I attended the Ohio Power Siting Board Solar Hearing (OPSB) on April 4, 2024. Cheryl Splain's article in Knox Pages on April 5, 2024, reported that 63 citizens testified, with a 50-50 split on the issue of solar power development in Knox County.
Republican Candidate for Knox County Commissioner Barry Lester testified under oath that he won 70% of the vote of the people of Knox County because he was passionately against solar and that the people of Knox County have made it clear that they are against solar. Republican Candidate for Knox County Commissioner Drenda Keesee testified under oath that she defeated Thom Collier because she was against solar, and Collier was not. Keesee repeated Lester's assertion that Knox County voted against solar. Testimonies of many of their constituents echoed Lester and Keesee, claiming that 17 of our 22 townships want exclusion from solar power development.
FACT CHECK:
1. Solar Power Development was NOT an issue on the March 19 ballot.
2. 31,904 registered voters were NOT eligible to vote in the Republican Primary because they are nonpartisans or Democrats. According to the Knox County Board of Elections March 19 Summary Report, there are 42,874 registered voters, including just 10,970 Republicans.
3. Of the 10,498 Republican votes cast for the Knox Commissioner term 1-2-2025, Barry Lester received only 2,875 votes (27%).
4. Of the 11,007 Republican votes cast for the Knox Commissioner term 1-3-2025, Drenda Keesee received only 4,364 votes (39%).
That is NOT 70% of Knox County’s vote, as both candidates wrongly declared before the OPSB, the 800 citizens present, and the news media. It is NOT a mandate against solar power development.
Let's begin this general election season by holding all candidates to the truth, and by questioning braggadocio campaign rhetoric. Keesee is unopposed in the general election. Keesee's duty as commissioner requires her to represent all 63,000 citizens of Knox County, not just the 4,364 people who voted for her. Lester is opposed by Democratic Candidate Chuck Rogers. This is an opportunity for us to compare their platforms side by side, not just where they stand on the issue of solar power development, which dominated Republican Primary campaigns this spring.
Patti Baker Ray
Mt. Vernon, Ohio
