U.S. CONGRESS 2 rivals face off in Niles forum

Jobs and economic development were foremost on the minds of the members attending the breakfast meeting.
By CYNTHIA VINARSKY
VINDICATOR BUSINESS WRITER
NILES -- State Sen. Tim Ryan stressed his positive campaign methods and state Rep. Ann Womer Benjamin emphasized her greater experience as a lawmaker as the two candidates for the 17th District Congressional seat faced off this morning.
Ryan, a Democrat, said he has resisted pressure to attack his opponents for the good of the region.
"It's not about me, it's about improving the Valley's image," he said, arguing that his positive approach and his willingness to work together with local business will also fuel progress and economic development for the area.
Womer Benjamin, the Republican candidate, argued that she will offer the change the Valley needs. "Now's the time to make a real change to honest, accessible representation," she said.
Up close
The candidates forum, sponsored by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber at McMenamy's banquet center, gave local business owners and leaders a chance to see and question the candidates.
Jobs and economic development were foremost on their minds, said Reid Dulberger, executive vice president of the chamber, who summarized the questions submitted by members attending the breakfast meeting.
Ryan, of Niles, D-32nd, responded by saying he believes the redrawing of the 17th district, which combines Akron with parts of Trumbull and Mahoning counties, is "the opportunity this Valley has been awaiting for 30 years."
The new district includes Akron State University, the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and large Akron-area businesses, in addition to Youngstown and Kent state universities, the Youngstown Warren Regional Airport and the Youngstown air station.
That will allow for more partnerships uniting those institutions, he argued, for the benefit of the region's economic development.
Ryan said he would fight to bring more federal money to the Valley for college scholarships, grants and work force training for displaced workers, items he said are crucial for economic and job growth. He criticized the state's Republican administration for cutting funds to higher education this year.
He said he would also push for rebuilding the downtown areas in the Valley and would try to create an atmosphere for development of technology-related industry.
Federal funding
Womer Benjamin, of Aurora, R-75th, said she also would work to get more college and work force training money here. In addition, she said she would push for federal funding of special programs, like Head Start, and she promised that a bill creating a health insurance plan for displaced workers would be her first piece of legislation if she is elected.
The candidates were given an opportunity to question each other. Womer Benjamin said she passed 18 of her "own laws" during her eight years in office and asked what Ryan had brought back to the district.
Ryan replied that he was part of the local delegation that worked with General Motors to bring the automaker's new small car to the Lordstown plant, an investment of more than $500 million. He also said that part of the lawmaking process is "planting seeds," and he has done that.
Ryan asked Womer Benjamin why she has refused to sign a clean campaign pledge submitted by the Ohio Citizens Action, a pledge which he said he signed gladly.
Womer Benjamin said she expects to sign the pledge but is negotiating some details with the group over how violations would be determined. She noted that the citizens group has praised her campaign filing reports and criticized her opponent's.
Best and worst
Asked to tell their best and worst actions in office, Womer Benjamin said her best decision was to run for the 17th District seat, and Ryan said his best was "staying positive in the primary."
"The worst decision? I don't think it's happened yet," Womer Benjamin said.
Ryan said he couldn't remember any major mistake. "Nothing major. It's been a blast," he said.
vinarsky@vindy.com