YOUNGSTOWN Ryan endorses Dean for president

The congressman becomes the ninth House member to endorse the ex-governor.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is the first House member from Ohio to endorse former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean for the presidency.
Ryan of Niles, D-17th, also becomes the ninth member of the House to endorse Dean, who has emerged as a front-runner for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination.
"Gov. Dean brings political power back to the people," Ryan said. "When he sits in the White House, his priority will be the people who gave $74 and volunteered their time to his campaign, not the special interest groups who finance their candidate of choice. His message is honest, and I find that refreshing in the political arena."
Dean raised $14.8 million during the year's third quarter, according to his recent campaign filing with the Federal Election Commission, from more than 168,000 people; or an average of $74 per person. He has raised $25.4 million since the beginning of the year.
"I'm excited that Tim Ryan has decided to join our campaign and take our country back," Dean said in a prepared statement. "In his first year in Congress, Tim has already proved himself an able leader and a strong voice for the people of Ohio. I look forward to working with him over the coming months to ensure that we can provide high-quality jobs and health care for all Americans."
Ohio's 12 Republican House members as well as U.S. Sens. Mike DeWine and George Voinovich, also Republicans, are supporting the re-election of President Bush.
There are five other House Democrats from Ohio besides Ryan.
Among them is U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Cleveland, who is running for the presidency, and has not received the endorsement of any of his fellow House members from Ohio. U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown of Lorain, D-13th, who is somewhat of a mentor to Ryan, is endorsing U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt, the former House minority leader, for the presidency.
skolnick@vindy.com