The Stark County
Republican Party
Our 2024 Republican candidates!
Donald John Trump, is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump received a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968, and his father named him president of his real estate business in 1971. Trump renamed it the Trump Organization and reoriented the company toward building and renovating skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. After a series of business failures in the late twentieth century, he successfully launched side ventures that required little capital, mostly by licensing the Trump name. From 2004 to 2015, he co-produced and hosted the reality television series The Apprentice.
Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican Party nominee against Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton while losing the popular vote. He is running for President in 2024 against Joe Biden.
Donald Trump For US President
Bernie Moreno For US Senate
Bernie Moreno is a Colombian-American businessman and political candidate. He is the Republican nominee in the 2024 United States Senate election in Ohio, challenging incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown. Moreno was born in Bogotá, Colombia. His father, Bernardo Moreno Sr., was a physician and held high-ranking positions in the Colombian government. When Moreno was five, his family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he grew up, and where his father became a surgical assistant and his mother a real-estate agent. When Moreno was 18, he officially became a U.S. citizen. He attended the University of Michigan and graduated with a degree in business administration before taking a job at General Motors. Moreno is the president of the Collection Auto Group, a car dealership company.
State Senator Michael Rulli is serving his second term in the Ohio Senate representing the 33rd Senate District covering Mahoning, Columbiana, and Caroll counties. Mahoning Valley has been his family’s home and place of business for generations. He currently serves as Director of Operations for Rulli Bros. Market, a company started by his grandfather and great-uncle over 100 years ago.Previously Michael Rulli was elected to the Leetonia School Board and is passionate about the education of our children. Serving as President of the school board, he led the district through a crippling financial crisis, and the district climbed into the top 100 in the state in “value-added,” a distinction Leetonia School held two years in a row. As a father and husband, Michael Rulli understands the corners of families and realizes the importance of a healthy and stable economic climate along with safe communities. In 2017 the Better Business Bureau recognized Rulli with the Torch Award. That same year the Regional Chamber honored him with their Small Businessman of the Year award. Senator Rulli is a graduate of Poland Seminary High School, the Naval Sea Cadets, and Emerson College. He and his wife Kelly live in Salem with their two children.
Judge Megan E. Shanahan currently serves in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. She was elected in November 2011 to the Municipal Court in a landslide victory in which she carried 77 of 86 precincts and took over 60 percent of the vote. She was reelected to the Municipal Court in 2013. In April 2015, Judge Shanahan was appointed to the Common Pleas Court and won her subsequent election to a full 6-year term in 2016. In 2022, Hamilton County voters overwhelmingly re-elected Judge Shanahan. She outperformed even some Republican statewide candidates on the ballot.
Now, Judge Shanahan is running for a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court. As a Federalist Society member, Judge Shanahan understands the proper role of the judiciary – interpreting the law, not legislating from the bench.
As a former criminal prosecutor, she worked hard to give child predators and other criminals the sentences they deserve.
Justice Joseph T. Deters is the 163rd justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. He took office in January 2023, following appointment by Governor Mike DeWine.
Prior to joining the Court, Justice Deters served as the longest-tenured prosecutor in Hamilton County. He held the position twice from 1992-1999 and 2005-2023.
During his time as prosecutor, Justice Deters established the first drug court in Ohio, in partnership with Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. The Hamilton County Drug Treatment and Recovery Court handles more cases than any other specialized docket in the state.
Justice Deters established the county’s first victim/witness advocate program and helped develop several diversion programs for first time non-violent offenders. He started a sex offender unit within the prosecutor’s office to monitor offender registration and compliance. He formed a unit focused on violent crimes against women and children.
Hon. Daniel R. Hawkins is a judge for the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas (General Division) in Ohio. He was elected to the seat on November 6, 2018.
Prior to his election, Hawkins presided as a judge in the Environmental Division of the Franklin County Municipal Court, a position he had held since 2013.
He received a B.S. in criminal justice from Bowling Green State University in 1998. Hawkins went on to complete a J.D. at Ohio State University, Michael E. Moritz College of Law in 2001.After graduating from law school, he began his legal career as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office. During his tenure there, Hawkins was promoted to director of the Special Victims Unit in 2003. In that role, he prosecuted violent crimes involving women and children as victims, including homicides, sexual assaults, child abuse, human trafficking, and internet child exploitation. In addition, Hawkins was tasked with managing fellow prosecutors in the SVU and was credited with conducting several jury trials including six death penalty cases. He remained in that capacity until joining the Municipal Court bench in 2013.
His memberships have included the American Judges Association, the Ohio Judicial Conference, the Association of Municipal County Judges of Ohio, the Ohio State Bar Association, and the Columbus Bar Association.
Hawkins is a married father of three.
State Representative Scott Oelslager is serving his third term in the Ohio House of Representatives, after serving multiple terms in both the Senate and House previously. He represents the 48th House District, which includes portions of Stark County.
Prior to embarking on his legislative career, Oelslager worked as an aide to former Ohio Congressman Ralph Regula, and later served as director of public relations for Malone College. He was appointed to the Ohio Senate in 1985, where the people of Stark County subsequently returned him for four additional terms. In 2002, Oelslager was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the Civil and Commercial Law Committee. Because of his strong leadership and experience, Stark County voters once again elected him to represent them in the Ohio Senate in 2010. Following the redistricting of the state in 2010, Oelslager was elected in 2014 by the newly formed 29th Senate District.
Jim Thomas is a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing District 49. He assumed office on January 1, 2023. His current term ends on December 31, 2024.
Thomas is running for re-election to the Ohio House of Representatives to represent District 49. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. He advanced from the Republican primary on March 19, 2024.
Jim Thomas was born in Canton, Ohio. He earned a bachelor's degree from Stanford University in 1996 and a law degree from Case Western Reserve University in 2013. His career experience includes working as an attorney and professional tennis player.
Matt Kishman is running for the 50th District State Representative which covers the lower Western and Eastern parts of Stark County in the upcoming General Election. As a resident of Minerva, Kishman has served four years on the Minerva Village Council and was just re-elected to serve an additional term.
Kishman serves as Director of Operations for his family’s business, Kishman’s IGA Markets. He serves on the Minerva Village Parks Board, Sandy Creek Joint Fire District Board, and Minerva Chamber Board of Directors. He also serves on the Government Relations Committee for the National Grocers Association, and is an active member in the Minerva Rotary Club, Stark County Farm Bureau and the NRA.
Kishman will work for fiscal responsibility, make education a top priority, work to make America Energy Independent and will support the 2nd Amendment.
Kishman, a lifelong resident of Stark County, lives in Minerva with his two sons. He graduated from Minerva High School where he lettered in football, wrestling and track. He holds a BA in Communication from Youngstown State University, where he played four years as an Offensive Lineman for the Youngstown State Penguin football team.
Jodi Salvo is a committed community leader with a strong dedication and desire to serve the 51st District, covering Tuscarawas and Southern Stark Counties. Jodi and her husband Phil of over 30 years, have chosen to call Tuscarawas County home for the past 17 years. They quickly realized it was an ideal place to raise their children, offering a small-town atmosphere, excellent schools, and a supportive community, and Jodi fell in love with the Tuscarawas County region.
Jodi currently serves as the Director of Substance Use Prevention Services at OhioGuidestone, a leading behavioral health organization in Ohio. With a track record of securing grants, expanding programs, managing budgets, and overseeing staff. She has a proven ability to find practical solutions to address community needs. Jodi's unwavering commitment to preventing youth substance use, promoting mental health wellness, serving the most vulnerable and underserved and addressing suicide prevention spans over a decade.
Dan Funk represents individuals, businesses, and public entities in a broad range of litigation matters, including criminal defense, personal injury, and business disputes. His practice also includes assisting clients in real estate transactions and collection actions.
Dan was admitted to the bar in 1994. He is a 1987 graduate of Northwestern University, and a 1993 graduate of the University of Akron School of Law.
He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, Stark County, and the Defense Research Institute.
An active member of his community, Dan has served on the Boards of Directors for the Canton Palace Theater and the Jackson Township YMCA.
Elected to the Board of Stark County Commissioners for a fourth time in 2016, Richard
Regula has a notable history of service work and involvement in local government. He was
inspired by his father, Ralph Regula, who was the United States Representative for Ohio’s
16 th Congressional District from 1973 - 2009, serving 18 consecutive terms. Also, by his
mother Mary, who was the founder of the National First Ladies’ Library located in
downtown Canton, Ohio.
Richard is a Stark County native and graduate of Fairless High School. After graduation, he
attended Ohio University where he received his Bachelor's degree in General Studies.
Richard began his career at Regula Brothers Transport, a trucking company that hauls dairy
products. The company became R. Straus LLC in 2009, when he became its owner.
Richard is a current member of the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste
Management District Board and a Chairman of the newly established Carroll, Columbiana,
and Stark Regional Transportation Improvement Project (RTIP). Richard currently serves
on the board of the Western Stark YMCA; is a board member of the Massillon Chamber of
Commerce; is past Chairman of N.E.F.C.O (Northeast Ohio Four County Organization) and
Chairman of S.C.A.T.S (Stark County Area Transportation Study)
In the past, Richard served as president of the Massillon Rotary Club, and as a member of
the Ohio and Erie Canal Corridor Committee. He has served on the board of directors for
the Stark County Farm Bureau; on the Navarre Village Council; and spent three terms as
Bethlehem Township trustee.
Richard is a devoted member of St. Michael's Parish. He resides in Bethlehem Township
with his wife of thirty-four years, Sherry. Together they have two sons, Thomas and Garrett.
Alex graduated in 1992 with a Degree in Accounting from Mount Union and in 2019
earned recognition as a Certified Public Finance Administrator through the Association of Public Treasurers of the United States of America and Canada. He has served as the Stark County Treasurer since 2010. Prior to serving as the Stark County Treasurer, he served as the City of North Canton's finance director from May 2008-November 2010. He also served as Alliance City Auditor between 2003 and 2008. And he served at the local level in representing residents of the City of Alliance's Fourth Ward as their councilman from 1996 to 2003. Alex has also served as the Stark Council Of Governments (SCOG)'s treasurer from 2008-2010.
As Stark County Treasurer, he has implemented best practices and
initiatives, accounted for every cent and safeguards the County tax
dollars, he leads an office that is transparent and accountable to the
taxpayers and continues to bring proven, trusted leadership to the Stark
County Treasurer office. As the County’s cash manager, the Treasurer is
responsible for the management of more than $900 million dollars each year
and serves as the Chief Investment Officer of the county.
He has successfully completed continuing education coursework and additional
certifications as required by the State Treasurer, Auditor of State and
State Attorney General office.
