The Hetuck - 2024 - Volume 85, Issue 1 - Monday

Volume 85, Issue 1

Nguyen Levels Up

By C.J Bateman

Ben Nguyen of Favreau City is quickly becoming the subject of conversation among many delegates. From early Sunday evening, delegates had begun to gather the idea that Nguyen may be a candidate who could create quite the story. He has swept election after election, winning chairmanships of his party at the city, county, and state levels.

Nguyen, a candidate for the Federalists, preaches his values of a strong party and unity within his party. When asked of his current success, Nguyen stated, “I don't think of it as my success, I think of it as the Federalist party’s success.

Monday, June 10, 2024

We found someone we can unite behind and beat the Nationalist party.”

Throughout the various election processes, Nguyen has been adamant on rallying the Federalist party on the idea of unity, hoping to create a party which works with one another rather than fighting.

Nguyen's success comes from his immense experience within an excess of political spheres, having previously worked with the Ohio legislature among other political groups over the years, finding success in all areas. Throughout the course of the week he has spoken on multiple occasions about legislation which he helped pass, specifically on those involving high schoolers and increasing their quality of life.

Advocating for changes focused on quality of life has been Nguyen’s focus throughout this week's elections, with a primary focus on veteran’s benefits. When asked why he felt so passionately about said topic, Nguyen mentioned his family.

“That’s kind of personal for me, my mom is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan [specifically] Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Afghani Freedom,” he said.

Having such a close veteran connection has allowed Nguyen to gain an intimate understanding of the benefits, which are currently lacking for veterans. Among the various benefits Nguyen wishes to include is better help for those entering the transition from active member to civilian. Nguyen's plans beyond veteran benefits include a de-escalation of the friction between political parties and the overall empowerment of the Buckeye Boys State government. Nguyen believes Federalists and Nationalists alike can expect substantial change through his work.

2024 Buckeye Boys State Federalist Party Platform

Adopted on Monday, June 10, 2024 at 5:46 PM

1. ECONOMIC REFORM

Plank 1: We support the state taking actions to reappropriate, within reason, monetary resources to empower local and county level governments.

Plank 2: Eliminate tax loopholes used by the elites and give more tax breaks to the middle/working class of Ohio.

Plank 3: Supply-side economics and supporting businesses

Plank 4: Incentivize individuals to renovate rundown, salvageable infrastructure rather than building new buildings

2. LIMITED GOVT

Plank 1: The government needs to be a resource to the people, not a force.

Plank 2: Supports law abiding citizens having the right to own a firearm.

3. ENVIRONMENTAL

Plank 1: Hold companies accountable for contributions to pollution

Plank 2: Create ways to decrease emissions and pollution by transitioning cities to be more environmentally friendly.

Plank 3: Incentivizing the research and development of sustainable energy by transitioning subsidies from the coal industry to renewable energy.

4. GENERAL EDUCATION REFORM

Plank 1:State funding for local schools should not be dictated by standardized testing performances

Plank 2: Support of our education and selection of teachers.

Plank 3: Provide earlier and better access to vocational education and trade jobs/programs.

5. AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT

Plank 1: Supports tax breaks for incoming and existing farmers that need to be raised.

Plank 2: Promote good agriculture.

6. HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Plank 1: Support a raise to the sin tax in Ohio.

Plank 2: Support the use of funds from the collected sin taxes to fund naloxone in public places and improve support programs for the addicted.

7. CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

Plank 1: Support the ideology of, citizen until proven guilty.

Plank 2: Knowingly false accusations with the intent to disenfranchise an individual are punishable to a degree of the accusation.

Plank 3: Support correctional facilities creating exceptional programs that help rehabilitate offenders depending on the crime.

Editor’s note: The above platform has been printed as provided by the BBS Federalist Party.

I. VOTING RIGHTS

BUCKEYE BOYS STATE NATIONALIST PARTY PLATFORM

Adopted at 5:04 pm on Monday, June 10, 2024

A. PLANK #1: Increase access to voter registration.

B. PLANK #2: Increase voter efficacy and voter literacy through education in schools.

C. PLANK #3: Offer benefits for registering and participating in all elections.

D. PLANK #4: Mobile voting stations to rural communities who have trouble traveling to voting stations.

II. EDUCATION REFORM

A. PLANK #1: Provide financial benefits to students within the intention to pursue public service positions.

B. PLANK #2: Mandate annual survey of Ohio public K-12 schools to determine the proper school funding.

III. NATIONAL SECURITY

A. PLANK #1: In order to deal with the gun violence epidemic the nationalist party believes that steps ought to be taken to increase the effectiveness of background checks, including mental health checks, as well as closing loopholes related to registering of purchased and built firearms.

B. PLANK #2: Limit carless prescription containing highly addictive drugs

C. PLANK #3: In order for the decrease in the drug epidemic, the Nationalist Party believes that funding ought to be allocated for programs tending to Drug Rehabilitation and Reducing illegal drug use.

D. In order to protect free and fair elections, The Nationalist Party believes that steps ought to be taken to prevent voting fraud and election interference.

IV. CLEAN ENERGY REFORM

A. PLANK #1: In order to achieve a lower carbon footprint the nationalist party believes that tax breaks ought to be offered to corporations for carbon neutrality and job creation in the renewable energy sector.

B. PLANK #2: In order to achieve a lower carbon footprint the nationalist party believes that the funds ought to be allocated for the research and development of renewable energy technology.

C. PLANK #3: In order to prevent exploitation of the newly added tax breaks, restrictions ought to be placed on the purchase and sale of the carbon effects.

D. PLANK #4: In order to achieve a lower carbon footprint the nationalist party supports greater investment into public transportation.

E. PLANK #5: Corporations pay for their carbon emissions created and there is a limit on the total emissions allowed. Institute a fine for the course of carbon emissions.

V. ECONOMIC REFORM

A. PLANK #1: The Nationalist Party intends to work towards helping make economics more equal. This includes more antitrust/ monopoly laws as well as reforming to a graduate tax at a lower rate than in the United States today, and closing tax loopholes as much as possible.

B. PLANK #2: The Nationalist Party intends to educate citizens on economics. This will be done by providing grants for public schools that teach economic and financial literacy targeting marginalized and underrepresented economists.

C. PLANK #3: More Government grants for infrastructure and keeping jobs in the U.S.

D. PLANK #4: As a Nationalist party we believe that unemployment benefits should be limited to one year of aid.

VI. QUALITY OF LIFE

A. PLANK #1: The Nationalist Party believes in partial subsidized housing for those who work.

VII. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

A. PLANK #1: We as the nationalist party set out to protect and honor our citizens' rights to individuality. We seek to provide platforms VIA public and private agendas in order to facilitate conversation and unity of all people.

B. PLANK #2: The belief that individual and civil rights should be taught in classrooms as embedded in the constitution.

Editor’s note: The above platform has been printed as provided by the BBS Nationalist Party.

The County Counts!

By Jeremy King

Though the excitement of state level elections can be overwhelming, it is also essential for delegates to give their attention to the county level candidates as well, as those are the officials that will most directly represent them.

Max KeckPriest of Weldon City and Joey Duncan of Wiehe City, are both running for the role of county commissioner of White County, representing opposing parties. While they both are going for the same role, they have very different plans should they obtain the position.

Nationalist candidate Keck-Priest had spoken immensely about wanting to organize his county.

“As I have on my posters: organization, order, and service, are what I like to call my three pillars or mottos,” Keck-Priest said. I want to make sure everything runs in an orderly fashion, smoothly and efficiently.”

Keck-Priest tried to convince his potential voters by talking about his personal strengths.

hand, emphasized wanting to set up the finances of his county.

“I think one of the biggest things to do right now is to look at where we want to go as a county and align a lot of financial support to the different ideas,” Duncan said.

Duncan also laid out his own personal strengths in leadership and noted, “one of the biggest things right now is my ability not only to apply leadership into specific demands, but to also still be a team player as well as listen to all other opinions, in order to make the best decisions for our county.” He stood by his desire to improve the finances of White County, having noted how he’s excited to work with his future county treasurer and auditor.

Joey Duncan (center) of Wiehe City addresses delegates of White County about his nomination in front of Marcum Hall on the morning of June 10, 2024.

“My level of social skills, abilities in conversation and negotiation, and my abilities to lead and to listen, I think really sets me apart,” Keck-Priest continued. Federalist candidate Duncan, on the other

“There are a lot of people with a lot of different needs, so I think going and organizing a large amount of diverse opinions and then deciding as a county what we can actually do with these funds is what I really want to help do,” Duncan concluded.

While KeckPriest and Duncan are both running for county commissioner, they are only two of six delegates running for the role in White County. Delegates should remember to look at campaign posters and videos, and talk to their potential representatives, so that they are informed when they vote tomorrow.

Photo by: Miceles Kelley