6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Strickland says race against Halleck is unusually quiet

The Democratic congressman brought the ranking minority member of the U.S. House Transportation Committee to the Mahoning Valley.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
BOARDMAN -- U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a veteran of seven previous congressional races, says his current race against Republican Mike Halleck is "the most unusual campaign in my life."
That's because the race has been exceptionally quiet, Strickland said. But Strickland, a Lucasville Democrat, doesn't expect it to be quiet much longer.
"Because of the competitive nature of my district, I'm used to hand-to-hand combat with charges and countercharges," Strickland said. "It's almost been like there's no campaign."
Political experts say the person who wins the district's upper four counties -- Mahoning, Columbiana, Jefferson and Belmont -- will win the election because the majority of voters live there. Halleck lives in Columbiana County, and Strickland lives about 300 miles from the district's population center.
"I live here, I work here and I serve here," Halleck said. "I understand the needs of the Mahoning Valley."
Getting the word out
Strickland has been a frequent visitor to Mahoning and Columbiana counties attempting to increase his name recognition in the area. Strickland also began airing 60-second commercials Monday in the Youngstown, Steubenville and Wheeling, W.Va., television markets. Halleck's TV ads will begin next Tuesday.
"People have heard my name, but they can't attach any meaning to that name," Strickland said. "The commercial lets them know who I am as a person. People don't know me [in the Mahoning Valley]. I understand that I'm a name and maybe a face to those who have seen me on television."
Halleck acknowledges his name recognition needs to improve in the lower half of the district.
Strickland said he plans to spend at least $250,000 on TV ads, focusing on the Youngstown and Steubenville markets, and will run commercials often through the Nov. 5 general election.
Strickland, a four-term congressman, represents 14 southern Ohio counties, including six in the new 6th Congressional District. State redistricting, which was passed this year and will be implemented next year, reconfigured the 6th District, adding six counties that Strickland has never represented, and eliminated eight others that he has represented for years.
Transportation issues
Strickland brought U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar of Minnesota, the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to the Valley on Monday. Oberstar and Strickland met with officials from the Columbiana County Port Authority to discuss the intermodal facility in the county and Grow Mahoning Valley to discuss possible federal funding for local infrastructure projects.
Grow Mahoning Valley, a public-private partnership that promotes economic development, is seeking funding for the U.S. 62 project in Mahoning and Columbiana counties, the Hubbard Arterial and the widening of state Route 46 from Austintown to Mineral Ridge. The three projects would cost more than $100 million.
Oberstar would not give a commitment on funding the projects but said he was impressed with the organization's presentation, calling it the best he had ever seen.
Oberstar also had high praise for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, saying it would be an ideal location for an air cargo hub -- something airport officials have unsuccessfully tried to bring to the facility for years.
skolnick@vindy.com