Democrats rally with pancakes

by Matt Hutton
State Senior Writer

Pancakes with Pancake.

As College Democrats president Toby Fallsgraff said, “People were expecting it. We knew it’d be a disaster if we didn’t.”

What he referred to is the rally for the Democratic candidate for the 92nd House District Jim Pancake. Playing off his last name, the College Democrats and Athens County Democratic party chair Susan Gwinn, organized a pancake breakfast from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday on Court Street, near college gate, where pancakes were served out of the “Pancake-Mobile.” It is Pancake’s recreation vehicle, adorned with signs to promote his candidacy.

U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, D—Lucasville, who has been campaigning in Ohio for about a week and a half since the House recessed, drove to show his support for Pancake. Strickland did this despite having to leave right after the event to drive four hours to Columbiana County, home of his Republican opponent Mike Halleck, for a dinner with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim Hagan.

“I think it’s very important for Jim (to win this election),” Strickland said. “He will be a voice for working people.”

In addition to Strickland and his wife Frances, Democratic candidates for county auditor Ric Wasserman, probate/juvenile court judge Lisa Eliason and county commissioner Lenny Eliason were also in attendance.

Pancake was happy with the event.

“I thought it went well; (it) let people know I’m interested in students,” Pancake said.