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Dems’ demand of support from all is improper

Members of the Trumbull County Democratic Party are out of line in demanding that everyone in the local party should do as they say.

Throughout the years, we have consistently criticized political parties that attempt to create a political playbook with hopes of steering voter decisions. As is often the case, the local Democratic Party this year ignored our suggestion, again endorsing party candidates for whom they are helping to campaign both financially and personally prior to the May primary election.

But then they took it one step further by vocally criticizing U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan for going against the party’s wishes. Ryan, D-Howland, the county’s highest-ranking Democrat, broke ranks with the local Democratic Party last week to support incumbent Democrat Frank Fuda in the county commissioner primary election rather than his opponent Lisha Pompili Baumiller, the party-endorsed candidate.

Ryan appears in a video that has made rounds on social media backing Fuda, his longtime friend, and calling him an “effective leader for Trumbull County.”

Trumbull County Democratic Party Chairman Dan Polivka called Ryan’s move “disrespectful to the wishes of the precinct committeemen that are elected throughout the neighborhoods of Trumbull County that endorsed both Tim and Lisha.”

Likewise, Pompili Baumiller said she was “disappointed and concerned for the Democratic Party” when she saw that Ryan chose not to follow the wishes and vote of the 175 precinct committeemen.

We believe, however, that concerns instead should focus on a political party that believes its membership should not have an individual voice. This is still America, after all.

The fact is, the Democratic Party has consistently felt it is acceptable to create a political playbook and then demand that its candidates and membership should not part from it. But isn’t it the voters — not the party — who should be deciding which candidate should be backed by the party AFTER the nomination has been decided during the primary election?

Why do party leaders on both the local and state levels believe they know better than the constituents?

As we’ve consistently argued in this space, choice is what makes America great. And it’s the voters — not the party — who should be making these decisions.

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