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Foes in closely watched race for 16th District disagree on Afghanistan, Iraq
By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Friday, Oct 17, 2008
LAFAYETTE TWP.: If elected to Congress, state Sen. John Boccieri said he would close loopholes that give companies incentives to transfer jobs overseas. He would reward companies for staying in Northeast Ohio.
State Sen. Kirk Schuring, his Republican opponent, wants to create economic empowerment zones to improve worker training and collaboration between area governments.
These were among the points the two candidates — locked in a hotly contested battle for the 16th Congressional District seat — made during an hour-long debate Thursday night at the University of Akron's Medina County University Center. This was the final formal debate between the pair before the Nov. 4 election. They have faced off in several debates and joint appearances across the district during the campaign.
The winner of the race will claim the seat in
one of the most closely watched races in the country — replacing Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula, of Navarre, who is retiring after 36 years in Congress.
The contest has drawn national attention, with the Democratic Party picking it as a must-win. A conservative group has targeted Boccieri for negative automated calls and radio ads. And money is pouring in for both candidates from across the country. Collectively, the pair have raised more than $2.5 million — eclipsing any amount spent in Regula's district.
About 200 people attended the debate sponsored by UA's Ray C. Bliss Institute for Applied Politics.
The debate was mostly cordial, with the candidates responding to questions on a wide range of topics, including the financial crisis, health care and foreign policy. They briefly sparred when Boccieri, D-Alliance, mentioned a crumbling bridge that needs repairing on Interstate 90.
''Route 90 isn't in this district and I don't care much about it,'' said Schuring, of Jackson Township.
''We have to be concerned about all of Ohio,'' Boccieri fired back.
Boccieri made a small blunder when he talked about the debate being in Ashland County. It was in Medina County. The 16th Congressional District includes parts of both these counties, along with Stark and Wayne.
Schuring has emphasized his ties to the district and the fact that Boccieri just recently moved from Mahoning to Stark County. He made several references to this during the debate, including saying people want someone who is from the congressional district, who is ''one of them.''
Boccieri mentioned his military service often and pointed to his middle-class roots and his immigrant grandparents who ''believed — if you worked hard — this was a place where your dreams could be realized.''
Schuring said he believes in fair trade, but it needs to be fair. He said the United States should not allow the countries it's trading with to have poor workplace and environmental standards.
Boccieri said trade agreements must be negotiated to reflect American interests, and countries like China shouldn't be permitted to dump substandard products into this country, such as the recent problems with dog food and toys.
The two disagreed on what should be done in Afghanistan and Iraq, with Schuring arguing for listening to the generals on the proper course and Boccieri saying taking this approach could prove too costly. Boccieri said he'd advocate for a withdrawal from Iraq over a period of six to seven months.
''The country can no longer continue to sacrifice the human cost of this war and the financial cost,'' Boccieri said.
The audience members included several UA students who were getting extra credit for attending and supporters for each candidate, several of whom wore T-shirts, buttons and stickers.
Allison Smith was among the students there to earn extra credit, but she also was interested in what the candidates had to say, as the race is in her congressional district. She said that about all she knew going into the debate was that Regula wasn't running. She said the debate probably will be a big factor in her decision in the race.
''I don't follow local elections,'' said the 21-year-old junior, who is from West Salem in Wayne County.
Donald Baker, treasurer of the Medina County Democratic Party, was among the Boccieri supporters. He said people in Medina County are more tuned in to this race than in the past because the seat is up for grabs.
''I see Boccieri as an agent and part of the change process,'' said Baker, who lives in Granger Township. ''He knows what we need and how to go about it.''
Carrie VanValkenburgh of Wadsworth wore a Schuring T-shirt and said she and her husband support Schuring because Regula is backing him.
''We really like Congressman Regula,'' she said.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
LAFAYETTE TWP.: If elected to Congress, state Sen. John Boccieri said he would close loopholes that give companies incentives to transfer jobs overseas. He would reward companies for staying in Northeast Ohio.
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Comments
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Posted 11:58 AM, 10/17/2008
Schuring has to be the choice, he lives in the district. Why would anyone want to be represented by someone who has no stake in the district? You would have to be a total baffon to vote for someone who lives way on the other side of Ohio to represent you. That is proven when someone wants repairs to bridges which aren't even close to the district.
