The best 6th District race would be Blasdel-Wilson

It is a sad commentary on the state of politics -- or at least politics in this area -- that we find ourselves endorsing for Congress a Democrat who could not manage to collect 50 valid signatures on his candidate petitions and a Republican who describes himself as a financial consultant, yet fell years behind on taxes for two business partnerships in which he was involved.
And yet, in the 6th Congressional District we were forced to come to the conclusion that the strongest candidates are Democrat Charlie Wilson, a state senator, and Republican Chuck Blasdel, a state representative.
The winner in November will replace U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor. Because the sprawling, 12-county 6th District is almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans the national committees of both parties are already pouring money into the race. Democratic efforts are geared at urging voters to write-in Wilson's name (an easily avoidable expenditure, had Wilson just gotten 50 valid signatures). The Republicans are spending money attacking Wilson, an obvious sign that the GOP sees Wilson as the only potentially serious challenger to Blasdel.
The only winners appear to be radio and television stations, which are raking in tens of thousands of dollars for primary races that could have been run on nickels and dimes. If Wilson's write-in campaign fails, the November race will run on pennies.
The candidates
Here are the four Republican candidates:
Blasdel, 35, of East Liverpool, is president of Blasdel Financial Group and has represented the 1st District in the Ohio House since 2000. He is speaker pro tempore of the House.
Danny Harmon, 55, of Quaker City is an Air Force retiree and Noble County commissioner. He holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla., a bachelor's degree in general business from the University of the State of New York.
The Rev. Timothy E. Ginter, 50, of East Liverpool is pastor at The River Christian Fellowship in Empire.
Richard D. Stobbs, 59, of Dillonvale is a deputy recorder with the Franklin County recorder's office and holds a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Ohio University in Athens.
The three Democrats are:
Bob Carr, 58, of Wellsville, who works in the restoration of old buildings and train cars. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a bachelor's degree in communications from Loma Linda (Calif.) University.
John Stephen Luchansky, 52, of Boardman, who holds a bachelor's degree from Wilmington College and is presently unemployed.
Wilson, 53, of St. Clairsville, is president of Wilson Funeral and Furniture Co. and owner of Wilson Realty Co. He was a member of the Ohio House from 1997 to 2004 and has been the senator from the 30th District since 2005. He has a bachelor's degree from Ohio University and is a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.
In the Republican race, Stobbs, Harman and the Rev. Mr. Ginter bring individual assets to the table.
Harmon, an Ohio native, chose to move into the 6th District after retiring from the Air Force and notes that his experience as a county commissioner during financially challenging times has given him an appreciation for governing within a budget. He says he has been running an active grass-roots campaign for 15 months.
Stobbs describes himself as a political outsider who would be able to represent the people free from the influences of big contributors or lobbyists.
Ginter says his election would represent a swing back to citizen representation and away from professional politicians. He believes industry can be attracted to the district by its low cost of living and other assets.
Strongest vision
Of the four candidates, however, Blasdel was the one who best articulated what he believes he could do as a member of Congress.
The issues, he says, are the same ones facing Ohio: the need to provide jobs and opportunity. Also, he says, comprehensive tax reform is necessary, along with keeping the growth of government spending below the rate of inflation.
As to the partnership tax delinquencies, which his campaign says have since been cleared up, Blasdel said he believes that voters will understand that a mistake was made and that it is in the past.
A mistake of a different kind has dogged Wilson, but he says he is campaigning hard to get the write-in votes needed to put him in the November race.
Wilson, too, places an accent on the need for job creation and, like Blasdel, says clean coal technology could provide an economic engine for the area.
Wilson said that as a business owner he has an appreciation for the high cost of providing health care for employees and believes that universal health care may be the nation's only solution.
Carr believes that preservation and tourism are potential economic assets for the district, although he would also like to attract industry to the district. He did not, however, show the broad understanding of problems facing the area that Wilson had.
Luchansky did not seek the endorsement or attend an endorsement interview.
The 6th District deserves a strong representative in Congress, one who can articulate the needs of the area and hold his own in Washington. Of the seven candidates, we believe Blasdel or Wilson would best be able to be that congressman.