Scott Radcliffe for Congress Opens Campaign Headquarters

Perrysburg, OH (February 13, 2008) – Scott Radcliffe, Republican candidate for U.S. Congress (OH-5), announces the opening of his campaign headquarters. The headquarters is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Perrysburg near the Way Public Library at 134 East Third Street, Suite A.                                      

“Perrysburg is my hometown and becoming the largest and fastest growing city in the 5th district. I am humbled by the outpouring of support that my campaign has received so far, and I am pleased to be able to give people the opportunity to get involved in my campaign.

“In a few short weeks I have traveled to nearly all 16 counties and met with thousands of people. Opening the headquarters will help us get my message out to more people throughout the district. I urge folks to take part in this important election. This is a true grassroots effort and everyone’s contribution matters.”

Regular office hours will begin Thursday, February 14.

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Latta, Radcliffe in battle for Congress

Bucyrus Telegraph Forum
By Dan Clutter
February 12, 2008

BUCYRUS — … Latta’s opponent in the March 4 primary for the Fifth District seat, Scott Radcliffe of Perrysburg, was on hand, along with those candidates running for state and local offices.
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Radcliffe, who graduated from West Point and played football there, said he found inspiration when he went to New Orleans to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

“I called home to see if we could get some support,” Radcliffe said. “(The support didn’t come in a trickle, it came in an absolute torrent. That showed me something. That showed me the type of people we have here in northwest Ohio.

“Those are the types of people I want to represent,” he added. “And those are the types of people I would like to lead, to help lead into the future. To gain solutions to problems like this. Because things need to be done. The floods hit here this winter. That’s two times in less than a year. Things need to be done. I worked in New Orleans to find solutions there and I will work here in northwest Ohio to find solutions here as well.”
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Radcliffe did not address FISA, preferring to talk more about rebuilding communities. He discussed his work in the Army in Iraq, saying that he “tried to improve communities there, not only by figuring out solutions to their problems, which included sewage, school problems, but also, fighting our nation’s war.

“We need to find solutions to other problems that need conservative solutions, like the economy, like national security, and like health care,” Radcliffe said. “We need a strong voice here to do that.” …

For the full article click here.

Scott Radcliffe Visits Crawford County

Attends the Crawford County Republican Candidates Forum

Bucyrus, OH (February 11, 2008) - Today, Scott Radcliffe, Republican candidate for U.S. Congress (OH-5), visited Bucyrus and attended a Republican Candidates Forum hosted by the Crawford County Republican Women. The event was held at Baker’s Pizza and Sport Shack in Bucyrus, Ohio.

The forum was open to Republican candidates running for office in Crawford County including the candidates for U.S. Congress. Approximately 40 people were in attendance.

“Our hearts go out to the citizens of Northwest Ohio who suffered through last week’s flood. Seeing how they came together for the second time in a year has only strengthened my desire to represent these fine and dedicated citizens.

“I feel motivated to serve the people of Northwest Ohio, and I ask for your support on March 4th so that I can continue that service in Congress,” said Mr. Radcliffe in his remarks to the crowd.

Scott Radcliffe is a lifelong resident of Northwest Ohio, a West Point graduate, and a two-term Iraq War veteran. While serving in the Army, he ascended to the rank of Captain and was awarded the Bronze Star. From 2004-2005, Mr. Radcliffe was a scout platoon leader responsible for a district of approximately 500,000 in southern Baghdad. After his first tour in Iraq, Mr. Radcliffe was deployed to New Orleans to assist the citizens affected by Hurricane Katrina. During his second tour in 2006-2007, Scott was a speechwriter and member of the III Corps commanding general’s personal staff, LTG Ray Odierno. In December, he returned to his hometown of Perrysburg, Ohio after his second tour in Iraq to run for U.S. Congress.

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Candidate for House seat visits Van Wert

Van Wert Times Bulletin
By Ed Gebert
February 11, 2008

He was the stranger in a room full of acquaintances. But Scott Radcliffe tried his best not to be a stranger for long.

This tall Iraq War veteran from Perrysburg found himself in Van Wert for the county Republicans’ monthly luncheon on Friday, making new friends and attempting to get his name and message out to those in attendance.

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He has gone from the world of the military to the world of politics, running for the 5th District Congressional seat in the March 4 Republican primary. But for Radcliffe, the two worlds have something in common.

In Iraq he found himself trying to convey to the people of that country that someone in an American uniform cared about them. On the campaign trail in America, he finds himself trying to overcome the suspicions of the voters. “The biggest thing is just trying to peel away the veneer of them seeing me as a politician,” he said. “Once they see beyond that, they can really get to know me and see what I’m all about. I’m the same man I was in Iraq. I’m the same man I was in New Orleans after Katrina.”

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Although disheartened at missing the opportunity to run in the fall, Radcliffe told the crowd of Republicans Friday afternoon, “I’m here now, and I’m here to serve. Just I have served our country in Iraq twice and once in New Orleans, I want to continue that service today for the good people of northwest Ohio.”

The job has special meaning for Radcliffe. It was Gillmor who nominated Radcliffe for West Point in the first place, an act which forged a bond between the two men. A 2002 West Point class ring stood out on Radcliffe’s hand as he talked with Van Wert County G.O.P. faithful on Friday.

Radcliffe doesn’t consider himself a longshot to take the nomination away from Latta next month. He is counting on the leadership abilities honed on the battlefield to set him apart both on the campaign trail and in the halls of Congress.

“This area deserves a strong conservative voice on Iraq,” he stated. “And I can be that voice.”

He certainly has a bond with veterans. On Thursday evening, Radcliffe spent some time at the V.F.W. hall in Van Wert, talking to other veterans about how Washington can best honor our soldiers.

“This country needs new veteran voices,” he declared. “Our World War II veterans are retiring. Our Korean War veterans are retiring. Our Vietnam War veterans are retiring. It’s time for the next generation of veterans to step forward.”

Radcliffe also vowed to strip away the negative image of politicians through openness and honesty. “I say what I mean and I try to make that clear,” he pointed out. “I want everyone to know where I stand.”

It will certainly be a tough battle for Radcliffe, who must best Michael Reynolds of Columbus Grove as well as the new incumbent Latta to make it to the November ballot. But Radcliffe has faced some pretty tough fights already.

For the full article visit the Van Wert Times Bulletin.

Candidate speaks to Kiwanis Club

The Lima News
By: Nancy Kline
February 4, 2008

OTTAWA – Scott Radcliffe feels he is a battle-tested leader. “I’ve been shot at and still went forth and built communities,” he said.
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Speaking at the Ottawa-area Kiwanis meeting on Monday, Radcliffe listed national security, the economy, health care, and the need in education to allow teachers to inspire creativity as important issues.

When questioned about the No Child Left Behind Act, Radcliffe said he felt the system was good in theory, but needed to be changed.

“We need to allow teachers not to teach just to the test, but be creative in how they teach the subjects,” he said. He spoke of meeting with teachers in other counties who have expressed concerns about the system.

“In some grade schools they are no longer allowed to have novels for children to read. Reading is something that is being pulled back on. So are social studies.” Radcliffe said.

While he said there needs to be a system to know how pupils are progressing, he does not feel it is necessary to do testing every year.

“Ohio is not as bad as some states,” he said. “In Texas they have three or four benchmarks before taking standardized testing. They are testing one month and a half out of the each year.”

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Radcliff said he would push for scaling back and allowing “our school districts to teach.”

“Nobody knows how to address our children better than superintendents, principals, and most assuredly the teachers,” he said.

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Radcliffe also said we need to continue in the war in Iraq.

“We have an opportunity to build resources in Iraq,” he said. “There is hope.”

He said it was important to get the people, not just the politicians, in the country to be willing to invest in their future.

“Then we win,” he said. “Then they will do what is necessary to do what is needed to be successful.”

He also said the United States and its allies need to continue to be aggressive in Afghanistan.

“We took our eye off the ball for a bit, but we are addressing it.,” he said. “We are going forward to do what is necessary.”

For the full article click here.