Brian Stewart running for State Representative in Ohio’s 78th House District with the endorsement of Congressman Stivers, Congressman Balderson, and leaders throughout the district

 CIRCLEVILLE, August 14, 2019 – Brian Stewart, a Pickaway County Commissioner and Iraq War veteran, announced today that he will run for State Representative for the 78th Ohio House District in the Republican primary.
 
“I have spent my entire adult life serving my country and my community,” Stewart said. “I have a strong conservative record, and as a result we have helped create more than 2,700 new jobs, passed a balanced budget every year with no deficit spending, all while improving local government and fighting for the values that are important to residents in Ohio’s 78th House District.”
 
As Commissioner, Stewart helped reduce Pickaway County’s unemployment rate from 9.3% when he took office to as low as 3.2% during his tenure. He led efforts to secure more than $1.7 billion in private investment in the county through substantial job-creation projects from Sofidel, DuPont, FedEx, BASF, and more. The rating agency Moody’s upgraded the county’s credit rating during his second term citing the county’s “balanced operations, extremely healthy reserves, and prudent fiscal management” by the commissioners. In 2019, Commissioner Stewart earned the “Friend of the Fair” award following completion of construction on the county’s new Pickaway County Agriculture and Event Center, a $15 million overhaul of the fairgrounds property.
 
“When I left the Army, my wife and I could have started our family anywhere, but we chose to make our home in the 78th District,” Stewart added. “Our roots in the district run deep; this is where we live, work, go to church, and raise our kids. I will make sure that every family in Pickaway, Fairfield, Hocking, Morgan, Muskingum, and Athens counties has a strong voice at the Statehouse.”
 
Commissioner Stewart is a former councilman for the Village of Ashville and an Iraq War veteran. He served three years on active duty in the U.S. Army as an infantryman, including a year-long deployment conducting combat patrols in the Sadr City neighborhood of Baghdad in 2005. For his actions, Stewart was twice awarded the Army Commendation Medal, and also earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Returning to college on the G.I. Bill, Stewart earned both his bachelor’s and law degrees from The Ohio State University. He is also a partner with Farthing & Stewart LLP, a law practice in Circleville, where he represents individuals and small businesses throughout the 78th House District.
 
A long list of leaders in the 78th House District has already endorsed Commissioner Stewart in the Republican primary and for the general election, including Congressman Steve Stivers, whose endorsement letter reads:
 
“I’m writing to give my strong endorsement of Pickaway County Commissioner Brian Stewart for State Representative in the 78th District. It has been my privilege to work with Brian for many years, and I have come to know him as a strong conservative leader who always puts the needs of his constituents first. As a fellow veteran of the Iraq War, Brian put his life on the line for our country as an Army infantryman, and he brings that same toughness to the job of being an elected official. Brian has been living, working, and raising his family in Ohio’s 78th House District ever since he came home Iraq, and he shares the values of the families across Pickaway, Fairfield, Hocking, Morgan, Muskingum, and Athens Counties. He doesn’t just talk the talk, he’s been walking the walk, by voting for balanced budgets, low taxes, job creation, and conservative principles. Brian Stewart has been an incredibly effective leader for Pickaway County, and he’s the right person to serve as the next State Representative for the 78th Ohio House District. I’m proud to endorse him.”
 
Congressman Troy Balderson, who formerly represented the communities of OH-78 in the Ohio General Assembly, has also endorsed Commissioner Stewart, adding that:
 
“It was my great privilege to represent Pickaway, Fairfield, Hocking, Morgan, Muskingum, and Athens counties in the Ohio General Assembly, and I know the families of Ohio’s 78th House District deserve a strong conservative leader to fight for them at the Statehouse. Pickaway County Commissioner Brian Stewart is that leader. Brian is an infantry veteran of the Iraq War, a successful small business owner, and one of the most effective local elected officials I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. Brian Stewart has balanced budgets, helped to create thousands of jobs, and stood up for the conservative principles and American values that have made our country great. I am happy to endorse him to be the next State Representative for Ohio’s 78th House District.”
 
More than 50 additional leaders from across the 78th District have already endorsed Commissioner Stewart as well, including State Senate President Pro Tem Bob Peterson, State Representative Gary Scherer, Fairfield County Commissioner Dave Levacy, Fairfield County Prosecutor Kyle Witt, Lancaster Mayor David Scheffler, Fairfield County Clerk of Courts Branden Meyer, Fairfield County Municipal Clerk of Courts Valeda Slone, Republican State Central Committeewoman Angela White, Hocking County Commissioner Jeff Dickerson, Logan Mayor Greg Fraunfelter, Hocking County Auditor Ken Wilson, Muskingum County Commissioner Mollie Willison Higgins Crooks, Pickaway County Commissioners Jay Wippel and Harold “Champ” Henson, Circleville Mayor Don McIlroy, Pickaway County Treasurer Ellery Elick, Pickaway County Clerk of Courts James Dean, Ashville Mayor Chuck Wise, South Bloomfield Mayor Matt Pettibone, Pickaway County GOP Chairman Mike Whitten, Morgan County GOP Chairman Tom Jenkins, Morgan County Auditor Gary Woodward, and Morgan County Recorder Melissa Hivnor. Additional endorsements from across the 78th District can be found at www.stewartforohio.com/endorsements.
 
“Just as President Trump is working to make America great again, I look forward to working with Speaker Householder to make Ohio the best state in America to raise a family,” Stewart said. “I’ll fight for lower taxes, limited government, and to make sure that the thousands of new jobs that we’ve helped bring to Pickaway County are just as possible in every county in the 78th District. I will be a partner at the Statehouse for local governments and local communities as we work together to combat drug abuse, to improve our schools, to expand broadband internet access, and to enhance the pride we all should feel in being Ohioans. And I will stand proudly, as I always have, for pro-life protections for the unborn, 2nd Amendment rights, religious liberty, freedom of speech, and for Ohio to always do its part in providing for a strong national defense, the security of our borders, and our American way of life.”

In his free time, Commissioner Stewart is a dedicated movie buff, a passionate sports fans (Go Bucks/WhoDey), and enjoys target shooting, books on American history, and the music of Johnny Cash. He lives in Ashville and attends Village Chapel Church with his wife, Letanya, a Certified Nurse Practitioner, and their three children, Salem (10), Sidney (8), and Lincoln (3).

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Commissioner Stewart can be reached by phone at (740) 703-8442, and by e-mail at briansstewart@gmail.com. Learn more about his plans for Ohio at www.stewartforohio.com. You can also follow him on Twitter at @BrianStewartOH, and “like” his campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BrianStewart.