×

Trump State Park idea divisive

Mosquito Lake State Park isn’t the most inviting name for the 7,000-acre area that is one of my favorite places in the Mahoning Valley.

But for numerous people, a proposal from state Rep. Mike Loychik, R-Bazetta, to rename it Donald J. Trump State Park is even worse.

Loychik hasn’t served even three months in the Ohio House but is looking to make a name for himself.

Loychik’s first bill as a legislator was to make Ohio a Second Amendment sanctuary state.

If approved, it would affirm the power of states’ rights in case the federal government — not subtle code for President Joe Biden and Democrats who control the Congress — comes after people’s guns. This would supposedly protect Ohioans.

This was introduced about two weeks after Biden was sworn in as president, which is probably not a coincidence.

It’s debatable whether it’s enforceable and whether it’s necessary.

While Congress has passed laws restricting the types of weapons people can possess, it can’t violate the Second Amendment.

Biden is looking at gun- control executive orders to, for example, require background checks for those who buy homemade or makeshift firearms without serial numbers.

Loychik introduced a few other bills, and the House approved one Wednesday that requires public children services agencies to report child abuse or neglect in military families to the appropriate military authorities.

However, it was his decision last week to circulate a request for co-sponsors for a bill to rename Mosquito Lake State Park after Trump that has attracted much attention.

In a written statement, Loychik said, “This legislation is meant to honor the commitment and dedication that our 45th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, bestowed upon the great people of Trumbull County. I witnessed the unprecedented and astounding support that President Trump received from constituents across the 63rd District and on Mosquito Lake State Park.”

State Rep. Michael J. O’Brien, D-Warren, who also represents the park, said: “Why would you name a lake after the only president in U.S. history to have been impeached twice?”

Loychik posted his news release on Twitter, adding, “The left is trying to cancel President Trump but we won’t let them win!”

Loychik received more than 700 mostly critical responses. Several unfavorably compared Trump to mosquitoes.

Among those supporting the idea is Jane Timken, the former Ohio Republican Party chairwoman running for U.S. Senate. Loychik has endorsed her candidacy.

Timken said Trumbull strongly supported Trump in 2016 and 2020 and “in order to recognize the promises President Trump kept to the people of Ohio and Trumbull County, I fully support renaming our state park Donald J. Trump State Park.”

I wanted to discuss Loychik’s proposals with him. But since being elected in November, he hasn’t returned numerous telephone messages and emails I’ve left for him.

I shouldn’t take it personally as he’s following a growing movement by some elected officials — particularly those new to politics — who choose not to speak to media they don’t deem as one with them. To them, objectivity must be a dirty word.

State Rep. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, also refused to speak to me before seeking this newspaper’s endorsement in November, despite texting me June 8, shortly after his appointment, that he was “excited to do a phone interview with me.” He canceled a June 22 interview then finally agreed to grant me one that morning. He then proceeded to ignore me for months.

In an interview with this newspaper’s editorial board, I could see why Cutrona had avoided me. He was woefully unprepared.

When the editorial board chose not to endorse Cutrona (a decision in which I had no involvement), he went back to ignoring my messages. After being elected, Cutrona’s office removed me from his media email list while still sending them to other journalists at the newspaper.

It wasn’t until I made several requests to Aaron Mulvey, the House Republicans deputy press secretary, that I was returned to the email list.

I wrote to Mulvey on Feb. 1, “It would be significantly easier to put me on Cutrona’s email press list than for me to continue to make multiple requests.”

The response was, “I’ll check with the representative’s office to see if we can accommodate. Also, you can stay updated with the representative’s correspondence on his Ohio House web page.”

I’ve been covering politics in the Mahoning Valley for more than two decades. I can count on two fingers the number of area politicians who ignore me every time I try to reach them.

Skolnick covers politics for the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator.

dskolnick@tribtoday.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today