The former president of a Fremont nonprofit accused Rep. Gary Click in 2020 of using the organization for political gain, attending meetings for more than a year without paying dues — an allegation resurfacing as Click faces a May 5 Republican primary challenge.
David Thornbury, who served as president of the Fremont Exchange Club, published a public post on Facebook in February 2020 addressing Click directly.
“Gary, I have always considered you a friend but you betrayed the Fremont Exchange Club,” Thornbury wrote. “When I was president you joined our club because you said you were passionate about helping children who were victims of child abuse, investing in our youth and giving back to our community. I now know after you came to our meetings for over a year and never paid your dues after repeated statements were mailed, emails sent, and phone calls made that your intentions were not genuine. It was all for self political gain.”
Thornbury said Click owed the club “a significant amount of money” in unpaid dues and warned voters: “Gary can’t be trusted. Either way Gary if you are elected or not, do the right thing, pay your dues!”
The Fremont Exchange Club describes itself as “a group of men and women working together to make our community a better place to live through programs of service in Americanism, Community Service, Youth Activities, and its national project Child Abuse Prevention.” Child abuse prevention has been the National Exchange Club’s signature cause since 1979.
In a follow-up comment on the post, Thornbury said he was notified that Click had paid the outstanding dues — 910 days after they were owed, or nearly two and a half years later.
Attempts to reach Click’s campaign for comment were unsuccessful.
Click, a Republican from Vickery, has represented Ohio’s 88th House District since 2021. He faces a primary challenge from Eric Watson on May 5, with Democrat Aaron Jones in the general election.
