Volume 84, Issue 1
Monday, June 13th, 2023
County Sheriff Candidate Makes Patriotic Fashion Statement with Eye-catching Suit
By: Nezar Shakaki and Connor CampbellOn Sunday and Monday, delegates throughout Buckeye Boys State noticed a particularly well-dressed candidate running for County Sheriff. Though most candidates have sported either basic, single-color suits or totally casual wear, the Federalist candidate for County Sheriff, Braden J. Schuck of Gabel City, made a unique fashion choice. Schuck has donned an American-flag themed suit. Consequently, this has drawn attention to his name and, in turn, his campaign. Schuck believes his wit and leadership are just two of the key traits he possesses that make him a strong candidate for the office of County Sheriff. Schuck added that he believes that he is “100 percent” sure that he possesses more of these key qualities than his opponent.
Addressing the elephant in the room, Schuck declared that his main intention in wearing the iconic American-flag themed suit was to show his patriotism. Schuck says he loves his country and decided that incorporating the flag into his fashion was his personal way of showcasing this love. Schuck believes that the flag-
themed suit “definitely” gets the intended message across to delegates throughout Galbraith county. As a political move, Schuck thinks that his bold fashion will give him a sizable advantage over his main opponent, as it serves as a visual representation of his core personality traits that make him a fit candidate for County Sheriff. Lastly, when asked how he believed his fashion choice impacted the atmosphere of Buckeye Boys State, Schuck claimed that his suit makes the experience seem more enjoyable and less uptight, while also increasing feelings of general patriotism among the delegates. Time can only tell if Schuck’s fashion moves will pay off in the end. Although his fashion tactics are more visible, he’s certainly not the only candidate testing out cutting-edge campaign moves.
Roosevelt Punsalan of Estepp City in Munson county is a gubernatorial candidate who has taken his own unique approach to this campaign, believing it will ensure victory in the end. Roosevelt Punsalan shares a name with past notable U.S. presidents, which puts the idea of him being a professional figure into delegates’ minds. Thus, Punsalan is running a campaign that not only takes care of normal responsibilities like promoting his campaign and unifying Nationalists and Federalists, but also takes on another important role: making a name for himself. Punsalan does not want his iconic name to dominate his campaign, but rather his personality and advocacy for unity.
In the end, many candidates for public office have utilized their creative approaches to campaigning to secure their elections. Whether it
Continued on Pg. 4
Braden Schuck in his American flag-suit. Photo by Jacob Baltes
I. Education
BUCKEYE BOYS STATE PARTY PLATFORM
Adopted at 4:45 PM on Monday, June 12, 2023
A. Increase funding for school lunches that are locally sourced from districts with lower income.
B. Increase school voucher cash per student proportionally allocated to cost of living in the area.
C. Increase funding in emergency training and add security in school facilities.
D. Require increased benefits for school bus drivers.
E. Increase funding for differentiated education in the younger grades.
II. Infrastructure
A. Revitalized industry using green and nuclear energy.
B. Give state grants for personal solar panels to power homes.
C. Invest in rail repair and making new rails for personal and commercial use.
D. Protect workers rights, especially to unionize.
E. Standardizing road’s throughout the state and not relying solely on property taxes
F. Cut the public works programs that take too much time
G. Increase freight lines throughout Ohio
H. Highways should have a higher zoning requirements
I. Increasing animal protection
J. Focusing on non-rusting buildings
K. Increase regulations on environmental
III. Economic Growth
A. Bring in innovative businesses to the state and the big cities.
B. Tax reform- flat income tax
C. Advocate for nuclear power
IV. Social Reform
A. Increase access to mental health resources
B. Create a division of courts for death penalty cases
C. Legalization and taxation of marijuana
D. Crack down on big corporations, monopolies and consolidated industries
E. Increase access to contraceptives
F. Require more thorough background checks and training before gun purchases
V. Law Enforcement
A. Training reform for police officers across the state
B. Physical, educational, and social requirements for all police officers
C. Mental health screenings for officers
D. Overhaul the hiring process for police officers
E. Increase funding for smaller communities
F. Increase social outreach- community programs to improve relationships between officers and citizens
G. Improve safety of officers
H. Recruiting more police officers and using them for longer
VI. Budgeting
A. Increase funding for infrastructure, specifically for roadways
B. Increase spending on educator spending specifically for school supplies
C. Add more subsidies for nuclear power plants
D. Add more subsidies for public transportation
E. Lower taxes for the agricultural industry
VII. Government Reform
A. Lowering taxes for the middle class and lower class
B. Eliminating loopholes in tax laws specifically for those with a higher income
C. Create another judiciary division for regulation of redistricting
D. Competency test regardless of age when somebody files for office
E. Increase the amount of benefits government employees over pay
F. Make it easier to see information about government official’s interactions
G. Implementation of state recall elections
H. More investigations into political accountability
I. Increase House terms to 4 years and senate terms to 6 years to stop excessive campaigning
I. Social Issues
BUCKEYE BOYS STATE FEDERALIST PARTY PLATFORM
Adopted at 5:08 PM on Monday, June 12, 2023
A. The Federalist party supports increasing opportunities to learn languages in k-12 education.
B. The Federalist party is in support of increasing school choice initiatives that allow parents ability to pick schools regardless of geographic location.
C. The Federalist party supports increased funding for advanced courses in k-12 education.
D. The Federalist Party believes in requiring recreational time for schools
II. Economics
A. The Federalist Party supports a floating minimum wage that is based on inflation of the value of the United State dollar. The Federalist party supports tax breaks for companies that raise their average wage in relative to profits.
B. The Federalist Party supports welfare programs that lead to self-dependency and provide financial aid to individuals who seek post secondary education, including trade schools.
C. The Federalist Party supports corporations who are committed to domestic production and invest in low income or previously industrialized communities.
D. The Federalist Party also supports companies who are committed to anti-price gouging.
III. Infrastructure
A. The Federalist Party believes in promoting and funding the research of renewable energies. Use of fossil fuels is important to our parties beliefs, but a transition to clean energy is necessary. Efficiency comes first for us. We believe in Energy Independence from other countries and states.
B. The Federalist Party believes in promoting sustainable development in our communities and keeping natural areas and national parks safe. We also want to focus on the transportation of goods through new canals/railways across the state/ country.
IV. Environmental Issues
A. The Federalist Party supports holding all organizations accountable for private and public environmental damage.
B. The Federalist Party supports research and actions that help the environment such as parks, animals, and farming.
V. Safety
A. The Federalist Party is committed to re-evaluating regulations on drinking and tobacco ages.
B. The Federalist Party supports increasing training and transparency for the police.
C. The Federalist Party believes in decreasing gun violence.
VI. Political Reform
A. The Federalist Party believes in anti-corruption policies that hold individuals, the courts, and the media accountable and impartial.
B. The Federalist Party is committed to political cooperation.
may be making a fashion statement or shifting the entire focus of the campaign, these candidates and many more have thought outside the box to make their campaigns as interesting and special as possible.
Governor Candidates Try to Stand OutAs Elections Rush Forward
By: Brody Montgomery and Haddon LockyerOne full day through Buckeye Boys State allowed delegates to meet and talk to new people with many different backgrounds, personalities, hobbies and overall goals for this week. Governor candidates come from across the state to campaign, interact, and, ultimately, win the delegate vote.
The first interviewees were Aidan C. Haggard of Estepp City and David G. Siffs of Dieringer City, the Nationalists candidate for Governor and Lt. Governor, respectively. Haggard and Siffs had never met each other before the orientations for Buckeye Boys State, but quickly realized they had a similar vision which could propel them to victory. The team shares a love for law and order, and they both seek to run a “common sense candidacy,” according to Haggard.
Haggard stated that the U.S. federal government and the Ohio government have displayed a figure of ignorance in judicial sentencing, allowing criminals to achieve a minimal sentence of some of the most heinous crimes. He made it very clear that criminals will be charged more harshly under his administration, while still respecting due process.
Siffs also made it clear that this sense of justice wasn’t the only value they were focused on.
He mentioned that they want to re-industrialize Ohio and reinvigorate its economy in an attempt to, as he put it,, “make all these small towns look just like Oxford does.” Their plan is to implement tax incentives to help not only big business, but also local mom and pop shops to relocate to the great state of Ohio and help boost the economy.
Next, Hetuck had an interview with gubernatorial candidate Francis Gajski and his running mate Lane Renier, both of Voisard City, candidates for the Federalist party. Gajski, known by his supporters as “Fran,” is seeking to cross party lines and use a love of country to unite all delegates. This is what Gajski believes sets him apart from the rest of the governor candidates; the use of companionship and union to work together and make the best government possible.
Gajski stated that he wasn’t planning on running for governor when he arrived Sunday afternoon. However, after meeting Renier and bonding with his citymates, he decided to throw his hat in the ring. He told us, “The first day, I walked in here and started introducing myself to everybody else, started talking to everybody else. The mentality, the brotherhood, it was just there from the start I said, ‘I’m going to run for governor. I’m going to be the voice they want. I’m going to be the voice they need.’” Gajski and Reiner are united by their desire to end divisiveness.
“I feel like one [issue] is divisiveness. We were all given these badges, but, you know, it doesn’t really mean anything. The badges don’t align with the opinions that we had coming in… I suppose we’re trying to conquer that,” Reiner added. The primary election for governor will be held Tuesday morning, with results coming out later that day by the Acting Secretary of State. The primary election for governor will be held Tuesday morning, with results coming out later that day by the Acting Secretary of State.