Presidential candidates Kamala Harris, left, and Donald Trump, right, could have equal appeal in neighborhoods such as the 400 block of Hazel Avenue, an area in the city with nearly balanced numbers of Democrats and Republicans.
Associated Press and Lima News photos; photo illustration by David Trinko | The Lima News
LIMA — For all the talk about political divisiveness in America, Thomas Jones doesn’t feel it when he strolls out the front door of his 5th Ward neighborhood.
“If I walk to my right from my house, I can see a big old (Donald) Trump sign and a house with a big Trump flag on it,” said Jones, the councilman for the area since February. “I can go right past them and wave, and they wave right back at me. If I walk to the left, I see a bunch of (Kamala) Harris and (Tim) Walz signs, and it’s the same thing. We’re very respectful in our area, and I’m very appreciative of that.”
Jones, a registered Democrat although Lima councilors are nonpartisan positions, represents an area in eastern Lima near Meat City that is as close to balanced politically as Allen County offers. In the 5A precinct, 8% of voters are registered Republicans, and 7% are registered Democrats, according to data from the Allen County Board of Elections website. In 5D, it’s 9% Republican and 5% Democrat. The ward, like the county, is primarily loaded with voters with no declared party, meaning they didn’t vote in a primary.
In the 2020 election, former President Trump carried 70% of Allen County over current President Joe Biden, according to board of elections data. Lima Precinct 1C, in the shadows of St. Rose Catholic Church in northern Lima, offered the closest race, with 53% of voters going for Trump and 47% going for Biden.
“I really can’t stand the divisiveness in politics,” said 1st Ward councilor Todd Gordon, a registered Republican who represents the area as a nonpartisan councilor. “They need to open their minds, work together and come to a consensus. That’s the way government’s set up to be.”
The most Trump-leaning area in 2020 was Monroe Township East’s precinct, with 92% voting for Trump. The most Biden-leaning precinct was Lima’s 6C, with 89% voting for him.
As Tuesday’s election draws near, it’s important to get past any name-calling or vitriolic rhetoric and look at how the presidential candidates’ stances might affect the residents in these politically diverse areas.
The economy
In talking about their preferred candidates’ platforms, the chairs for Allen County’s Republicans and Democrats both pointed to the economy as a top priority.
“I tell people if they’re not sure who they’re going to vote for, either stop and fill up your car or go to the grocery store before you vote,” said Keith Cheney, chairman of the Allen County Republican Party. “It will help you decide what’s in your best interest. On the economy, Donald Trump has a proven track record. We were energy independent when he left office.”
While inflation seldom reverses course and brings prices down, Cheney said he believed Trump’s policies could bring fuel prices down by not relying on Middle Eastern countries that “would rather see us blown off the face of the earth.”
Rochelle Twining, the chair of the Allen County Democratic Party, agreed the economy was a big issue. She focused on a childcare tax credit on Harris’s platform as a key to jump-starting the economy.
“People quit working … because they can’t afford childcare,” Twining said. “I like that Kamala has addressed this issue. If we give people a $3,000 tax credit — not a payment by taxpayers — then the people already paying for childcare will get the credit. It’s not something taxpayers are going to be paying; it comes off their taxes.”
Twining talked about the need for quality childcare and the difficulties when someone getting a $15 an hour job has to spend much of it on childcare, adding, “It makes more sense for them not to work.”
The border
Twining and Cheney, much like presidential candidates Harris and Trump, agree illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexican border is a big issue. The solutions are quite different, though.
Twining pointed to Harris’s proposals to improve the legal immigration system as a way to get highly motivated workers legally into the workforce, saying, “There’s no question our country needs to change our immigration policy.”
“Immigrants are actually integral to the economy,” Twining said. “They’ll do things we can’t find other people to do. Think about the passion you have to have to walk through rivers, climb mountains, not have food, not know where you’re going and with your children on your back. They are highly motivated to see what America can provide for them. Most of them are not rapists and drug dealers.”
Trump proposed a large deportation effort to get illegal immigrants out of the country. Cheney emphasized his compassion for those who came to the country legally and follow the country’s rules, but the illegal immigrants pose a safety risk, he said.
“The illegal immigrants that are coming into the country at a high rate of speed — that ultimately means we’re seeing crime waves across the nation, as gang members come through the border and illegal immigrants commit crimes,” Cheney said. “If we had the Trump border policy in place prior to four years ago, that would be dramatically limited. We have to tie that all together and look at the safety of our nation.”
Other Harris factors
Harris would continue to fight for reproductive rights, Twining said, noting 57% of Ohioans approved putting a right to reproductive choices into the state constitution. Harris wants to make sure those rights are available to all, Twining said.
Twining also pointed to a proposal by Harris to expand Obamacare. It’s particularly valuable here with two of Lima’s largest employers being Mercy Health-St. Rita’s and Lima Memorial Health System. The Biden-Harris administration also successfully stopped price-gouging on prescription drugs, she said.
“Obamacare may not be perfect, but it needs to be expanded upon, not eliminated,” she said.
She also pointed to the national infrastructure bill as having a positive impact on the area, with many in the skilled trades seeing guaranteed work over the next decade.
Other Trump factors
Cheney said America’s enemies respect and fear Trump more. With the Middle East in turmoil and Ukraine remaining a war zone, that matters.
“When you study everything, we could virtually be on the brink of World War III,” Cheney said. “I’ve heard grave concerns from those serving in the military and from our veterans. These people need to be put in check and understand we are Americans, and America does not bow or cower to anyone.”
Trump voiced wanting to back away from the current American support in Ukraine by the Biden-Harris administration.
Moving past division
Twining admitted it’s a divisive time in our country’s history.
“I don’t think we’ve seen this country this divided since probably the civil war,” she said. “People see things as very black and white.”
Personal relationships show there’s still hope, Cheney said. He blamed the national media for exacerbating the division, clarifying he felt local media was fair.
“You and I live in an area of Northwestern Ohio where people have different opinions, and we can talk about it,” Cheney said. “I have good friends on both sides of the aisle. We don’t argue about this stuff. We state our opinions, have a good laugh afterward and go on our way.”
Gordon admitted he’s careful, not knowing others’ political beliefs in his balanced 1st Ward.
“At times when I’m going door to door, I’ll run into Republicans and Democrats,” Gordon said. “I try not to get talking about the national elections. Whether it’s one side or another, you’re going to offend them.”
Jones said it comes down to showing respect in the 5th Ward.
“A lot of people here have been doing what they do for a long time. They’re truly grassroots people,” he said. “Everything is embedded off respect. That’s where you can get that diverse mix of ideas and still have great communication and dialogue.”
MAJOR U.S. CANDIDATES’ WEBSITES
Kamala Harris (Democrat): kamalaharris.com
Chase Oliver (Libertarian): votechaseoliver.com
Donald Trump (Republican): donaldjtrump.com
ONLY ON LIMAOHIO.COM
See more coverage of the 2024 elections at LimaOhio.com/tag/elections, including updated results as they come in Tuesday night.
ALLEN COUNTY’S VOTERS
A look at how Allen County’s precincts voted in 2020, along with their registered party breakdowns this year:
Most balanced
Lima 1C: 53% Trump, 47% Biden (9% registered Republicans, 4% registered Democrats, 87% no party)
Lima 4D: 53% Trump, 47% Biden (17% registered Republicans, 9% registered Democrats, 74% no party)
Lima 1A: 55% Trump, 45% Biden (11% registered Republicans, 7% registered Democrats, 82% no party)
Most Democratic
Lima 6C: 89% Biden, 11% Trump (10% registered Democrats, 1% registered Republicans, 88% no party)
Lima 5C: 85% Biden, 15% Trump (11% registered Democrats, 4% registered Republicans, 86% no party)
Lima 5B: 73% Biden, 27% Trump (5% registered Democrats, 3% registered Republicans, 92% no party)
Most Republican
Monroe East: 92% Trump, 8% Biden (36% registered Republicans, 1% registered Democrats, 62% no party)
Harrod: 88% Trump, 12% Biden (25% registered Republicans, 3% registered Democrats, 72% no party)
Auglaize A: 88% Trump, 12% Biden (35% registered Republicans, 2% registered Democrats, 63% no party)
Source: Allen County Board of Elections
Reach David Trinko at 567-242-0467 or on Twitter/X @Lima_Trinko.
