Bread-and-butter issues backed Ghanbari

PERRYSBURG — Kitchen table issues and consensus building were what incumbent Rep. Haraz Ghanbari, R-Perrysburg, attributed to his reelection for the redistricted Ohio 75th District House seat.

There were 41,434 votes cast with Ghanbari receiving 24,678 or 59.56%, against Jan Materni, his Democratic Party opponent, who received 16,756 votes.

“Inflation, inflation, inflation,” Ghanbari said. “We had more than 30,000 voter contacts on front doors across District 75, logging more than 1,200 miles on two scooters. The two biggest issues I heard were kitchen table issues, such as inflation and crime.”

Ghanbari’s miles on the road, talking to his constituents, reinforced his message about improving the economy.

“Those are a lot of the bread-and-butter issues I heard directly from constituents, on their front door steps. That’s what I was hearing from Democrats, Republicans and Independents, just across the board. My commitment to them is to continue to represent them at the statehouse and continue to be available,” Ghanbari said.

He also stressed that he is willing to work with Democrats, whether that be the mayors of cities in his district or some of the many organizations that endorsed him, which might not be traditionally associated with a Republican.

“I very much appreciate the willingness of folks to be vulnerable and share with me their concerns and share with me what their struggles are, but also sharing with me what they celebrate in life,” Ghanbari said. “I firmly believe there is more that unites us as a nation that what divides us.”

He thanked his wife, children and friends for being supportive.

“There have been a lot of times where I have been out late, knocking on doors, taking late evening calls from constituents and I just have a lot of gratitude,” Ghanbari said.

He was also very serious about pulling up his campaign signs that are spread across Wood County.

“I look forward to pulling up all these big signs. I personally installed all of them, with the exception of about five,” Ghanbari said. “That mission starts tomorrow morning. I will have all those big signs out within 24 hours.”