Jane Timken mirrors Trump policies in Senate campaign stop in Amherst

This story has been updated to correct an error: Bob Meilander no longer sits on the Republican State Central Committee. He resigned this fall after it was determined he could not serve as both a committeeman and mayor of Kipton. It has also been updated to clarify Timken's position on border enforcement. AMHERST — U.S. Senate candidate Jane Timken didn't mince words about her political goals Tuesday night during a campaign stop in Lorain County. "I am running on the America First agenda," she said, telling about 30 people who gathered at The Brew Kettle in downtown Amherst that she plans to support former President Donald Trump if he runs again and stump for his policies. Timken's platform closely mirrors Trump's. In a one-on-one interview, she called for a wall along the southern border of the U.S., and said she believes cartels are able to bring drugs to Ohio because border agents are busy policing undocumented Mexican immigrants. She advocated for tax cuts. She railed against mask and vaccine mandates. She vowed to bring back manufacturing jobs and to combat "Democratic socialist slide." "You are in the driver's seat," Timken told the small crowd, repeating many of those planks and basking in applause. "You tell me how you want this country to change." Timken rose to power as the chair of the Ohio Republican Party from 2017 to 2021. Lorain County Commissioner Dave Moore said she had his support when seeking the state party's top job six years ago. Angry at former Chairman Matt Borges for allegedly running the party "like a dictator," and spurred on by a letter of recommendation penned by Trump himself, Moore threw his support behind Timken. Now Trump's endorsement could again make or break any of the numerous candidates seeking to replace Sen. Rob Portman, R-Cincinnati, who has chosen not to seek a third term. Timken seemed confident she'll get the former president's blessing, but the competition for it is fierce, especially from former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel. Also gunning for the Republican nomination are Matt Dolan, Mike Gibbons, Bill Graham, Neil Patel, Mark Pukita and J.D. Vance. That's already a full field, even without Democrats Tim Ryan, Morgan Harper, Traci Johnson and LaShondra Tinsley all in the mix. Were she to survive that gauntlet and win office, Timken would serve alongside Democrat Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland. Historically, Brown and Portman have worked across the aisle, especially when it comes to legislation aimed at economic development. Timken was unable to give specific examples of where she might do the same, however. "Look, I'm going to Washington to stand on my conservative principles," she said. "… But I'll work with Senator Brown when I think it's going to make a difference in Ohioans' lives, and it's what Ohioans are telling me they want done." As party chair, Timken said she put 150,000 miles on her car visiting communities all over Ohio to hear their concerns. Now, with the primary voting starting in less than 60 days, she is on track to visit all 88 counties. Along the way, she's talked with sheriffs about rising violent crime, rode along with police officers and chatted with everyday residents about the effects of inflation. Timken circled around Tuesday to touch several times on sticker shock at the grocery store and gas pumps, and said she heard from farmers that fertilizer and seed will be four times more expensive this year. While today she and her steel magnate husband are multimillionaires, Timken said she grew up in a middle class family. To earn an income, she delivered newspapers, babysat, scooped ice cream and cleaned college dorm bathrooms. "I've been there, trying to make ends meet and trying to live on a budget," she said. "I understand where people are coming from. In fact, the inflation that's hitting our country now hits the people who can afford it the least." Many Ohioans are just a car or refrigerator repair away from serious financial trouble, she said. In Amherst, Timken was asked by former Lorain County Administrator Tom Williams where she stands on economic development policies. Instead of funding nonprofits, he asked whether she would support sending money to local governments to buy up vacant land so they can attract big corporations and jobs. Lorain County was courting Intel before it agreed to go elsewhere, but didn't have 1,000 free acres to offer, Williams said. Answering Williams, Timken said the federal government needs to make it easier for counties, like Lorain County, to create industrial parks and trade zones. Timken also took questions from Kipton Mayor Bob Meilander, including one about corruption in Columbus. Timken, whose campaign website describes her as "a conservative disruptor," responded by saying there are foes inside the Ohio Republican Party, "trying to cause problems for it." Throughout the night, she repeatedly lashed out at former Gov. John Kasich, whom she'd initially supported for president in 2016 before backing Trump. Kasich, her website claims, transformed the party "into an anti-Trump mess." But Timken wrapped up her remarks by saying that if Republicans want to win in the 2022 midterms and gain back the White House in 2024, they need to stick together and back the party's nominees, no matter what. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.