YOUNGSTOWN Candidate seeks local recognition

The only way to understand the needs of people in the new district is to spend time with them, a congressman said.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland knows he can discuss his accomplishments as a congressman with people in Mahoning, Columbiana, Jefferson and Belmont counties until he is blue in the face, and unless they can see what he's done, it's just talk.
"It's a little frustrating to me because the only way people will be convinced [of my ability] is to see my behavior in action," said Strickland, a Lucasville Democrat running for re-election to the 6th Congressional District seat.
It's a classic case of show me, don't tell me.
"You want people to see your accomplishments," Strickland said. "I'm having to tell it to people here. I don't know who works harder for the people they represent than me. I'm a good representative, but those are words. I hope one to two years from now, people will see that this guy meant what he said."
Candidates: Strickland, a four-term congressman, is being challenged by two Democrats: Lou A. D'Apolito of Boardman and Charles W. Brown of Yorkville. Former U.S. Rep. Lyle Williams of Lordstown and former Columbiana County Commissioner Michael Halleck of Salem are running in the Republican primary.
The new 6th Congressional District, which goes into effect next year, includes 12 counties stretching for more than 300 miles along the eastern border of the state, including Columbiana County and all but the northeastern portion of Mahoning County.
Among the new counties in the district are Mahoning, Columbiana, Jefferson and Belmont, which make up a majority of the 6th's residents. Strickland has visited Mahoning and Columbiana weekly for the past eight weeks trying to increase his name recognition in the new district's two largest counties.
"It's a huge challenge," Strickland said of addressing the needs of the new district. "It's not possible to represent people without spending time with them, listening to them and learning from them. My goal is to be accessible to the local communities."
District's needs: Strickland said the needs of the 6th District -- which includes Youngstown's suburbs, college towns, industrial communities along the Ohio River and some of the poorest and most rural counties in Ohio's Appalachia area -- are common: economic development, health care and housing concerns.
Strickland said he can address the unique needs of individual communities as well, but it is beneficial for officials in those communities to speak up about their concerns.
"We need to balance the narrow local focus with the broader, more general issues," he said.
Although Strickland is considered a heavy favorite to defeat D'Apolito and Brown in the May 7 Democratic primary, he is not taking anything for granted. His two opponents have never held elected offices.
"When I was elected in 1992, I did not hold a political office at the time," he said. "I don't want people to fell I'm taking anything for granted. I'm trying to earn people's support and their vote."
Strickland did not have a prediction as to who would win the Republican primary. But Anthony Trevena, his campaign manager, and former Ohio Senate President Harry Meshel, his honorary campaign chairman, said they believe Halleck has the edge over Williams.
skolnick@vindy.com