Northwest Ohio Sheriffs Endorse Sherrod, Highlight Sherrod’s Work To Crack Down On Dangerous Fentanyl

TOLEDO, OH – Yesterday, Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, a Republican, and Lucas County Sheriff Michael J. Navarre, a Democrat, joined Sherrod Brown in Toledo to endorse his reelection campaign.

While highlighting the “bipartisan nature” of their endorsements, the local sheriffs “praise[d]” Sherrod for his work writing and passing the bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl bill, which will keep Ohioans and law enforcement safe from dangerous fentanyl by cracking down on the chemical suppliers in China and drug traffickers in Mexico. The sheriffs “commended” Sherrod for his fight against the fentanyl crisis, saying “no one has done more” to protect Ohioans from fentanyl.

Read / watch more:

Toledo Blade: Bipartisan pair of county sheriffs endorse Senator Brown
James Trumm – August 21, 2024

• Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn and Lucas County Sheriff Michael J. Navarre endorsed U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s bid for re-election at a news conference Wednesday that highlighted Mr. Brown’s efforts to combat the spread of fentanyl by cracking down on chemical suppliers in China and drug traffickers in Mexico.
• The two sheriffs had something of a mutual admiration society going, with each praising the other and stressing the bipartisan nature of their endorsements.

• “Being here today takes a lot of courage,” he said. “But Mark believes in doing the right thing. I’ve learned a lot about Sherrod Brown since he was first elected and have learned that he is a very strong supporter of law enforcement. We don’t have enough supporters in Washington like him.”

• “I believe it’s the right thing to do,” [Republican Sheriff Wasylyshyn] said.

• The Wood County sheriff had particular praise for Senator Brown’s work in pushing a bill through Congress that addresses the nation’s fentanyl epidemic.

• “That was the most powerful thing we’ve done so far, going after China and the Mexican drug cartels,” [Wasylyshyn] said. “Those people make billions with a B every year and don’t care about the lives that are lost. We have to go after the money. The bill does that…”
• The Fend Off Fentanyl Act that Mr. Brown sponsored takes aim at Mexican drug traffickers and the creators of precursor chemicals in China. Among other provisions, it permits the Treasury Department to use special measures to combat fentanyl-related money laundering and requires the department to prioritize fentanyl-related suspicious transactions.

• Senator Brown also stressed getting results over partisan politics.

• “You find someone who is very different philosophically from you and get the job done,” [Brown] said. “Both these sheriffs put partisan politics aside to get things done. That’s how Washington should work. I’ve always done my job that way. But my opponent says he won’t work with people who don’t agree with him.”

• Mr. Brown also discussed his attempts to change the law that currently bars Ohio law enforcement officers, teachers, and other public employees from collecting full Social Security benefits in addition to their public pensions. The bill currently has 61 cosponsors.

WTOL: Republican Wood County Sheriff and Democratic Lucas County Sheriff Endorse Sherrod

TiffinOhio.net: Sherrod Brown secures bipartisan endorsements from Ohio sheriffs in reelection bid
August 21, 2024

• Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) has secured bipartisan support for his reelection bid with endorsements from two Ohio sheriffs: Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, a Republican, and Lucas County Sheriff Michael J. Navarre, a Democrat. The endorsements, announced today, highlight Brown’s commitment to public safety and his work on key legislation benefiting law enforcement.
• The sheriffs praised Brown for his role in crafting and passing the bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which aims to combat the flow of dangerous fentanyl into Ohio by targeting chemical suppliers in China and drug traffickers in Mexico. The act, they noted, is a crucial measure to keep both Ohio residents and law enforcement officers safe.
• Sheriff Wasylyshyn emphasized that his support for Brown transcends party lines, stating, “When I endorse a candidate, it’s never based on party or partisanship – it’s about who can do the best job. As a lifelong Republican, I don’t always see eye-to-eye with Sherrod, but when it comes to supporting Ohio law enforcement and communities, no one has done more for Ohio than Sherrod Brown.”
• Similarly, Sheriff Navarre highlighted Brown’s consistent support for law enforcement, saying, “Sherrod has always been a steadfast ally for local law enforcement. He stands with the men and women who put their lives on the line every day, and he fights to make sure we have the tools we need to do our jobs effectively.”
• Sen. Brown, who is also working to pass the Social Security Fairness Act to ensure law enforcement officers receive full Social Security benefits, expressed gratitude for the endorsements, stating, “The three of us may come from different parties, and we may not agree on everything, but we always come together for the people we serve.”
• Brown’s legislative efforts include securing funding for the Department of Justice’s COPS hiring program, which has allowed Ohio law enforcement agencies to hire over 500 additional officers. He also leads an annual push for funding the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program and was instrumental in passing the INTERDICT Act, which provides border patrol officers with the latest technology to detect opioids before they reach Ohio communities.
• The bipartisan support from Sheriffs Wasylyshyn and Navarre underscores Brown’s ability to collaborate across party lines to address critical issues facing Ohio’s law enforcement and communities.