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State senate candidate sues over destroyed ballots

February 26, 2008

Green Party Candidate Files for 20th District Ohio Senate Seat

Tim Kettler of Warsaw today filed a nominating petition for the 20th District Ohio Senate Seat in the General Election to be held November 4, 2008. Citing the District’s immediate need for job creation, alternative energy development, health-care reform, verifiable elections, and equitable funding for education Kettler said he will bring an independent voice to the Senate race. “As a Green Party Candidate I am pledged to refuse any and all campaign contributions from corporate and special interests. When elected officials are sent to Columbus to represent the interests of their District more often than not these types of contributions influence their decisions in a way that does not represent the greater needs of their constituents”, he said.

Kettler has been involved with healthcare reform for the past four years as a state council member of the non-profit Single Payer Action Network of Ohio and supports the passage of the Health Care for All Ohioans Act. “As a self-employed small businessman whose family members have pre-existing conditions I know personally the obstacles Ohio’s current for-profit health-care system presents. There is no light offered at the end of the tunnel and it is time for fundamental change in the way health-care services are delivered. The Health Care for All Ohioans Act is fully-funded legislation that offers us the opportunity to fix our health-care crisis for the benefit of our businesses, workers, citizens and all Ohio taxpayers” Kettler stated.

Running as the endorsed Ohio Green Party Candidate, Kettler completed the required petition submitting over 2000 signatures. The Green Party is not recognized by the State of Ohio as an official political party. Their candidates must comply with election laws that compel Independent candidates to gather 25 times more signatures than the major party candidates are required to obtain in order to appear on the ballot. “The rules written by the two major parties are obviously intended to limit participation by third parties and Independents and are a direct cause of the overall low participation by Ohio citizens who never register, vote or run for elected office”, said Kettler

Tim is married with one son, Malcolm and resides in Coshocton County outside the village of Warsaw. He serves as the Secretary of the Green Party of Ohio and has operated Action Septic Service with his wife, Roberta for the past 21 years. As one of the organizers of the 2004 Ohio Presidential Vote Recount he was a co-plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell resulting from the recount. He also ran for Ohio Secretary of State in the November 2006 election drawing two percent of the vote statewide. “I would like to thank the over 2000 voters and residents of Senate District 20 who signed my petition and support my candidacy” Kettler said in closing.

November 20, 2007

11/20/2007 9:40:00 AM

Tim Kettler Man seeks Green Party's nomination for 20th District KRISTIN HEINICHEN Messenger staff writer WARSAW - A Warsaw businessman is circulating petitions to become the Ohio Green Party candidate for the 20th District Ohio Senate seat in the 2008 elections. Tim Kettler's campaign is circulating candidacy petitions in Athens, Coshocton and Muskingum Counties, and is seeking more volunteers in the nine-county district to collect the 1,500 signatures needed, according to the Green Party. Republican Joy Padgett has announced she will not seek re-election next year to the 20th District seat. Republican State Rep. Jimmy Stewart of Albany has already announced he will be a candidate for the Senate post. A lifelong Ohio resident, Kettler has resided in the farming community of Warsaw with his wife, Roberta, and son, Malcolm, since 1995. Kettler explained that "as a resident of the district and someone who lives life very similarly to the constituents in this district," he is sensitive to the needs of the region. "It is valuable to the process to understand the demographics ... (in order) to bring new ideas for job creation and revitalizing the economy. People can hear through someone who understands what their lives are like," Kettler said. "Our politicians have become very insulated in the day-to-day lives of working men and women." The owner of Action Septic Service, Kettler said he understands the obstacles that face entrepreneurs - the big one being health-care costs. "Universal health care is the main issue we have. We have legislation currently in the House and Senate that needs support. There needs to be a tremendous amount of education on this issue, and a campaign (for the 20th District seat) is a great vehicle to do that," Kettler said. "This is an issue that affects all of us. I'm not trying to be an alarmist, but we're in a health-care crisis and need innovative approaches for reform.... We need to extend health-care coverage to every Ohio worker and resident unconditionally." Kettler said he is also an advocate of ecological responsibility and awareness. "This is an area that I have strong interest in," he said. "Waste water is a growth industry and it's rapidly changing as our population intends to grow and housing booms. This results in more and more systems that directly impact our (environment) and global warming." In 2006, Kettler ran for Ohio secretary of state, and currently he serves as the secretary of the Ohio Green Party. "The Green Party does not accept money from corporations and self-interest groups," Kettler stated. "The extension of rights is typically reserved for our citizens. Corporate involvement in our political process is very detrimental. But when it is done through campaign finances, it's especially detrimental. This is a green vision of pure democracy, that all voices are heard." Kettler teamed up with the third party as he saw it to be a "pro-democracy party," he said. "A true democracy promotes participation by everyone. The Green Party represents the will of the people and is concerned with ensuring that all have a voice in that process. It seems that we've lost that connection with our elected officials and have lost our connection with our government. We have a two-party system that has evolved not because it was intended to be that way, but because we vested two parties with so much power. We don't have a level playing field," Kettler said. "We run as independents - outsiders, looking in." A graduate of Brunswick High School, Kettler went to Kent State University where he pursued, but did not receive, his degree in education. "This district is my favorite place in Ohio and why I have stayed and not chased after other dreams.... I can connect with the constituents in a very real way," he said. Kettler said that other issues he will address in his campaign include voting rights and voter participation, job creation, development of renewable resources and school funding. kheinichen@athensmessenger.com

November 19, 2007

TIM KETTLER ENDORSED AS GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR OHIO SENATE
DISTRICT 20*

Ohio Green Party Coordinating Committee unanimously endorsed Tim Kettler for Ohio Senate District 20 in their November 18, 2007 conference.

A lifelong Ohio resident, resides in the Warsaw, Ohio/ /with his wife Roberta, and son Malcolm. Tim and Roberta own and operate Action Septic Service, a twenty-year established, environmentally directed service business. His blue collar, working class background and his rural lifestyle have made him aware of the needs of both of these constituencies. He is an advocate of new progressive policies to meet these needs. Tim currently serves as the secretary of the Green Party of Ohio < http://www.ohiogreens.org/ >, and is a co-founder and treasurer of his local, the East Central Ohio Green Party. He and his fellow greens have spent long hours bringing Green values to rural Ohio through their organizing efforts.

As a self-employed small businessman, Tim is acutely aware of the obstacles presented by a failing health care system, regressive tax structures and increasing pressure from corporate influence. He is a representative on the Single Payer Action Network of Ohio < http://www.spanohio.org/ > state council, a non-partisan organization that advocates for the establishment of single-payer, universal health care for the citizen’s of Ohio. He is active in circulating petitions for The Health Care for All Ohioans Act ballot initiative. His experience working through the burdensome obstacles that this process presents has convinced him of the need for reform if this tool of grassroots democracy is to be viable.

As your State Senator, Tim has pledged to bring independence and integrity to the office. As an advocate for the free exercise of our voting rights, Tim pledges to fight for all. During the 2004 Ohio Presidential Vote Recount, he worked as a regional coordinator, organizing and conducting recounts in six east central Ohio counties. Tim joined with David Cobb, Anita Rios and others, to file suit in United States District Court against Ohio Secretary of State, Kenneth Blackwell.
 

November 8, 2007