Volume 83, Issue 2
Nationalist Party Centric By Michael McKenzie
The candidates for the nationalist party were making their name known Monday morning and Monday afternoon. They made their early day stops at campaign HQ on the first floor of Withrow Hall to supply their campaigns with the necessary items a Buckeye Boys State campaign needs. Many people were buying poster boards, markers, and spreading the word to fellow delegates through the signing of petitions and discussions with one another about the foundations of each candidate’s respective campaigns. The nationalist party seemed to produce candidates with ideas that were generally similar to one another’s. Before the primary elections took place, Secretary of State candidate Jackson Topoleski was spreading the word about his campaign. His campaign had a simple focus, to listen to the people. “It’s really that simple, listen to the people,” Jackson said. “And the people are really saying that they want to be represented, they don’t want to be left out because a lot of us are from small towns in Ohio and we’re used to small governments where we’re not represented and our voices aren’t heard so they want to be heard.” Topoleski also wants to let people know precisely what the Secretary of State actually does and what duties fall on the position. “A big thing for Secretary of State is they have to split votes, Topoleski stated. So say for governor, if there is a tie in votes the Secretary of State actually makes the decision of which candidate gets to be fulfilled, so I think a great way for me to make that decision is to listen to the people,
Tuesday, June 14th, 2022
evaluate the candidates that we have, and make the best decision we can based on these people.” As many have seen, Topoleski’s campaign is centered around working for the people and allowing voices to be heard, and that theme seems to be common among nationalist candidates. The campaign sign for Dominic Kisner, a nationalist candidate for prosecuting attorney, read, “I am for the peo-
Nationalist candidates at the State Candidate Debate. Picture by Kody Barhorst.
ple. But am I BY the people? I need YOUR help.” Another campaign poster, designed by Ethan Snyder, a candidate for Peltier city auditor. The poster reads, “Cast your vote for Ethan Snyder for Peltier City Auditor. I’ll make your money work FOR you.” And as was the case with many city and state candidates at rallies held throughout the day on Monday, the nationalist party made sure the message was received loud and clear that the party is ready to work for the people. The party is ready to let the voices of the people be heard.
2 The Hetuck
There’s No Unemployment at BBS By Corwin Sexton
Not only were the unemployed Elections are over at Buckeye present at the fair, but recruiters from Boys State and public offices have been every agency were looking for employees filled. City, county, and state governfrom the masses. Even though there were ments begin normal function Wednesday more than enough positions for everyone, morning, with elected officials as the cogs the Secretary of State, Marcus Schwartz, in the State government’s machine. Howindicated that the competition was still ever, many of the delegates lost their electight for high ranking jobs, “I want peotions, with many still not having the ple who work hard and show up on time, chance to secure positions as appointees; but most of all I want someone who’s so what happened to them? sociable, easy to get along with, and On Tuesday evening a state-wide knows how to have fun.” job fair was held in Millett Hall, where the unemployed had the chance to seek out a position at one of the 35 agencies present in our government. A good portion of the delegates were exhausted and most were still dealing with the difficulties of losing their elections. Despite this, delegates continued to seek out jobs, exemplifying the immense strength and perseverance of the state. Mason Tumblin, a Delegates at the Job Fair. Picture credited to Kody Barhorst. delegate who lost his elecA job fair like this is one of the tion, gave further insight into the fair, “I lost my election by one vote.” Mason greatest testaments to the scale of Buckcontinued to explain, “Then I went to the eye Boys State, which ensures that the bank to try and pass the test there, but I population has a zero percent unemploydon't really know anything about the bank, ment rate with over 600 young men. Furso I didn’t get that position.” Mason then thermore, this is an example of how the described some of the obstacles he faced delegates of Buckeye Boys State are the at the fair itself, “My first choice didn’t go best of the best, as even after rendered well, I was over there by Mental Health and Addiction Services, but I was sixth in jaded and tired they still strive to have line and they only took the first four.” some part to play.
The Hetuck 3
100 people walk into a BAR, 85 pass By Corwin Sexton It’s election time once more at Buckeye Boys State. While governors and councilmen alike campaigned for positions in office, those who strived to be members of the court gathered in Farmer Hall on Monday to take the Buckeye Boys State BAR exam. While they were there, The Hetuck got the opportunity to interview the very first person who managed to pass the exam Harrison T. Cleveland. According to Harrison, the test consisted of 50 true or false questions. The test was open book, with all of the answers contained within the blue handbook of the Buckeye Boys State program. In order to pass the BAR exam you had to score a 43 out of 50 – or 86%. Ten other delegates were asked about the difficulty of the exam on a scale of one to ten, the average of the scores came out to 6.5. Nine out of ten candidates interviewed were very confident in their peers’ ability to pass. As JohnLuke Eicher JohnLuke Eicher said, “It’s all about how good you are at looking through the book. If you’re efficient, then you should have no problem taking it.” In order for delegates to practice law at Buckeye Boys State, they must pass the BAR exam. This acts as a certification process to
make sure that candidates are qualified and able to serve as good judges and lawyers that will be essential in the court's future. The courts are one of the most impactful parts of the government, being the cornerstone of not only the justice system but also serving as the foundation on which the rest of
Delegates taking the BAR exam. Picture credited to Cooper Stigall.
the government is supported. None of the offices held by elected officials would mean anything without those officials being qualified. Society relies upon their decisions to establish order and morality.
The Federalist Party: Potential Untapped By Carter Kohli
The recent election for Executive and Judicial members of state government was a resounding success for the Nationalist party and a disappointing defeat for the Federalists. The Federalists managed to gain the State Treasury and a majority on the State Court of Appeals, but everything else, including the coveted Governorship, went to the Nationalists.
After the Federalist primary rally, members of The Hetuck got a chance to interview a large group heralding from Wagonseller County. They were really excited about multiple candidates and were ready to vote the next day. This momentum was, sadly, not held as, after the state candidate debate, many were left disappointed Continued on Pg. 4
4 The Hetuck
and even uneager to vote. During the rally, many Federalists could be heard chanting the slogan of the opposing party's candidate for Governor. The Hetuck was able to acquire an interview with the only Federalist candidate to win their elected Executive position, State Treasure Jaxon Oehler. Jaxon’s confidence and wit during the debate left a mark on many delegates. When asked about what he feels his secret to success is, Jaxon answered, “People, voters. Just shook hands, had genuine interactions.” He credits his narrow election win to his loyal supporters in both his city of Strong and county of Wagonseller: “It came down to who had shaken the most hands, as well as the loyalty of the people of Strong and Wagonseller.” Jaxon’s enthusiasm is an outlier. Many Federalist party members feel unenergized or a lack of need to support the party. When interviewing a large group of Federalist voters after they heard the results, “Who were the Federalists?” was a common question. One voter even said to me, “As a Federalist, I only voted Nation-
alist.” When asked who they saw as a leading figure in their party, the only name agreed on was Jaxon. Even with these grim results, all is not lost for the Federalists. City and county loyalty has been their savior. They have garnered an overwhelming advantage in the State House of Representatives and are one vote shy of a supermajority in the State Senate. These wins have also rallied Federalist candidates to seek higher office. Unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate, Cole Burnett, was one of those individuals. He said the loss, “brought shame upon the Federalist Party.’ This feeling of shame was channeled into action, as Cole approached Governor Hovance for the position of Federalist Liaison. He is, “excited for this new position, and can’t wait to learn more.” Other Federalist candidates have done the same. Many sit in cabinet and agency director positions, high level court appointments, and local positions. Coupled with the legislative majorities, the Federalists are sitting on immense amounts of political capital and untapped potential.
Above: Seated from right to left is Noah Keith, Andrew Fowler, and Jaxon Oehler. Picture credited to Kody Barhorst.