How a small Ohio town became the 'center of gravity' in the GOP's realignment

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Republicans came on Good Friday, condemning corporate America and rallying locals to have faith that their city’s paper mill could somehow be saved

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Republicans came on Good Friday, condemning corporate America and rallying locals to have faith that their city’s paper mill could somehow be saved.

One by one, in the shadow of Pixelle Specialty Works’ towering red- and white-striped smokestack, they unloaded on the Miami-based private equity firm that plans to close it this summer.

H.I.G. Capital, said Sen. Jon Husted, was ignoring the personal toll on more than 800 employees here.

“If the private equity firms who do this to communities had to go walk through and look at every one of you in the eye and hear your stories and see the devastation that they cause when they make selfish decisions,” Husted said, “they would never do what they do.”

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost aimed his iPhone at the crowd and snapped a picture, which he declared “Exhibit A” in any potential courtroom fight.