Cincinnatus Standard: In the last few years, there has been a lot of infighting going on in the local GOP. When do you think it is appropriate to speak out against a fellow Republican, and when is it best to remain quiet, or in the background?I do so love it when a guy forgets what he has done... I find it curious how many "Reagan Republicans" forget the late president's 11th Commandment, but that is a whole other post...
State Rep. Brinkman: My personal opinion is that the primary is the best time to do that. When you have a primary you have two competing ideas or visions, or three or four, and you let that happen. And I think that's healthy that we do fight in primaries. Now party leaders don't want to have primaries because they know they're expensive, they know if you spend so much in the primary then you're handicapped in the general (election). But I think that's the best time when we can really talk about the issues. Once the primary is over though, I think it's appropriate that you support your party's person. If you don't want to support your party's nominee then they call that an independent. But by and large you should support your party's person... if you don't want to vote for your party's nominee, which I know a lot of people who didn't, then keep it quiet. But I do think it's appropriate in the primary process and selection process that people are able to have the freedom to be against a person (that is running).
Anyway, Brinkman does make a fairly important point about the important of primaries. I think part of the problem with the Ohio GOP is that we haven't had strong primaries. Brinkman outlined all the reasons why we haven't, but he also makes a strong case for why we should.
I found this last question very interesting...
Cincinnatus Standard: Since this is going to be your last term as state representative, do you have plans to run for another office again in the future?He's going to run against Jean Schmidt in the primary...again. And he will lose...again. I think he should take on the primary for the state senate seat... Let's see what happens.
State Rep. Brinkman: Interestingly I just met with some people about this. I think I'm going to run for something, I'm not sure what it is. It's one of those deals where I got to get a real job if I don't (laughing) so, and I'm not opposed to that, I did it for 22 years. But I'm looking real hard at some different things. Again, primaries are good. I think we should have primaries. I'm going to be meeting with (Hamilton County Republican Chairman) George Vincent, and we'll discuss some possibilities. But it will probably involve a primary and I hope to see what's out there and go from there.
