CONGRESSIONAL RACES Williams supporting Strickland

The Republican candidate's former primary foe is supporting the Democrat.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
NORTH LIMA -- One good turn apparently deserves another.
Former U.S. Rep. Lyle Williams, who lost the Republican primary for the 6th Congressional District seat to Mike Halleck, is supporting U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, Halleck's Democratic opponent in next week's election.
Earlier this week, Lou D'Apolito, who lost to Strickland in the Democratic primary, crossed party lines to endorse Halleck.
The National Association of Subacute and Post Acute Care, a Washington, D.C., organization that has Williams as its executive director, was to formally endorse Strickland today.
"I'm certainly happy he's is willing to do this, but this isn't something I sought out ...," Strickland said.
Williams, who lost in May to Halleck by about 5,500 votes, said he had nothing to do with his organization's endorsement of Strickland. That was done by the board of directors, including board Chairman Tom Nordquist, an East Liverpool resident, Williams said.
Views on prescription coverage
Strickland is getting the organization's endorsement primarily because of his opposition to a Republican-sponsored bill to provide prescription drugs to seniors, Williams said.
Strickland, who called the bill a sham, said he opposed it because it offered only a partial benefit to seniors and was the first step toward privatizing Medicare. Strickland says a Democratic-sponsored bill would provide more comprehensive prescription coverage to seniors.
Halleck supports the Republican proposal saying partial prescription coverage for seniors is better than no coverage at all.
That's where he and Williams part company.
"I could support Strickland because of his positions on Medicare and senior issues," Williams said. "I'm a Republican and I've always been a Republican, but this is an important issue, and because of it, I can't support Mr. Halleck."
Williams' organization represents about 1,400 subacute and postacute care providers.
"That's not surprising; I don't put much faith in Lyle's opinion," Halleck said. "I will take the credibility of the people who've endorsed me over him any day."
Williams' legal place of residence is in Lordstown, which is not in the 6th District so he cannot cast a ballot in this race.
Halleck and Williams engaged in a somewhat bitter primary this spring.
Earlier this week, Halleck said if the race for the 6th District was between D'Apolito and Williams, he would have supported D'Apolito.
skolnick@vindy.com