Belmont County GOP officials and party members heard Tuesday from gubernatorial candidate and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and running mate Jon Husted during a visit to the party headquarters. Husted, left, speaks with Lucien Murzyn, member of the executive committee of the Belmont County Republican Party.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — With Election Day fast approaching, the GOP contenders for Ohio’s governor and lieutenant governor visited Republican Party headquarters to encourage a more grassroots effort.

Mike DeWine, Ohio’s attorney general and candidate for governor, and running mate Jon Husted, Ohio’s secretary of state, emphasized that the races are expected to be close and every vote will matter. The small meeting room of the party headquarters was packed with more than 20 officials and other party members.

Husted spoke first, describing signs of economic growth he has seen while on the campaign trail.

“All of Eastern and Southeastern Ohio is coming back,” he said, adding that he found the current Republican administration a benefit to the state.

Husted spoke about the 2010 election. He said under the Democratic administration of then-governor Ted Strickland, unemployment was 10.5 percent and the budget was in poor condition. He said after the eight years of Republican Gov. John Kasich, unemployment in the state is 4.5 percent, the budget is balanced, taxes are reduced and there has been an influx of private sector jobs.

“What if Ted Strickland and (former Lt. Gov.) Richard Cordray (current Democratic candidate for Ohio governor) had won re-election eight years ago? Where would we be today?” he asked.

“This is going to be a close election,” he said. “Every single Republican on the statewide ballot could win, or every single Republican on the statewide ballot could lose.”

DeWine spoke about the economic opportunities in the state.

“You need a good partner in Columbus. We will be a good partner,” DeWine said. “We will keep taxes down. We will keep regulations down. We will make this a good place to do business.”

He said his administration would to work with JobsOhio, the private nonprofit corporation formed to drive job creation and investment in the state.

DeWine related his work as attorney general in the past eight years. That includes increasing efficiency of the crime lab in tasks such as the testing of rape kits, he said. He said Husted has also made the secretary of state’s office more efficient and friendlier to prospective businesses.

“Elections matter,” he said. “It matters who is in office.”

Afterward, he also addressed local government funding.

“I’m not looking to increase taxes,” DeWine said. “I do believe we need to continue to figure out how we can help local government. We want to try to begin restoration of the local government funds.”

Another subject DeWine addressed was the proposed Issue I amendment to the Ohio constitution. While DeWine is strongly opposed to Issue 1, he said Cordray supported the amendment. Numerous published reports concur, although the candidates differ as to how the proposed amendment might impact the area.

“State Issue 1 is a disaster,” DeWine said. “Think about the judgment of this man who’s running for governor, Richard Cordray.”

DeWine said the amendment would result in misdemeanor-level charges rather than felonies and an inability to incarcerate cases involving opioids such as fentanyl.

“Where do you think the drug dealers are going to come? Where do you think they’re going to operate out of? They’re going to operate out of Belmont County, I would absolutely guarantee. More will be coming in,” he said.

As governor, DeWine said he would encourage prevention by working with schools and the Ohio School Board and further encourage multi-jurisdiction drug task forces across the state, as well as drug courts. DeWine said he would also increase resources to Childrens Services.

He said he believed Issue 1 would have a negative impact on drug courts’ effectiveness.

“This is going to be a very, very close race, but we believe we’re gong to win,” DeWine said. “If you help us, and continue to help us, we look forward to working with you.”

Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Frank Fregiato and Juvenile and Probate Court Judge Al Davies were also present. Fregiato has been among the judges in the area to voice opposition to Issue 1. Afterward, Davies spoke to DeWine about the juvenile drug court program and the drug-related issues he sees.

Belmont County Commissioner J.P. Dutton, a Republican, said he welcomed the chance to speak with DeWine and Husted and discuss infrastructure and energy development. He noted the recognition of the importance of this area to the state.

“Eastern and Southeastern Ohio has always been an important part of the state, but I think it has been growing in recent years,” Dutton said.

Lucien Murzyn, member of the executive committee of the Belmont County Republican Party, said the economy was one of the key issues.

“We’re finally making a turnaround in the valley over here,” he said. “The economy’s getting better, and you want to keep it that way. It’s going to be an interesting race, because there’s a lot of energy in both parties, the Republican and the Democratic Party. It’s going to be a Battle Royale.”

Interim Belmont County Republican Party Chairman David Jones said he agrees.

“I think we’re going have a good turnout. It’ll be positive and that’s what we need,” he said.