Residents in Wood County might see a familiar but unexpected face on television this election cycle in a campaign advertisement endorsing U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) for re-election.
“I’m a Republican. Have been my whole life,” Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn says in the ad. “I don’t agree with Sherrod Brown on everything, but when it comes to fighting fentanyl, no one has done more than Sherrod Brown.”
The sheriff has never publicly endorsed Mr. Brown before, and in the past, has voted for his Republican opponents. However, Mr. Wasylyshyn said he started working with the senator about four years ago in his role with the National Sheriff’s Association as their borders director.
In November, 2023, Mr. Wasylyshyn went to Texas with Mr. Brown to tour the U.S. border. During their time there, they talked to border agents about drug cartels illegally bringing in drugs like fentanyl.
“Quite a few people have died from fentanyl in Wood County, and those who don’t, are detoxing in jail,” Mr. Wasylyshyn said.
In April, 2023, Mr. Brown and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R., S.C.) introduced the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act, as members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. The bill, which was signed into law one year later, will expand sanctions on unlawful fentanyl supply chains.
“Sheriff Wasylyshyn and I have worked together to keep Ohio communities safe — from traveling to the southern border together to hear from border agents and law enforcement to working together to pass the bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act,” Mr. Brown wrote in an email to The Blade. “Together, we’re making sure Ohio law enforcement have the resources they need to keep dangerous fentanyl out of Ohio. I’ll work with anyone to do what’s right for Ohio, and I’m grateful to Sheriff Wasylyshyn for his leadership and his partnership.”
The ad has been airing for a few weeks, and since then, the sheriff said he’s heard both praise and criticism from people within his party and other Ohio sheriffs.
“I have had people express their concerns about my endorsement, but as sheriff, I represent the beliefs of all voters in Wood County — Republican, Democrat, independent,” Mr. Wasylyshyn said.
He added that other Republican sheriffs have reached out, applauding him for endorsing a Democratic candidate. He said some sheriffs have told him they are afraid to publicly endorse a candidate from a different party for fear of political retribution.
Although he says in the advertisement that he doesn’t agree with Mr. Brown on everything, Mr. Wasylyshyn also commended the senator for what he has done for law enforcement while in office, such as advocating for the creation of a national Blue Alert system. Although Mr. Brown’s 2011 legislation did not pass, Ohio adopted a Blue Alert System in 2012, becoming the 14th state to adopt a system similar to an AMBER Alert that broadcasts information to the public when an officer has been killed, injured, or kidnapped. A national Blue Alert plan was adopted in 2015.
Mr. Wasylyshyn said he also appreciates Mr. Brown’s support for Ukraine because his parents immigrated to the United States from the country.
“I’ve known Mark Wasylyshyn for many years, and we are in total agreement to support the best candidate for the job and not vote specifically along party lines,” Lucas County Sheriff Mike Navarre, a Democrat, said. “I also support Sherrod Brown because of what he has done for law enforcement during his tenure.”
Despite support from both Republicans and Democrats, some officers aren’t sold on Mr. Brown’s efforts. Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Levorchick has endorsed Mr. Brown’s opponent, Bernie Moreno.
Mr. Levorchick’s primary concern is border control. He said he appreciates what Mr. Brown has completed during his time in office, but he believes more work needs to be done by a different candidate.
“Years ago, I endorsed Sherrod Brown, and I even did a commercial for him, but I believe that leadership needs to change,” Mr. Levorchick said.
On the campaign trail, Mr. Moreno has been vocal about increasing border patrol to prevent illegal immigration and the flow of drugs into the United States. Mr. Moreno was not available for a comment, but during his campaign for the March primaries, he talked about deporting illegal immigrants and changing asylum laws.
“As a failed ‘border czar,’ Kamala Harris is responsible for the wide-open southern border which has allowed the free-flow of illicit fentanyl into communities nationwide, and Sherrod Brown stood with her every step of the way,” a spokesman for Mr. Moreno’s campaign said. “Harris is also a champion for the ‘defund the police’ movement, which is a slap in the face to our brave law enforcement officers. Neither Brown nor Harris care about securing our border or supporting law enforcement.”
The Wood County Republican Party has also endorsed Mr. Moreno for the Senate seat.
“While the Republican Party has a Senate candidate that the Wood County Party has endorsed, the sheriff is allowed to support whoever he wants,” said Cindy Hofner, chairman for the county party.
The WCRP has endorsed Mr. Wasylyshyn in the past, and, when asked if his television debut would change that, Ms. Hofner said, “The future is the future.”
The advertisement, which is playing on both cable and streaming platforms like Hulu, was paid for by the Friends of Sherrod Brown campaign. Since the March 19 primary, the campaign has spent more than $9.5 million on TV and cable media buys, according to Federal Election Commission receipts.
First Published July 23, 2024, 5:32 p.m.
