TIFFIN, Ohio — Republican primary challenger Eric Watson says he’s ready to debate incumbent State Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery) “anytime, any place, anywhere” — directly challenging Click’s refusal to defend his legislative record in a public forum ahead of the May 5 primary.
In a statement provided to TiffinOhio.net, Watson proposed 10 debate topics and responded directly to Click’s dismissal of debate requests.
“When an incumbent calls debates ‘grifting,’ it sounds less like confidence and more like entitlement,” Watson said. “No one is entitled to public office. Every elected official should be willing to stand before the people and defend their record.”
Watson’s proposed debate topics include property tax abolition, protection of farmland from corporate overreach, AI data center expansion and its impact on local communities, transparency in the Office of State Representative, opposition to digital ID expansion, term limits for state lawmakers, energy policy and rising utility costs, small business regulatory relief, election integrity, and Second Amendment protections.
The Tiffin Republican specifically cited House Bill 382, which prohibits federal commandeering of state and local law enforcement to enforce federal gun laws, as an example of legislation he would discuss.
Click, an ex-Baptist pastor and community theater actor, has repeatedly refused to debate Watson throughout the primary campaign. In a Feb. 14 Facebook post about a separate Republican primary race, Click wrote: “It’s always the guy losing that wants the debate. They are trying to grift off of the leaders name ID.”
That comment drew immediate criticism from Click’s own supporters, with commenters noting Click’s refusal to debate Watson while simultaneously criticizing other candidates for declining debates.
“[Too] chicken to debate Eric,” wrote one commenter in Click’s thread, adding a string of chicken emojis. Another wrote that there is “no excuse to not debate” and that “it ought to be required to appear on a ballot.”
Gregory Fanning, who praised Click’s legislative record in the same thread, nevertheless wrote that refusing to debate is “unfair” and “completely absurd.”
Watson added that he has “no demands” about debate logistics.
“Anytime, any place, anywhere!” Watson said.
Click’s office did not respond to a request for comment about whether the incumbent has reconsidered his position on debating his primary challenger.
The Republican primary winner in the 88th Ohio House District will advance to the November general election, where they will face Democratic nominee Aaron Jones, a Tiffin City Councilman, U.S. Army veteran, and longtime manufacturing supervisor. The 88th District includes all of Sandusky County and Seneca County.
Early in-person voting for the May 5 primary begins April 7 and includes the Saturday and Sunday before Election Day.
