17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Candidates barely debate the issues

The Democratic candidate said he has tried to run a positive campaign focusing on the issues important to residents of the Mahoning Valley.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Republican Ann Womer Benjamin strongly questioned the integrity of Timothy J. Ryan, her Democratic opponent in the 17th Congressional District race Wednesday night, accusing him of accepting $67,000 in illegal campaign contributions and violating federal election rules.
"We need to know if you'll follow the law when you get to Washington," Womer Benjamin, of Aurora, asked Ryan during a televised debate.
Ryan, of Niles, said Womer Benjamin is making false accusations and getting desperate because she realizes she is going to lose this race.
"This is funny," Ryan said. "We should be a half-hour sitcom like 'Everyone Loves Raymond.' This debate is an embarrassment."
Ryan's response
Ryan said his campaign has been a positive one, focusing on the issues important to the residents of the Mahoning Valley: a secure Social Security system, jobs and the opportunity for young residents to get a good education.
Womer Benjamin said Ryan falsified his level of debt on pre-primary campaign reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission. She said he collected money to pay off that debt with in-kind contributions from political action committees and individuals above the legal contribution limits.
Individuals can give up to $1,000 per election cycle to a congressional candidate, and PACs are permitted to give up to $5,000, but by contending he was paying off pre-primary debt, Ryan collected twice the limit under the guise of in-kind contributions, said Womer Benjamin.
"That's a complete joke," Ryan responded. "My opponent is making stuff up as she goes along. It's not true. Nothing's been filed with the FEC."
Womer Benjamin planned to file a complaint today.
Ryan's pre-primary report filed in mid-April with the FEC showed a $25,350 campaign debt for staff salaries. The report was amended about three months later to show that debt had grown by $22,000.
On top of that, Ryan accepted an additional $20,000 from PACs and individuals that exceeded the limits that was not used to pay back debt, said David All, Womer Benjamin's campaign manager.
Back and forth
Ryan, whose campaign finance reports have come under scrutiny throughout his congressional campaign, said Womer Benjamin is concocting a fake story to help her ailing campaign.
"My opponent has tried throughout this campaign to sling mud," he said. "It's quite apparent tonight that my opponent doesn't understand this Valley and that we are tired of negative politics."
Womer Benjamin says the latest allegation shows Ryan believes he is above the law.
She has questioned Ryan's integrity in recent months, but not as strongly as she did Wednesday, repeatedly questioning his ability to follow the law and talking about his 1993 disorderly conduct conviction.
The FEC already has a complaint regarding a questionable $50,000 loan Ryan's campaign received in the primary.
Also, a PAC run by U.S. House Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi asked that a $5,000 contribution to Ryan's campaign be returned this week because PACs affiliated with her gave too much.
skolnick@vindy.com