ROME TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Any politician worth his or her salt will be heading up to the Lawrence County Fairgrounds on Saturday morning for the large animal sales that start at 10 a.m.
With a number of county offices up for election this fall, there will be an increased number of candidates making their way up to the fairgrounds to support the 4-H animal projects and put in a bid on a goat or a hog.
"I've been here every day," said Mike Patterson, a Democratic candidate for clerk of courts. "We camp out at the fair. We've been doing that for years. There's been some politicking going on. This is a chance to reach most of your county people. We're excited about the fair. It gives us a chance to meet the voters and to get our names out there."
Eloise Singer, 88, of Proctorville has been around enough campaigns to know the importance of politics and the fair. When she arrived about noon Friday, there was only one person at the Republican booth at the fair so she agreed to volunteer her time to work at the booth.
"I've been a Republican since the first time I voted," she said. "You have a lot of potential voters here at the fair."
Jeff Lawless, the Republican candidate for sheriff, said he's been at the fair every day. "It's important to support the 4-H and the hard work the kids have done," he said. "The fair kicks off the general election campaign season. The fair is a good way to meet new people."
Lawless and Patterson are among those planning to bid on the animals sold at the fair. "It's a chance to put a little meat in the freezer," Patterson said.
Both the county Democratic and Republican parties have a booth at the fair and give away fans, combs, pencils and mints, among other things.
It's also a chance for candidates like County Treasurer Steve Burcham to hand out some of his campaign signs. Burcham is among the candidates who believe in spending time at the fair and getting to know the voters.
"This is the county seat of Lawrence County right now," Burcham, a Democrat, said Friday afternoon. "We're registering a number of people to vote right here. Hopefully, they'll lean our way in the fall. There's a lot of interest in the national and local elections right now. Things calmed down after the primary, but they pick back up starting with fair week."
"Locally, I think we have a strong slate of candidates," Burcham said. "People are talking about the change Democrats can bring."
Clerk of Courts Les Boggs, a Republican candidate for Lawrence County commissioner, has been at the fair for the past four days and will be among the candidates bidding on animal projects Friday night and Saturday.
"The campaign goes into full swing after the fair," Boggs said. "I'm here to support our kids. They have put in a lot of hard work on their animal projects and they deserve to be rewarded."
Boggs said he participated in buying 44 animals, sometimes with other people, at last year's fair. With a large number of candidates running, he looks for a big sales year this year.
State Rep. Clyde Evans, R-Rio Grande, also plans to attend the fair Saturday and buy an animal.
"Fairs have a wide variety of attractions for people," he said. "It's a chance to socialize and talk to people. The Lawrence County Fair is one of five I'll be attending this summer."
County Auditor Ray T. "Moose" Dutey, chairman of the county's Republican executive committee, said he's been at the fair about every night and he's not even among the candidates on the ballot this year.
"I've seen candidates from both parties up there working," Dutey said. "They is when the campaign starts. The conventions are coming up and both sides are registering new voters."
While Republicans hold most county offices, Dutey is concerned that 2,000 more Democrats went to the polls than Republicans in the primary election this spring. "We have to get out and work and the fair is a good way to do it."
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