 "Photo:")
Ohio Secretary of State and U.S. Senate hopeful, Jennifer Brunner, campaigned for votes from Oxford residents and students from her alma mater Miami University Wednesday evening.
Brunner is one of the democratic candidates for Ohio's Senate seat, which current Republican Sen. George Voinovich announced earlier in 2009 he was leaving following his term. Brunner is campaigning against fellow democrat Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, however, she called herself the progressive candidate, running in favor of same-sex marriage, credit card reform and ending the war in Afghanistan.
"Even if people don't agree with you they at least respect you, and I'm willing to do that," Brunner said.
Regarding the concern among Oxford residents about health care reform, Brunner said although she believes in government-insured health care for all Americans, the change needed to make that happen won't please even her fellow progressive democrats.
"When we want change, we want everything around us to change but we want to stay right here and be comfortable," she said.
Brunner also said she is "strongly in favor of a strong public policy."
Brunner said if elected she would actively work toward raising the level of prosperity in Ohio.
"I'm willing to stand up (for the policies I believe in)," Brunner said.
The event, sponsored by the Oxford Political Action Committee Butler County Progressive and the Miami College Democrats, sparked much discussion about why they support Brunner.
While Butler County Progressive President Don Daiker said Brunner was the "best Secretary of State in the country," Miami fifth-year Patrick Frank said he was struck with her honesty and integrity as a political candidate.
"(Brunner) doesn't proclaim to be able to turn water into wine, but she still can," Frank said.
