LIMA — Matt Huffman, who is seeking Ohio’s 12th District Senate seat, perhaps is hoping the words of U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan are a sign of how the primary election will turn out in March.
Jordan, one of many elected officials formally supporting Huffman’s run for the seat in the Republican primary, had this to say about Huffman’s run for the seat.
“Sixteen years ago, I stood right here, with the same banner on the wall except it had my name on it,” Jordan said. “The only difference was there was less people then than there is now.”
Jordan told a large crowd that attended Huffman’s formal campaign kickoff at the Lima Civic Center Monday that he was fully behind Huffman’s run, saying he owed it to Huffman who had shared his support in the past. Huffman stayed in support of Jordan in an election where most organizations were jumping to support one of Jordan’s challengers.
“I told him that everybody was supporting the other guy,” Jordan said. “He told me, ‘Look, Jim, I said I am for you.’ He was a friend who gave me the words I needed to hear. Loyalty is important in this business.”
Several other elected officials formally supported Huffman, including Shelby County Sheriff John Lenhart.
“In my lifetime as a soldier, I was able to recognize leadership ability when I seen it,” Lenhart said. “Leadership is very, very important right now across this state and this nation. Huffman has that ability, and I urge support him as our next senator.”
State Rep. Jim Buchy said he had the privilege to work with Huffman in the Ohio House of Representatives.
“First and foremost, he is a family man of faith,” Buchy said. “He has lived that faith in our area and our schools. He represents the people of this district.”
Allen County Republican Party Chairman Keith Chaney said the committee has endorsed him unanimously and that support was due to Huffman being “an individual that will work 24/7 to get the job done.”
Huffman said he has been door to door campaigning in the region with his wife, knocking on their 5,000th door just before Christmas. He said he feels he has the experience and ideas to be successful in the position.
“This job is about being able to get things done,” Huffman said. “I have been an elected official for 23 years but my 30 years in practicing law has helped me more. I learned a long time ago you can’t persuade anyone of anything if they are mad at you. I feel as a representative I was able to do that because that is what you do when you practice law.”
Huffman said one of the biggest jobs ahead is convincing enough people to call a convention of the states to put controls on power with the federal government.
“This is the worst situation we have faced since the Civil War,” Huffman said. “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. I think Ohio’s best days are still ahead of us.”
Huffman is attempting to replace Keith Faber, who is the current president of the state Senate. Faber also endorsed Huffman, calling him a man of leadership, courage and conviction.
