Saturday, March 30, 2002
The Akron congressman received a private tour of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
VIENNA -- For the past week, U.S. Rep. Thomas C. Sawyer has been on an extensive sightseeing tour of the Mahoning Valley.
Sawyer has been here, there and everywhere in the Valley familiarizing himself with the portions of Trumbull and Mahoning counties that are included in the new 17th Congressional District, which the Akron Democrat wants to represent.
The purpose of the visits to businesses, churches and businesses and meetings with public officials is "to understand, below the surface, the complexities of the communities," Sawyer said.
Sawyer has gained that understanding of Akron, his hometown, and a city he has represented for the past 26 years at the city, state and federal levels.
He has also represented much of Portage County during his more than 15 years in Congress.
But Sawyer has never represented the Valley in any capacity.
The eight-term congressman wants to change that.
"I've been in and out of the Valley for most of my entire life," Sawyer said. "It's not unfamiliar territory."
What's behind this: Sawyer is among six Democratic candidates running in the party's May 7 primary for the 17th District seat.
A state redistricting plan, which goes into effect next year, splits the Mahoning Valley into three congressional districts with northeast Mahoning and all but seven northern townships in Trumbull being placed in the new 17th District with most of Portage County and a portion of Summit County, including four of Akron's 10 wards.
Several political observers say Sawyer, the only Democratic candidate in the primary race not from the Valley, should emerge as the winner.
His top two challengers are state Rep. Anthony A. Latell Jr. of Girard and state Sen. Timothy Ryan of Warren, who are expected to give Sawyer his toughest fight in Trumbull, their home county.
When asked if his plan was to expect victories in Portage and Summit, be competitive in Mahoning and be happy with a third-place finish in Trumbull, Sawyer smiled and said, "No one's ever happy to finish in third. There's a tactical challenge to this race. It's a complicated political year. It doesn't get any easier after the primary."
General election: The Democratic primary winner will face state Rep. Ann Womer Benjamin, an Aurora Republican, in the November general election as well as anyone who files as an independent candidate by the May 6 filing deadline.
U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., a Poland Democrat who has represented the Valley in Congress for more than 17 years, has said he plans to run as an independent. Traficant is on trial in federal court on charges including racketeering, bribery and tax evasion.
Among Sawyer's last stops in the Valley was a Friday tour of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, which often rolls out the red carpet when Traficant visits.
Air Reserve officials say Traficant has been a strong booster of the facility and is responsible for obtaining $33 million in federal funds for it over the years.
But the appreciation Air Reserve officials feel for Traficant did not stop them from treating Sawyer as an honored guest. A greeting to Sawyer was placed on the base's electronic welcoming sign located at the entrance to the facility and the congressman received a private tour guided by Brig. Gen. Michael F. Gjede, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing, which calls the station home.
"The air base is a major employer and major federal asset," Sawyer said. "It's an important part of the Valley's future. It is a very substantial facility."
skolnick@vindy.com