Dear Friends,
I want to thank you for your vote of confidence last night
allowing me to continue to serve as your State Senator for the next four
years. But more importantly, I want to thank you for opening your homes,
allowing me on your doorstep, and talking with me about how our state
government can better work for you. I will continue to fight for the issues
that are most important to our area, like retaining and creating more good
paying jobs, investing in education, and making health care more affordable
and accessible to more Ohioans.
We are especially humbled by the margin of our victory last
night. Receiving more than 61% of the vote in a very tough political year
for Republicans far exceeded our expectations. We were pleased to have won
each of four counties and, in some communities, to have been the top vote
getter of any candidate on the ballot. I will work as hard as I can to
honor the trust you have placed in me.
There are many people who I want to thank and acknowledge. So
many volunteers helped us knock more than 30,000 doors, march in over 35
parades, put out more than 2,000 yardsigns, and handout more than 74,000
notepads. I extend my deepest thanks and gratitude to each and everyone one
of you. And I also want to thank all of those organizations who endorsed
our campaign and worked on our behalf.
But I want to especially acknowledge a few people. I have been
blessed with a first-rate campaign team that masterfully handled the
day-to-day needs of the campaign. I first want to thank my Dad - the
original Mark Wagoner - for serving as our campaign treasurer. With the
help of Elaine, they ensured that our campaign finances were sound and that
our reports were properly and timely filed. Next, I want to thank Andrea
France for being a "super volunteer," dedicating so much of her free time
and weekends to helping our campaign. I would like to thank Christine Seles
for her hard work on our absentee program and ensuring our mail got out. I
also want to thank Brad Taylor, my brother-in-law, for getting us organized
for each and every parade, which often entailed traveling four counties to
make sure that we had each parade covered. Also, I want to thank Erica
Duquette, my first campaign manager in 2004, for handling all of our
fundraising and event planning. Erica has been with me since the beginning
and is a great friend. In addition, Ron Coffman has worked with me in all
my campaigns and handles all the messaging in a way that - well - only Ron can.
Two people deserve very special recognition: Will Harbauer and
Alex Adams - both of whom did extraordinary jobs. Will was out every day
doing the work that needs to be done to win a campaign of this size. From
pounding in signs, to knocking on doors, to making phone calls, to
coordinating volunteers, Will did it with energy and a great attitude. Will
has a very promising career in politics and public service ahead of him. He
is a superstar.
Alex Adams, our campaign manager, did a masterful job. Put
simply, Alex is the best in the business. I have been fortunate to have had
Alex manage my last two campaigns and, perhaps more importantly, I am proud
to consider him a friend. Through Alex's talent and hard work, our last two
campaigns have received over 60% of the vote, which is no easy feat
considering the makeup of the district and the political environment we
faced. He did it all while going to school full time and graduating
as valedictorian of The University of Toledo's pharmacy program.
It is rare in this world to find someone with this level of talent and
ability. Tremendous opportunities lie in Alex's future.
Finally, I want to thank my family, Merideth, Mickey and Taylor.
I am blessed with a wonderful wife who understands the long hours involved
with public service and provides unconditional support. And to Mickey, our
four year old, and Taylor, our baby girl born during this campaign, you both
bring a smile to my face every day and remind me why I do what I do. Thanks
for sharing your Dad with folks of Second Senate District.
To the voters of the Second Senate District, thanks again for
your vote or confidence allowing the opportunity to continue to work on your
behalf on The Ohio Senate.
Warmest regards,
Mark Wagoner
