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By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Jan 03, 2008
State Sen. Kirk Schuring may have the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula, but he'll face competition within his own party for Regula's seat.
Two other Republicans — Ashland County Commissioner Matt Miller and online talk show host Paul Schiffer — also plan to run for the 16th District seat.
Miller, who took on Regula in the 2006 primary, has already filed his petitions. Schiffer, who ran three times unsuccessfully for the state legislature in the 1990s, and Schuring, R-Jackson Township, said they will submit their petitions before the deadline Friday afternoon.
Whoever wins the March 4 primary probably will face state Sen. John Boccieri, a New Middleton Democrat, in the November election. Boccieri, who filed his
petitions Wednesday, isn't expected to have opposition in the primary.
Regula, 82, is retiring at the end of this term — his 18th representing the district, which covers Stark and Wayne counties and parts of Ashland and Medina counties.
The battle for his seat is expected to be hotly contested and closely watched, with the Republicans hoping to keep the position and the Democrats fighting to take it away.
Miller, 30, who will give up the commissioner seat he has held for two terms to run for Congress, thinks his challenge against Regula in 2006 will help him in the primary. He got 11,504 votes, or 34.8 percent, in the 2006 election, according to the Stark County elections board.
''I truly believed I could be competitive against him,'' Miller said of Regula. ''But I also knew, even if I came up short, I would lay the foundation for a successful run in 2008.''
Miller said he would bring a unique perspective to the post, with his background in local government.
''I've spent the last eight years trying to implement the ideas Washington came up with. I've seen when they fall short,'' said Miller, who spoke by phone from Orlando, Fla., where he was honeymooning with his wife, former Miss Ohio Melanie Murphy.
Schuring, who has been in the legislature since 1993 — first in the Ohio House and then in the Senate — said he has the support of not only Regula, but also many current and former Republican politicians in Stark and Medina counties. He said he is from Stark — the largest county in the district — and has closely worked with people in the surrounding counties.
''I think I've got a good pulse for this district,'' said Schuring, 55.
Schiffer called himself the underdog. He's never before held office, but has worked as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., and talks politics on his show, the Schiffer Report, broadcast on the conservative Web site http://www.rightalk.com.
''I feel I know the issues more than anyone in the race,'' said Schiffer, who often discusses defense and national security on his show.
Schiffer, a former Marine who lives in Canton, said he has wanted to run for Congress for 20 years, but would never have taken on Regula.
''I thought, 'Maybe this is the perfect time,' '' said Schiffer, 49.
Boccieri, 38, served three terms in the Ohio House before being elected to the Senate in 2006. He is a major, pilot and aircraft commander in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and has served four rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
''I want to run hard,'' Boccieri said Wednesday. ''I would be honored to serve the people of the district.''
Boccieri, who has been campaigning since May, lives in Mahoning County, but has purchased a home in Alliance and said he and his family will move there at the end of this school year.
Boccieri's and Schuring's Ohio Senate terms aren't up until 2010.
The contest for Regula's seat will be expensive. Schuring said he's brought in nearly $300,000 — and isn't done. The other candidates also say they're working hard to raise enough to be competitive.
All of the candidates have — or soon will have — campaign Web sites. The address for Miller's site is http://www.mattmillerforcongress.com. Schiffer's is http://www.schifferforcongress.com. Boccieri's is http://www.johnforcongress.com.
Schuring said his Web site — http://www.schuringforcongress.com — is expected to be up and running by next week.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached
at 330-996-3705 or
swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
State Sen. Kirk Schuring may have the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula, but he'll face competition within his own party for Regula's seat.
Get the full article here.
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