17TH DISTRICT Womer Benjamin tries to get to know Valley

The GOP candidate says people in the Valley are starting to recognize her.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The goal for Ann Womer Benjamin, the Republican nominee for the 17th Congressional District seat, between now and the November general election is to meet as many Mahoning Valley voters as possible.
Womer Benjamin, a state representative from Aurora, came a few steps closer to achieving that goal Friday. She made campaign stops in Youngstown at St. Elizabeth Health Center, Forum Health Northside Medical Center, Tod Children's Hospital and Youngstown State University, where Ohio Treasurer Joseph T. Deters held his "Women and Money" seminar.
"Frankly, I think when people sit down and talk with me about the issues, they see that I have knowledge and plans," Womer Benjamin said. "I want people to meet me and get to know me. I need to get to know the people of the 17th District."
U.S. Rep. Thomas C. Sawyer, an Akron Democrat, faced the same challenge leading to his party's May primary -- that of being an experienced politician who needed to win over Mahoning Valley voters, whom he never had represented. Sawyer spent the weeks before the primary making stops at several locations throughout the Valley, including Tod Children's Hospital, and inviting the press along.
Despite the experience advantage, Sawyer lost the primary to state Sen. Timothy J. Ryan of Niles.
Campaigning differently
Womer Benjamin, who also has more political experience than Ryan, faces the Democrat and two independents -- U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland and Warren Davis of Bay Village -- in the November general election.
When asked how she will campaign in the Valley differently from Sawyer, Womer Benjamin said, "I reach out to people; I talk to people in the hallway. I've been recognized by people in the hallway. People are getting to know me by name or face. The idea is to get out and meet people."
Womer Benjamin says she will continue to make frequent visits to Mahoning and Trumbull counties, which account for 58 percent of the 17th District's population and determined the Democratic primary winner last month.
Womer Benjamin will be campaigning again in the Valley next week and is expected be joined by Jennette Bradley, Gov. Bob Taft's lieutenant governor running mate.
Meanwhile, Ryan will officially get the endorsement of the Ohio AFL-CIO, one of the largest unions in the state, at a Monday press conference in Kent. The state union, which has more than 1 million active and retired members in Ohio, did not endorse a congressional candidate in the primary.
skolnick@vindy.com