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Michael D. Pitman reports about Butler County, Ohio, politics, county government, countywide issues and Butler County people just like you for Cox Ohio Publishing (including the Hamilton JournalNews, Middletown Journal and several weekly papers in Butler County). He wants your suggestions and questions for more news stories. Leave a comment for him here or e-mail Michael at Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2011 > May > 02
Monday, May 2, 2011
Local reps sound off on bin Laden’s death
EDITOR’S NOTE: REP. COURTNEY COMBS’ COMMENTS WERE ADDED ON TUESDAY, MAY 3 AT 11:43 A.M.
Here’s a few comments I’ve gathered for a story in tomorrow’s Hamilton JournalNews and Middletown Journal:
Ohio Rep. Tim Derickson, R-Hanover Twp., said history will show the past decade was “a very challenging time” for the country.
“With his death it kinds of put a chapter in American history behind us and one that has not been a good chapter - one of death and destruction,” Derickson said.
He said bin Laden’s death “can help turn around this country.” Though he admits it sounds to be a bit far fetched, he believes it.
“Justice has been served and we move on,” Derickson said.
Ohio Rep. Bill Coley, R-Liberty Twp., takes off his hat to the Navy SEAL team who shot and killed bin Laden.
“In this world there are some truly evil people and it’s our job to eradicate them from the face of the planet,” Coley said. “It was an incredibly difficult thing to do and they pulled it out with what seems like no loss of life of our side and no collateral damage to people who weren’t being used as human shields by the cowards, by the terrorists. That was a pretty amazing thing that they were able to pull that off.”
Coley said he hopes the world moves on from this chapter in history.
“Hopefully, we realize that trying to force others by force of violence to comply with your vision of the world is not acceptable solution in this world.,” he said.
Ohio Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester Twp., said he wished the action was sooner, but he’s glad to see bin Laden taken out of action.
“I want to congratulate the president for taking such decisive action,” he said of President Barak Obama’s role in staying persistent in finding and capturing, or killing, bin Laden.
Cates also said it turns out that Guantanamo Bay — the controversial prison with detainees of suspected Al Qaeda terrorists — proved to be the key in finding bin Laden.
“Had we (closed Guantanamo Bay) we might not have captured him,” Cates said. “It’s a great day for our country.”
Ohio Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, says one of the two war fronts the American military are on should end with bin Laden’s death.
“Hopefully, now that we’ve got him, the Afghanistan war can come to a conclusion and we can bring our soldiers and military people back home out of Afghanistan. I think it should be something that is a priority. I think we are in a position of mission accomplished and get out of Afghanistan.”
Thoughts?
Ross levy only ballot issue Tuesday
ROSS TWP. — The voters in township’s six precincts will decide Tuesday if a fire levy will be renewed.
Ross Twp. officials are asking voters to OK the renewal of a 3-mill, five-year operating levy for the department which would generate $535,578 annually.
Without it township officials said it would be difficult to operate.
The township fire department has two fire stations — one on Cincinnati-Brookville Road and one on U.S. 27 near Millville — staffed with part-time firefighter/medics. Fire Chief Steve Miller is the lone full-time employee with the department of part-time and volunteer firefighters and medics.
Until three years ago, the department provided limited coverage only providing 24-hour coverage on the weekends. The department transitioned into a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operation about six months ago.
The special election costs about $2,000 per precinct, according to Butler County Board of Elections officials. The estimated cost would be about $12,000 for the township.
Thoughts?
