HANOVERTON — The historic Spread Eagle Tavern will serve as the backdrop for speeches by Republican Ohio U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, at noon Friday in what’s being billed as an old-fashioned public rally.
“It’s always fun to have someone of national prominence coming to the Spread Eagle,” Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman David Johnson said Tuesday.
A platform has been placed in front of the front door of the tavern owned by the Johnson family where the speakers will address what’s expected to be a crowd. Johnson suggested that attendees come at least an hour early to get their spot and invited the general public to come and hear about the issues.
The Spread Eagle Tavern has been host to many political rallies over the years and many nationally-known political figures, candidates and officeholders, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, the late Sen. John McCain, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Patrick Buchanan and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Johnson said the Vance/Cruz event is part of a statewide campaign bus trip. State and local officials expected to attend include Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Ohio Supreme Court Justices Sharon Kennedy, Pat Fischer and Pat DeWine, all Republicans.
“All are welcome. It should be a fun day,” Johnson said.
The bus carrying Cruz and Vance won’t be the only campaign bus pulling into Hanoverton. According to Johnson, a bus tour promoting State Issue I regarding bail reform is expected to be there, too.
State Issue I is a proposed constitutional amendment that if approved would require courts to consider public safety when setting bail in criminal cases, along with factors such as the seriousness of the charge, the person’s criminal record and their likelihood to return to court. Bond or bail is the amount of money a defendant must post to get out of jail while their case is pending.
This visit won’t be Vance’s first to the area and comes on the heels of a heated debate with his opponent Democrat Tim Ryan in Youngstown Monday night.