Columbus doesn’t need a king either

Re “Ginther to launch reelection bid,” Nov. 13: Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther shouldn’t be launching his 2027 campaign for reelection and raising big money for it nearly two years before the general election. He and his donors should focus on more immediate issues until Nov. 3, 2026.That’s the day voters will elect members of Congress, statewide office holders and members of the Ohio General Assembly. Persons holding those offices will have a significant effect on Columbus and its city government.Ginther should therefore tell his donors to support Democrats running for important offices in 2026. It’s wrong that he’s collecting limited donor dollars for his 2027 campaign, when the funds are sorely needed by Democratic office seekers in the coming year. He will have plenty of time to raise money after next year’s elections.The only reason for Ginther to begin his campaign and fundraising so early, with a list of powerful donors and officials, is to intimidate other potential candidates from running. This is selfish and undermines democracy.If Ginther gets his way, he will have a coronation in 2027 instead of an election. Columbus needs a No Kings protest against him.

Joseph Sommer, Columbus

Not suckers or losers

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for all the businesses, organizations and people who reached out to recognize our veterans on Veterans Day. As a 28-year veteran, it means a lot to know that we are appreciated.

Also, for all those veterans who kept their oath and defended the Constitution by not voting for a treasonous insurrectionist, proudly know that you are not “suckers and losers” and are true patriots!

David Guza, Plain City

Can democracy survive Ohio?

What’s become of the Republican Party in Ohio reflects poorly on our state.

We’ve seen state GOP politicians repeatedly thwart the voters’ will and ignore the Ohio Constitution in their egregious gerrymanders.

We’ve seen our two GOP senators ignore their constituents’ needs while applauding President Donald Trump’s unconstitutional actions.

And we’ve seen Ohio’s own Vice President JD Vance repeat Trump’s lies (remember their claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were eating pets?) and tell many whoppers of his own.

And, now thanks to a Washington Post report, we learn that in 2019, a small group of right-wing donors rented a resort outside of tiny Rockbridge, Ohio, for a summit to secure the future of the MAGA movement.

They were out to turn Trump’s movement into an enduring political coalition, with a pipeline of voters, donors and candidates that would cement a radical transformation of the GOP.

An organization of businessmen and political donors that was spawned from that meeting called the Rockbridge Network helped fuel Trump’s reelection and propelled one of its own — Vance — into the vice presidency.

If American democracy survives Trump and the MAGA movement, history will record that some of its severest challenges came from Ohio.

Sara Patrick, Strongsville

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why on Earth is Columbus’ mayor stealing the spotlight | Letters