State Rep. Martin banned at GOP outpost

The embattled legislator is uninvited to an event at the ‘victory center.’

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By Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer 12:02 AM Thursday, September 29, 2011

The Ohio Republican Party is cranking up its pressure on State Rep. Jarrod Martin, R-Beavercreek, who is no longer welcome at the Greene County GOP “victory center” in his own district.

Martin has come under political scrutiny following a July 22 traffic stop on U.S. 35 in Jackson County which has led to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and child endangerment charges.

Despite not being convicted of any crime — including two previous alcohol-related incidents that came to light after his OVI arrest — Martin has been asked by party leaders to resign and had his chairmanship of a committee revoked.

Martin said he has been told to stay away from the call center at Lofino’s Plaza on U.S. 35 in Beavercreek. He said he received a voicemail message about the ban after receiving an invitation to attend a Sept. 17 event.

“I got a phone call from (Ohio GOP Victory Director) Mike Bir. He just left a message,” Martin said. “He’d understood that there’d been a mixup with some of the staff, and I had been invited to the Super Saturday (Sept. 17) event and he wanted to clear it up and make sure I understood that I was not welcome at the Victory Center on that Saturday or any Saturday, for that matter, and asked that I please respect that and stay away.”

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine said the state party rents the GOP victory center. Since DeWine called on Martin to resign, DeWine said the party decided to ban him from state party facilities and resources.

A message seeking comment from Bir was not returned.

Brenda Lewis, the Greene County GOP Central Committee Chair, said: “That is the Ohio Republican party. We are not involved with the headquarters over there at this time.”

Lewis, who also serves on the state’s Republican central committee, said she knew nothing about the decision to ban Martin.

Political fallout

Longtime Greene County Republican Party member John Broughton said he, Fairborn City Councilman Frank Cervone and Fairborn’s Rose Zellmer have resigned from the county’s central committee.

“As many years as I’ve been there, I’ve just come to realize that people like Kevin DeWine and them no longer really represent the beliefs that I believe in in the Republican Party,” Broughton said.

“They want their own cronies. They push their own agendas and I got tired of it. . .. It’s really starting to divide the party here in the county.”

Broughton said he may instead work with Dayton Tea Party founder Rob Scott. Broughton said he was incensed — calling state Republican leaders “rude,” “obnoxious” and “self-centered” — because the state GOP is not respecting Martin’s office throughout the legal process.

“Jarrod’s got his right to go to court, we still believe in him and for Kevin to come in here and play his agenda,” Broughton said. “I told Brenda Lewis I will not be part of that kind of thing. If nothing else, it was improper etiquette.

“I have more respect for the Democrats right now. They’ve shown more respect and restraint on this issue than our own party.”

Martin faces charges from a July incident when Ohio Highway Patrol troopers said Martin’s Dodge Ram pickup truck drifted left of center and his trailer did not have taillights. During the stop, Martin refused to submit to field sobriety tests. There were children in the vehicle, leading to the child endangering charge.

Martin’s next court date is in October. For now, Martin said he’s just going about the business of representing his district, even if that means not being involved with county party efforts in November.

“I find it very disappointing,” Martin said. “In all honesty, they’re looking for volunteers for all these Republican-backed issues, and they’re turning me away. I’m assuming I can’t be volunteering to go help out with those issues. That’s kind of the underlying message.”

Staff writer Laura Bischoff contributed to this report. Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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