Lorain County Democrats celebrate as Biden takes oath

In an instant, years of tension drained from Lorain County Democrats as Joe Biden took the oath of office Wednesday, becoming the 46th president of the United States. "Our four-year national nightmare is over," said Steven Volk, professor emeritus of history at Oberlin College. He was part of a small group of Democrats who gathered online to watch the inauguration. They welcomed not only Biden, but also Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman, African American and Asian American to hold the office. "I see an administration that looks like America and a president and vice president who feel the weight of the work ahead, but who are focused on a singular goal of healing this nation," said Maureen Simen, co-leader of the grassroots political group Lorain County Rising. In large part, the watch party was a send-off for former President Donald Trump, for whom they had no kind words. Biden was sworn in outside the U.S. Capitol, where just two weeks prior an angry mob of Trump supporters rioted, attacking police and surging into the building, forcing Congress members to evacuate. His inaugural speech called for unity in the face of political division, domestic terrorism and the COVID-19 pandemic: "My whole soul is in this, bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation," Biden said. "And I ask every American to join me in this cause. Uniting to fight the foes we face — anger, resentment and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness." The biggest reaction from Lorain County Democrats came when Biden spoke of ending "lies told for power and for profit" and "this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal." Oberlin City Councilwoman Kristin Peterson said she has attended three inaugurations, but Biden's was the most emotional. Following the breach on the Capitol, it shows "what America is to me, an America truly for 'We the People,' " she said. Peterson said her family includes members who are Black, Hispanic, Thai, Australian, South African, Native American, straight, gay, Catholic, Protestant, Methodist, Jewish and Jehovah's Witness. "What we have lived through these last four years has torn this country apart," she said. Lorain County Republicans take an opposite view. In a written statement, local party Chairman David Arredondo said Trump's administration led the nation through "an unprecedented period of world peace and economic success." He said lower taxes and deregulation of businesses and industries pushed the economy to new heights. Arredondo also praised Trump for appointing three conservative judges to the U.S. Supreme Court and more than 200 judges to the federal judiciary. "President Biden, Vice president Kamala Harris and their administration have big shoes to fill in order to build on these successes and I hope they are just as successful over the next four years," he wrote. "Good luck." Jennifer Wasilk, head of the Amherst Republican Party and county GOP central committee chair, said she noted Biden's emphasis on unity and hopes he lives up to it. That means listening to and respecting differing points of view, she said: "I wish him the very best bringing unity to the country." Listening and respect were not hallmarks of the Trump administration, said Lorain County Rising founder Lili Sandler. She said she is is glad the Trump era, marked by "mean-spirited, bullying" behavior, is over. But a Biden presidency does not mean calls for reform will end, she said. The next fight will be over redrawing Ohio's congressional districts, local Democrats said. The American Civil Liberties Union won a 2018 lawsuit over the state's election map, which a federal court said was unconstitutionally drawn to benefit Republican candidates. The gerrymandered system has resulted in Republicans winning 75 percent of the state's seats since 2012, even though they received just 55 percent of votes. The court at first ordered a new map to be drawn before the 2020 election, but the deadline was pushed back to use new census data. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.