6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Local schoolteacher challenges Strickland

The congressman's challenger won't take any campaign contributions.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon is seeking re-election to his sixth term in Congress. Diane DiCarlo Murphy of Beaver Township, his opponent in the Democratic primary, is running for political office for the first time.
Strickland, D-6th, has more than $300,000 in his campaign fund at his disposal. Murphy, a Youngstown school district English teacher, says she will spend $3,000 of her own money on the race, and will not take any contributions because "I don't know enough about what happens when you accept campaign contributions."
The two square off March 2 in the Democratic primary for the 6th Congressional District seat.
The district stretches for more than 300 miles through 12 counties including Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning County. There is no Republican opponent. Unless someone files as an independent for the seat by the deadline next Monday, the seat goes to the winner of the Democratic primary.
Unfamiliar with challenger
Strickland said he doesn't know anything about Murphy except for reading in The Vindicator that she is an undying supporter of imprisoned ex-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. and serves as voluntary treasurer for the former congressman's legal defense fund.
Even though Strickland isn't facing a well-seasoned and well-financed challenger, he said he is running hard for re-election.
Murphy said she doesn't know much about Strickland either.
"I'm running because I think it's a fantastic opportunity to improve people's lives on a broader basis," she said. "I'm very hard-working, and I can bring to the table a lot of life experiences."
Murphy said job creation and health-care reforms are among her top priorities. But she doesn't have any suggestions as to how to tackle those issues except to say they need to be addressed and that everyone should have the right to the best health care.
She also wants improvements to the education system and doesn't support the president's No Child Left Behind Act. Instead of spending money on testing students, Murphy said federal money should be provided for novels and field trips for students, particularly those who attend urban school districts.
Free-trade opposition
If re-elected, Strickland said he would continue to oppose free trade agreements, saying they are largely responsible for job losses in this country.
"There is an economic calamity facing this country that is being ignored by this administration," he said. "There is a continuous hemorrhaging of jobs because of our trade policies."
A member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Strickland also wants to continue fighting to provide full medical benefits to veterans.
Strickland supports improved health benefits for seniors, and is sponsoring legislation to create mental health courts to divert nonviolent mentally ill offenders into treatment programs for their illnesses.
skolnick@vindy.com