BACK TO NEWS
Congress comes to Pumpkin Show
10/20/2017By Steven Collins Senior Reporter
Circleville Herald
Oct 20, 2017
CIRCLEVILLE — When the pumpkins are on full display, not even Congressman Steve Stivers can stay away.
Stivers (15th District — OH) visited Lindsey’s Bakery for some pumpkin donuts, tried the pumpkin chili and grabbed a pumpkin burger from the Circleville Band boosters, as well as stopped to speak with Mayor Don McIlroy before heading off to see the Eyes of Freedom and the Silent Battle bronze sculpture.
Stivers shared his trip to Pumpkin Show with The Herald and talked about what Congress has planned for the coming months, as well as his thoughts on the show.
“We’re working in Washington to try and get this tax reform bill done, which will be good for all the entities on Main Street,” Stivers said. “Hopefully, we’ll get the corporate tax rate competitive with the rest of the world and bring more businesses in like Sofidel. The infrastr+ucture bill is a big deal for Route 23 and Route 22 and a lot of other roads around here.
“After we get tax reform done after Thanksgiving or a little bit before, we’ll switch to infrastructure and I hope we can get it done by the end of the year,” he said. “It’ll be bi-partisan, and I think that’s the bill we can do with Republicans and Democrats together, which is what we should do.”
Stivers said the Heritage Ohio Main Street program was really exciting.
“I think it’s really important and I think downtowns are important for vital communities,” he said. “Circleville is lucky to have a more vibrant town than most middle-sized towns. It could be better, as there are empty store fronts … and I want to make sure I do everything I can to support the community and local entrepreneurs who make the city even better. I’m excited to see it happen. Circleville is one of the few towns I know that still has a shoe store, which is cool.”
Stivers said he thought McIlroy has been a great mayor for Circleville.
“He’s been great and he’s collaborative,” Stivers said. “He works great with others and as mayor, that’s what you’re supposed to do.”
Stivers’ first visit to town was to stop by Lindsey’s Bakery so he wouldn’t be denied.
“The pumpkin donuts are my favorite thing, although pumpkin chili is a close second for me,” he said. “I’ve been coming to the Pumpkin Show since I was a kid but it was just a longer trip from Ripley than it is from Columbus.”
Stivers said his favorite thing to do is check out the giant pumpkin display and see where Bob Liggett finishes each year.
“I love the big pumpkins, I always do that,” he said. “I like to see where Dr. Liggett placed this year because they’re family friends and they grew up in Ripley. I love seeing people and connecting with folks. I’ve got a lot of friends here.”
You can read the full story at the Circleville Herald.
