ASHVILLE, OH — A primary election for the Republican Central Committee has taken a sharp and personal turn this week as a candidate mailer containing homophobic rhetoric and religious condemnation has surfaced in the Ashville North area.
The mailer, sent by candidate Richard Ward, targets fellow Republican Travis Ricketts with disparaging remarks regarding his sexual orientation. The letter, which reportedly included a campaign flyer for Patty Hamilton, has ignited a firestorm on social media and raised questions about the tone of local political discourse.
Personal Attacks and Religious Rhetoric
In the letter, Ward explicitly identifies Ricketts’ personal life, stating, “Travis Ricketts is a full-blown homosexual.” The mailer included a photograph of Ricketts and his husband from their 2022 wedding.
Ward’s letter continues by utilizing biblical references to condemn Ricketts’ lifestyle, describing it as an “abomination.”
“Living in sin against God’s Word is his choice,” Ward wrote. “However, we don’t have to tolerate him in a political position making choices for us.”
Social Media Confrontation
The contents of the mailer were brought to public attention by local resident Matthew Putman, who called out the rhetoric on social media. Rather than distancing himself from the controversy, Ward utilized his Facebook platform—where he is a frequent supporter of candidates Patty Hamilton and Cory Wasumus—to “double down” on the statements.
Ward admitted to being the author of the letter and asserted that the contents were “100% indisputable truth.” He further claimed that he was the victim of “active bullying” following the backlash to the mailer.
Community Reaction
The incident has prompted a debate among Pickaway County voters regarding the qualifications for the Republican Central Committee. While Ward frames the issue as a matter of religious conviction and truth, critics argue that the mailer is a discriminatory attack that has no place in a modern political campaign.
Ricketts, who was one of the targets of the mailer, has been a visible member of the local political scene. The revelation of his 2022 wedding photo in a campaign attack piece has been characterized by supporters as a gross invasion of privacy and an attempt to use his marriage as a political weapon.
As the primary date approaches, the Republican Central Committee race remains under a microscope, with voters now weighing Ward’s “true colors” against the traditional decorum of local office.
