Ramaswamy rallies Holmes County crowd, says Ohio can lead the nation again

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, Jitter’s Café in Millersburg was packed to standing room only-plus when Vivek Ramaswamy came calling to Holmes County as he toured through Ohio in hopes of garnering support for his effort to become the next governor of Ohio.

There was a buzz in the air as Ramaswamy arrived, and he immediately made it known he was eager to return Ohio to a role of leadership among the nation’s states.

Holmes County Republican Party Committee Chairman Rob Hovis welcomed Ramaswamy and introduced three area leaders who welcomed him to the community.

“It’s exciting to see someone of this caliber come here to Holmes County,” Commissioner Dave Hall said.

Hall said Ramaswamy was akin to Holmes County people, someone who will work hard, take a risk and eager to create employment opportunities.

Millersburg Mayor Kelly Hoffee said she was excited to see what Ramaswamy could do for Holmes County and its people.

Finally, Tiffany Gerber, Holmes County Chamber executive director, said it was an honor to welcome the Ohio gubernatorial hopeful on behalf of the community and Amish Country.

Ramaswamy then took center stage as he continued his swing through the state’s 88 counties.

Rather than focus on party lines, Ramaswamy said he was eager to create conversation and share his vision for what Ohio could become as he hopes to bring it back to its former glory as a national leader in business and industry.

“We’re just getting started,” he said. “This is the very early days of making America greater by starting in Ohio.”

Ramaswamy said his parents traveled halfway around the world to settle in Cincinnati with nothing to their name but a willingness to work to earn their keep.

He said their story was extraordinary in that they shared their vision and hopes for a better future with many people in America, and the American dream remains firmly in place today, although it requires an effort.

“The next generation of young millennials, the generation below me, have lost their conviction,” Ramaswamy said. “It’s up to us to deliver that American dream. It is not guaranteed; it is a covenant between generations. That is why I’m in this, and I want Ohio to be the state that revives economic mobility, that revives that culture of greatness to the heart of our country.”

Ramaswamy focused on making Ohio a place to which people flock with quality education, agriculture and high-paying employment opportunities.

How can Ohio become that state that leads rather than follows?

Ramaswamy said at the turn of the century, Ohio was that state, but it has been a struggle the past half-century.

He said creating new employment opportunities requires positive changes, and it takes an effort to lower taxes and make Ohio a state to which people want to move to build a family and find quality education.

He talked about the many issues that have stagnated hope in many people and talked about eliminating the obstacles that have created despair among young people today.

“The American dream recognizes that not everyone has the same gifts,” Ramaswamy said. “Every one of us has their own unique God-given gift. We’re the country where we get to make the most of your own unique gifts, without any man or system or bureaucracy standing in your way. That is what can make Ohio great, where young people don’t have to be spiteful about somebody else’s success because they are participating, with real skin in the game, where excellence is your heritage.”

He said that isn’t a humble vision, but rather an ambitious vision because that’s what America and Ohio are built on.

“We’re not victims. We hunger for the unapologetic pursuit of excellence in this country, and I know that American dream exists because I have lived it, and we will fight every day to preserve it, for my kids and for yours,” he said.

He said even as political concerns tear the nation apart, there needs to be a call for conversation, and Ohio can lead that charge.

He said seeing the government work with and for the people is what will return the state and country back into a prosperous one that ignites passion in its citizens.

He said he enjoys traveling the state, talking and listening to people talk about the things that matter to them, as they open his eyes and mind to new ideas, solutions, problems and possibilities.

“It’s not about right versus left; it’s about right versus wrong,” Ramaswamy said. “You can call yourself anything you want. I don’t care, as long as you’re passionate and care and want to lead our state to greater heights.”

He then provided a time for the public to ask question and raise concerns and answered questions as though he was talking to longtime friends.

Above all, he said people need to listen to one another, including himself and all people elected to lead the state and nation.

“We don’t need to be combative; we need to be compassionate,” Ramaswamy said. “Do we have the conviction to stand up for our convictions? If you do your part, I promise you I will do mine to make Ohio the state that leads this country.”