COLUMBUS, OH – The Republican Liberty Caucus of Ohio (RLCOH) announced today that they have sent the following letter to Governor John Kasich with recommendations for appointment to the Ohio Sunset Review Committee:
Governor Kasich,
The Ohio Sunset Review Committee is a great example of government done right. Boards and commissions built over time to address specific needs can outlive their usefulness. This is to be expected in a large and complex government, as we have in Ohio. The over 200 such boards and commissions often duplicate each other, spend millions in taxpayer dollars, and simply need leadership to help determine their direction. The Sunset Review Committee is chartered by law and was due to begin its work in February. The Ohio House appointed its three members and the Senate appointed three. As of the date of this letter, you, sir, have yet to name any of your appointees.
Your spokesman, Mr. Jim Lynch, stated that you “will not make an appointment just to check a box, but want to ensure that your appointees can take a clean, unbiased look at the system and have the right strengths to add value to this important task.” In light of this statement, the members of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Ohio are submitting the following three names to you as the best possible choices for the Sunset Review Committee, all former Republican legislators that are exactly the type of members you are seeking: the kind that will take a clean, unbiased look at the system and make the choices required of this committee.
Our first selection recommended to you is Matt Lynch. Mr. Lynch is a former Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing District 76 from his appointment in April 2012 to January 1, 2015. As an attorney in Bainbridge Township, he first ran for office to stop wasteful spending and tax hikes. Lynch won and his first order of business was cutting his own pay. Over the next four years Lynch reduced annual expenditures by 17%. As a state representative, Lynch had an independent streak and voted against increases in the sales tax, real estate taxes, and unnecessary growth in government.
Our second selection is Lynn Wachtmann. Mr. Wachtmann is a former Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives, who represented the 81st District from 2007 to 2014. Prior to his term in the House, Wachtmann was a two-term state Senator, representing the 1st district of the Ohio Senate from 1999 to 2006, and the 83rd District of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1985 to 1998. He is the Chairman of the House Health and Aging Committee. As a member of the legislature, Wachtmann had a reputation as a no-nonsense official who could get things done. Wachtmann consistently worked to change the role of state government and empower the taxpayer by letting them keep more of their money.
Our third choice may seem controversial, but we are hopeful that you are able to lead by example by nominating Charlie Earl. Mr. Earl is a former Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives 80th district from 1981 to 1984 when he declined to seek reelection. During his tenure in the House, and also as a former broadcaster and business owner, Earl has been an advocate for a limited, streamlined government. Earl uniquely understands the largess of the state government, and would be an excellent choice to help weed through the numerous state boards to help determine what is necessary and what is excess.
We understand your busy schedule leading our great state has become increasingly so with your current presidential campaign. We are glad to be able to provide this service as a liberty caucus within the Republican Party, formed specifically to assist with matters related to small and more responsible government. We hope you will thoroughly consider our recommendations for appointment to the Sunset Review Committee board so that its important objectives can be fulfilled.
Sincerely,
Bill Yarbrough Chairman, Republican Liberty Caucus of Ohio
