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2 Dems, 3 Republicans to compete in race. GOP has held seat since 1946
By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Feb 17, 2008
Five people — two Democrats and three Republicans — will compete in the March 4 primary for a shot at replacing U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula in what will be one of the most closely watched Congressional contests this year.
The race has been identified by the national Democratic Party as one of its top targets, with the party hoping to reclaim a seat the Republicans have held since 1946. The Republican Party will try equally as hard to hold onto this 16th District seat, which covers Stark and Wayne counties and parts of Ashland and Medina counties.
The candidates already had raised more than $725,000 as of the latest federal campaign finance reports.
''We have enough resources to take our message to the people and make sure they understand what's at stake,'' said state Sen. John Boccieri, a Democrat, who has so far amassed the most, with $385,248.
Boccieri will face Mary Cirelli, an at-large Canton City Council member who has been in public office in Stark County for 24 years.
State Sen. Kirk Schuring has raised the most of the Republican candidates, with $269,374 at the end of 2007, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
He will go up against Matt Miller, an Ashland County Commissioner who had brought in $71,506 as of the latest reports, and Paul Schiffer, a radio talk-show host with a program on a conservative Web site.
Both Cirelli and Schiffer entered the race late and hadn't raised any funds as of the cutoff for the finance reports.
The Democrats
Boccieri was expected to be the only Democratic candidate for this seat. Cirelli's decision to throw her hat in — literally just minutes before the filing deadline in early January — came as a surprise.
Boccieri's Ohio Senate district includes part of the 16th Congressional district. ''I'd love to serve all of it in Congress,'' he said.
Boccieri said the economy is his No. 1 issue. He thinks the country's trade agreements need to be renegotiated and every American should have access to health-care coverage.
Boccieri, who is a pilot for the U.S. Air Force Reserve and has served four rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan, also thinks the United States needs to withdraw from Iraq.
''We need to bring them home safely, honorable and soon,'' he said. ''I don't want to see one more American life lost.''
Cirelli thinks she's the better candidate because she — unlike Boccieri — lives in Stark County and has for 60 years. (Boccieri now lives in Mahoning County but plans to move to Alliance.)
''I just think we need to have a person that's accessible to the community and knows the needs,'' Cirelli said. ''There isn't anybody's shoes I haven't walked in who I would be representing.''
Cirelli favors national health care and thinks that all veterans — regardless of the branch of service they're in — need to have coverage for all of their needs, whether physical or psychological.
Cirelli called herself a ''public servant,'' rather than a politician. She said she plans to start her campaign with her own money and won't take any funds from corporations or lobbyists.
''I don't want to be in anybody's pocket and have to do any paybacks,'' she said.
The Republicans
Schuring knew he'd have competition from Miller, who ran a credible campaign against Regula in the Republican primary in 2006 and has been campaigning in the district ever since. (Miller got 41.6 percent of the vote across the district.)
With Schiffer deciding to enter the fray, this became a three-way race.
Schuring said he's ''proven in my tenure in the legislature that I can offer fresh ideas to solve complicated problems and work with others to get things done.'' Plus, he said, he's in ''the best position to win.''
Schuring said he would offer a comprehensive, long-term plan to deal with the economy. He thinks more partnerships need to be formed between the higher education and business communities.
''We need to take the research and lead this to innovation,'' he said. ''This would bolster the economy and create jobs.''
Miller thinks he's better positioned to represent the district because of his background in local government, which has given him a firsthand view of how the actions of Congress can impact communities.
''I am more concerned with improving Ohio and strengthening our nation than I am with pleasing a party leader or a particular lobbyist or special interest group,'' he said.
Miller said illegal immigration is the biggest threat America is facing. He thinks the country's borders need to be better secured and businesses that profit from illegal immigration must be held accountable. At the same time, he said the process for immigrants to become citizens must be streamlined.
Miller thinks the military needs to be rebuilt and the country's weapons systems need improvements. He also said government spending needs to be curtailed and the tax code simplified.
Schiffer thinks his past experience lobbying in Washington, D.C., and as a talk-show host discussing issues of national importance have prepared him well for Congress.
''I do have tons of Washington, D.C., experience,'' he said. ''I know the issues.''
Schiffer said his top issue is the loss of jobs because of trade policies.
''Our trade policies are not free nor are they fair,'' he said. ''I think the rules are stacked against us concerning trade with China. That needs to be fixed.''
Schiffer said he also would work to fight illegal immigration and to ''keep defenses strong.''
After the primary, the next phase of this battle will begin, with the two winning candidates waging a fight for the ultimate prize in November.
''I expect that whoever gets out of the primary, it's going to be the type of race that people of the 16th District have never seen before,'' Schuring said.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached
at 330-996-3705 or
swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
Five people — two Democrats and three Republicans — will compete in the March 4 primary for a shot at replacing U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula in what will be one of the most closely watched Congressional contests this year.
Get the full article here.
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