Sakalas: “Together we can take our party to the next level.”

LEBANON, OHIO, AUGUST 17 – At their meeting on Wednesday night at the Warren County Administration Building, the Executive Committee of the Warren County Democratic Party elected Kelly Sakalas as their new county party chair, as outgoing chair Bethe Goldenfield is retiring after decades of service to the party.

“I’m deeply honored to have been chosen as your new chair,” remarked Sakalas. “Warren County is trending blue and poised to become a real battleground in 2024 and beyond, and together we can take our party to the next level.”

Warren County was the #3 fastest-growing county in Ohio from 2010 to 2020, due to its location directly between the expanding Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. With that growth has come demographic change, as the southwest (Mason/Deerfield) and northwest (Springboro/) corners of the county are not only exploding in population but becoming more ethnically and politically diverse.

As a result, the Warren County Democratic Party has seen remarkable growth as well. In 2022, despite Ohio Republicans’ illegally gerrymandered congressional district lines, Warren County was instrumental in electing Greg Landsman to Ohio’s US House District 1, ousting long-time Republican Steve Chabot.

And earlier this month, Warren County defied the pundits’ expectations by only narrowly supporting Issue 1, denying Republicans the margins they were counting on to make up for their losses elsewhere in the state and contributing to the overwhelming defeat of Issue 1.

“I am very honored to have been part of the growth and success of the Warren County Democratic Party during my time as Chair. I look forward to seeing where Kelly will take the party over the coming years,” said Goldenfield, who is retiring from her position as party chair after over 13 years in that role. “I can’t think of a better person to lead us than Kelly.”

Goldenfield announced her retirement to the WCDP Executive Committee in June, setting the effective date of her departure for the August 16 party meeting so that she could see the party through the Issue 1 special election called by the state legislature.

“I really can’t say enough about the difference Bethe has made in our party,” added Sakalas. “I’ve got some big shoes to fill, and I’m going to do my best to follow her example of bringing people together to make Warren County and Ohio a better place to live.”

The party’s next major goal is to get out the vote for November’s elections — to elect common-sense candidates to local school boards and municipal offices across Warren County, and to pass the proposed state constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to abortion, contraception, fertility care, and miscarriage care.

“We’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of us, but I’m confident that if we all do our part, we can bring real change to Warren County and Ohio this November,” said Sakalas. “I’m honored and excited to be part of what we’re going to build together.”