COLUMBUS House Democrat Jerse will run for Congress

The congressional district takes in a portion of Trumbull County.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio House's senior Democrat says he'll run for Congress next year to try and fight decisions he said are being made by a "narrow elite of the Republican Party."
"My experience in Columbus has shown me that one party rule is destructive to the interests of average people," said state Rep. Edward S. Jerse, D-Euclid. "I think the same kind of exclusive rule by a narrow elite of the Republican Party is taking place in Washington."
Jerse, 45, says he'll run next November for the congressional seat now held by Republican Steven C. LaTourette of Madison. Jerse says he'll file nominating petitions soon.
Republicans control state government, including the governor's office, both houses of the Legislature and the Ohio Supreme Court. In Washington, the GOP controls the presidency and both houses of Congress.
Jerse says he'll run on issues that will be important to residents of the congressional district that takes in all of Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga counties and portions of Trumbull, Portage, Summit and Cuyahoga counties. Those issues include affordable prescription drugs, strengthening the economy and the military conflict in Iraq.
"I don't think the president has explained it properly," Jerse of the military conflict in Iraq. "We have to support the troops, but we also have to demand an exit strategy and accountability."
President Bush has said American troops in Iraq will remain for the immediate future and has not offered a timetable for withdrawal.
Political service
Jerse was appointed to the Ohio House in October 1995 and has served in that seat since. Jerse said he is the senior Democratic representative in the House.
Before that, Jerse, a Georgetown University and Harvard Law School graduate, served as a city councilman in the Cleveland suburb of Euclid from 1989 to 1993.
Jerse is a lawyer and an adjunct professor of law at Case Western Reserve University Law School.
Jerse said he'll concentrate on raising campaign funds in the coming months and estimated it could take $300,000 to $500,000 to mount a successful campaign.
Reached Friday, LaTourette, 49, said he's eager to put his record up against Jerse's, if Jerse ends up being his Democratic opponent.
"I know Ed," LaTourette said in an interview. "He's done a nice job as a state representative."
"He needs to find another job, but apparently a job that's outside of his district," LaTourette said of Jerse, noting that Euclid is outside the boundaries of the 14th Congressional District.
Under federal rules, candidates do not need to live in the congressional district they are running for. They do if they are elected.
"As one of the chairmen of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have worked hard to improve the quality of life for first the 19th and now the 14th District," LaTourette said.
LaTourette chairs the economic development, public buildings and emergency management subcommittee of the full committee.
The former 19th Congressional District was eliminated in 2002 in statewide congressional redistricting.