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Reineke vs. Ackison primary fight ‘very likely to get nasty’: 5 Facts You Need To Know About ‘M.A.’

Published

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

TIFFIN, OH (TiffinOhio.net News) — It’s expected to be one of the most brutal primary fights in Ohio state legislative history.

Incumbent State Representative and car dealership tycoon Bill Reineke, a Republican from Tiffin, is seeking the 26th district seat in the Ohio Senate that is up-for-grabs in the 2020 election. That seat is currently held by State Sen. Dave Burke (R-Marysville), who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election.

So far, his only primary opponent is Melissa Ackison, a Republican businesswoman and outspoken conservative activist from Marysville who calls herself the “outsider candidate.”

Here are 5 fast facts you need to know about Ackison:

1. Ackison ran unsuccessfully in the 2018 GOP primary for U.S. Senate

Ackison ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Party’s nomination in 2018 in hopes of going head-to-head with Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. She placed third in the primary with 13 percent of the vote as then-U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci picked up the endorsement of the party’s campaign apparatus, losing miserably in the general election.

2. Ackison describes herself as a “liberty loving, gun toting, Bible carrying” conservative

Ackison touts her “A rating from the NRA” in a Twitter video

“The ONLY thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good woman with a gun,” Ackison said in a Twitter video touting her A rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Ackison regularly touts her “Christian credentials” on social media.

3. Ackison says she’s an “80s/90s hip-hop enthusiast and habitual line stepper”

Ackison tweeted, “I just wanted to let everyone know that with my state Senate race platform, I also intend to cure cancer and eliminate mumble rap for generations to come.”

The candidate says she’s a huge fan of gangsta rap groups such as N.W.A. and Wu Tang Clan.

4. Ackison claims she’s “mixed-race”

Source: Melissa Ackison / Twitter

“As a mixed race woman, I’m curious to know why the progressive left / Democrats has yet to embrace #BlackLove and family unity programs and instead focuses their efforts to stifle prison reform, welfare reform, and dependency initiatives on government? I’ll wait,” Ackison tweeted.

“Very rich family history that started in Gallia County Oh. w/ escaped slaves who settled in the Poke Patch and created the “Mulatto Community” You’re more than welcome to follow my family history on Fb in more detail. Very inspiring story of American history,” she said of her racial heritage.

5. Ackison is slamming Reineke for being “born into” wealth

State Rep. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin)

“My filthy rich political opponent [is] using one of his supporters to attempt to file a police report against me for unwanted emails about my candidacy,” Ackison claimed in a post to Facebook earlier this week.

“As an independent business owner and mother of four boys, I know what it’s like to struggle and make ends meet. Our political climate in Columbus is in shambles. It seems these politicians get elected, get comfortable in Columbus, cozy up to lobbyists, and leave the hard working men and women of this great state behind in the process. I fight to brighten the path for you and your family.”

Ackison calls Reineke an “establishment candidate.”

“[Reineke] has ZERO major legislative accomplishments under his belt as a state rep, is rated as a “somewhat conservative” and is another wealthy stately looking gentleman (not that I ever expect any level of diversity),” Ackison noted.

Attempts to reach Reineke’s campaign for comment were unsuccessful.

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