ASHTABULA — Joe the Plumber is coming to the Geauga County Fairgrounds in two weeks to help northeast Ohio residents wake up.

Tammy Roesch, who with her husband, Al, is organizing the Wake Up Ohio rally Oct. 25, said the principled plumber signed on for the rally earlier this week and will join an impressive list of speakers who have taken up the cause of freedom.

Tim Cox, founder of the Get Out of Our House (GOOOH) plan and author, will speak about his plan to replace career politicians with ordinary citizens in the House of Representatives. Doc Thompson, a radio personality from WRVA 1140, Virginia, will be there. So will Matt Patrick, an Akron/Canton radio personality and one of key TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party organizers.

The rally will conclude with a message from the Rev. James Manning, a Harlem pastor who will speak out about the corruption in our national government.

Tammy Roesch said the couple has already put about $2,000 of their personal finances on the line to rent the fairgrounds and bring in speakers, most of whom are doing the event at no charge.

“That tells me their hearts are into it,” Tammy Roesch said.

The message of the gathering will be a call for citizens to reclaim their freedoms and voice in government. Roesch feels that the nation is quickly moving toward Communism as a slate of burdensome, restrictive bills are being considered by Congress.

“To me, it’s all about freedom,” she said. “This is not a Democrat thing, a Republican thing. It’s all about freedom.”

Roesch said she’ really like to see more churches take up the cause, but admits most pastors are afraid to lead their churches into political territory because the Internal Revenue Service could strip their tax-exempt status. But she said if the people in the pews don’t get involved and defend their religious freedom, they could see their churches become state operated.

“Churches need to stop worrying about tax status and do the right thing,” she said.

The entire movement is not about one religion, one political party or economic group, but finding people willing to challenge their legislators’ decisions and unite them as one voice. Roesch said the GOOOH and TEA Party movements need to pull in Black, Hispanic and other conservatives who otherwise might gravitate to an established party; she hopes Manning’s presence will draw those citizens to the event.

Roesch feels the GOOOH plan offers the best hope for bringing the nation back from the brink.

“I think that’s the answer,” she said. “As a Christian, I believe we are in the last days, but I also believe we need to fight as long as we have the opportunity to fight for our freedom.”

Roesch hopes the rally will send a message to voters.

“The answer is not to clean up the Republican Party or fix the Democratic Party. They are totally broken and they need to be thrown out the window,” she said.

The Roesches became involved in the GOOOH and TEA Party movements after attending a small event in Cleveland last winter. Since then, with help from other volunteers they organized two local TEA Party events, plus a GOOOH meeting with TIm Cox and study groups at their Kingsville Township home. The Geauga County event is their most ambitious project to date, but Tammy Roesch said they are planning an even larger rally for the winter.

The Burton 912 group is assisting with set up and logistics at the Geauga County event. Roesch says the event is free, but they are asking for donations to assist with the rentals and bringing the speakers to the event. A collection will be taken at the event.

Wake Up Ohio gets under way 3 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Geauga County Fairgrounds, 14373 N. Cheshire St., Burton. The rally is expected to last about 2 1/2 hours; a mock election will be hosted by the Burton 912 group at Sebastians on the Square, Chardon, at 6 p.m.

Roesch said the fairgrounds grandstand seats about 2,500 persons and rally attendees can bring their own lawn chairs if they want more comfortable seating. Portable restrooms will be available, but there will not be any water at the fairgrounds. Alcohol is prohibited. The event is outdoors, and attendees need to dress accordingly.

For more information, call Roesch at 224-2227.