"To regulate what the people are allowed to hear about in an election is worryingly reminiscent of communistic behaviors not American freedoms."

Cleveland, OH – Jim Petro's receipt of the Delaware County GOP endorsement isn't all that it could be.  It is tainted by the exclusion of one republican candidate for Governor.

The Delaware County Republican party specifically excluded Pete Draganic from speaking at the June 6th event.  Perhaps they are afraid of the impact that a grassroots candidate with people appeal will have on the primary election.  Maybe they are insipidly content with the establishment candidates who have been at the helm while Ohio has remained beached.

Pete Draganic has spoken and will speak at other such events alongside the other gubernatorial candidates.  It is only Delaware County that has intentionally and systematically excluded him from participation in their event.

The Pete Draganic campaign, supporters of Draganic and other GOP party leaders had urged the Delaware County GOP to reconsider their decision to not fairly include their candidate but to no avail.

In a letter from the Delaware GOP to the Draganic Campaign, Jeff Berkam and Teri Morgan stated that “members have researched and met with candidates so that the may cast an informed vote on behalf of their precincts.”  Yet it seems rather insincere that they did not at least include Pete Draganic in that process.

The Draganic campaign contends that the Delaware GOP knew full well who Pete Draganic was at the time they began to assemble their endorsement proceedings.  After all, the Draganic campaign had been in contact with the Delaware group since February 21, 2005, specifically with Teri Morgan who is the executive committee chair.  Draganic has also been registered as a candidate with the Secretary of State’s Office since October of 2004.

Draganic says that he is just another choice for voters to consider.  “To regulate what the people are allowed to hear about in a political election is worryingly reminiscent of communistic behaviors not American freedoms.  The beauty of our political system is that we have choices and are free to make them.”  Says Draganic.  He goes on to say, “I am not insisting that anyone endorse me or my ideas, just give me the same chance to present them to the voters as you would give to any other candidate so that voters can truly make a well-informed decision”. 

Draganic also wants to clarify that “this has nothing to do with Jim Petro”, a candidate who he respects and likes personally.  “It’s about the unfair practices and runaway egos of one county party.”