Commissioner to run for Ohio House seat

The county treasurer also is looking at running for the seat.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
LISBON -- Columbiana County Commissioner James Hoppel is running for the 1st Ohio House District seat, becoming the first Republican to get in the race.
Hoppel, a three-term commissioner, is seeking to replace state Rep. Charles Blasdel of East Liverpool, the House Speaker pro tempore, a fellow Republican who isn't running for re-election next year.
Instead of seeking his fourth two-year term in the state House, Blasdel is running for the 6th Congressional District seat. U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Lisbon Democrat, is not seeking re-election and is running next year for governor.
"I'm running because there are things that need to be done statewide to help our area," Hoppel said. "More focus is needed on jobs, tax relief for individuals and businesses, and funding education."
Hoppel was first elected county commissioner in November 1996. Before that he spent seven years as a member of the Beaver Local school board.
Reaction
Hoppel's decision to run for the Ohio House seat in 2006 will probably scare off other Republicans mulling bids for the seat, said Jerry Ward, Columbiana County GOP chairman. No other Republicans have expressed interest in replacing Blasdel, Ward said.
"He has lots of experience and he'll be a great candidate," Ward said of Hoppel. "I feel very comfortable with him as our candidate."
The 1st District takes in all of Columbiana County.
The filing deadline is Feb. 16, 2006 to run in the May 2, 2006, primary for the position.
Democrats
On the Democratic side, Nick Barborak of Lisbon, an assistant county prosecutor for the past four years, is the only announced candidate. This is his first run for public office.
Democratic insiders say county Treasurer Linda S. Bolon of East Liverpool, and Frank Rayl Jr. of Salem, who lost last year to Blasdel by less than 500 votes in his first run for political office, are seriously considering bids for the state House post.
In the 2004 election, Bolon beat her Republican challenger by the largest margin of victory among county candidates in competitive races on the ballot.
Bolon, who couldn't be reached Wednesday, has served as county treasurer for more than six years. Before that, she was a treasurer of the East Palestine and Edison local school districts, worked in the state auditor's office for 14 years, and is an ex-East Palestine city council member.
Blasdel was first elected to the House seat in 2000, and was re-elected twice. Before Blasdel, Democrat Sean Logan, now a county commissioner, held the seat for 10 years.
skolnick@vindy.com