was invited, though only incumbents Dr. Susan Clark and Jackie Arendt are up for re-election this year.
State and judicial candidates are usually invited too, not just local candidates.
“(State Rep.) Tom Patton will be there,” Kohl said. “He comes to a lot of our events and is very supportive.”
Patton announced plans to run for the 16th District Congressional seat to succeed U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, who is running for Ohio governor.
Ken Wolnik, a fellow Republican Club member, agrees the picnic is a great time and encourages everyone to stop in.
“Republicans and Democrats are welcome. At this age in our culture, we have to get along better. Some locals will be there, maybe state office people, but we sent invites to everyone. Residents of North Royalton are certainly welcome. It’s just a good summer picnic for people to come and to talk tob their representative and see what’s on their mind. Nowadays, there’s probably plenty. It’s just a good time and something to look forward to.”
Mayor Bob Stefanik, a registered Democrat who has been known to support many local Republican politicians, was invited and said he plans to drop in.
“North Royalton politics is unique in the fact that our elected officials don’t play the ‘partisan politics game’,” he said. “It would be nice if our elected officials in Washington and Columbus could take a page from the local North Royalton political scene.”
The club will break bread, enjoy a summer day and give everyone, regardless of political affiliation, the chance to meet their local candidates in a casual, informal atmosphere at its annual family picnic and meet the candidates. The event is planned for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 at Memorial Park’s lower pavilion during the community festival.
Club members will be grilling hotdogs and serving up pizza, chips and pop. It’s free and open to the public at large.
Of course the club, like any in North Royalton, would like to attract new members, but the picnic’s intent is to be an informal gathering to fellowship and get to know all the candidates vying for seats this November.
“We like to draw in new members if we could, but it is really just a chance for the community to get together, meet any candidates that are running, shake their hand, say hello and talk to them a little bit all in one place,” member John Kohl said. “Everybody is invited, doesn’t matter what your politics are.”
All six of North Royalton’s ward city council incumbents are up for re-election and have been invited, though as of press time, all six were unopposed. The filing deadline was Aug. 9.
The entire school board was invited, though only incumbents Dr. Susan Clark and Jackie Arendt are up for re-election this year.
State and judicial candidates are usually invited too, not just local candidates.
“(State Rep.) Tom Patton will be there,” Kohl said. “He comes to a lot of our events and is very supportive.”
Patton announced plans to run for the 16th District Congressional seat to succeed U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, who is running for Ohio governor.
Ken Wolnik, a fellow Republican Club member, agrees the picnic is a great time and encourages everyone to stop in.
“Republicans and Democrats are welcome. At this age in our culture, we have to get along better. Some locals will be there, maybe state office people, but we sent invites to everyone. Residents of North Royalton are certainly welcome. It’s just a good summer picnic for people to come and to talk tob their representative and see what’s on their mind. Nowadays, there’s probably plenty. It’s just a good time and something to look forward to.”
Mayor Bob Stefanik, a registered Democrat who has been known to support many local Republican politicians, was invited and said he plans to drop in.
“North Royalton politics is unique in the fact that our elected officials don’t play the ‘partisan politics game’,” he said. “It would be nice if our elected officials in Washington and Columbus could take a page from the local North Royalton political scene.”