6 candidates seek seat in 60th District

Name ID and an organized campaign are keys to victory, candidates say.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- For the six Democratic candidates running in the 60th Ohio House District, the main campaign issues are the same.
The candidates say their priorities are economic development, improving the school funding system and health-care reform.
Running in the primary are state Sen. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown; Youngstown Councilman Rufus G. Hudson; Struthers Councilman Dan Yemma; Richard A. Gozur, Campbell Memorial High School principal; Ian Stublarec of Youngstown; and Michael J. Latessa of Youngstown.
The first three already hold elected office, while Gozur spent 14 years as Campbell City Council's vice president, a position that no longer exists.
This is the first time Stublarec and Latessa are running for elected office.
State Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr. of Youngstown, who's held this post for eight years, cannot run for re-election this year because of state term limits.
There are no Republicans running in this heavily Democratic district.
Though the issues are important, the candidates say name recognition and having an organized campaign are the keys to winning.
With that in mind, the six say they and their supporters are going door to door and meeting people at community events. Those with money are advertising on television and/or radio.
Their objectives
Hudson's top priority is job creation through programs such as the creation of entertainment districts, tax-free zones and joint economic districts as well as offering tax abatements.
Yemma said the state needs to concentrate its job development on small businesses and to further reduce its tax structure to make Ohio attractive to companies.
Hagan, who's championed health-care reform on the state level, said that would continue to be one of his main priorities. He wants to press for universal coverage for all state residents.
Gozur, a teacher and principal for 34 years, says reforming the state's education problem is vital.
He opposes state funding for vouchers and charter schools and says fair and equitable funding is needed.
Latessa said he also wants to reform the state's education system by first comparing it to states that have successfully changed their education funding structure and having Ohio move ahead with a comprehensive plan.
Stublarec says he wants to provide health insurance for all Ohioans and to change the education funding system.
Latessa and Stublarec acknowledge they are long shots to win the primary.
The district includes Youngstown, Campbell, Struthers, Lowellville, Coitsville and nine precincts on the east side of Austintown.
GOP contests
There are contested Republican primaries in the 61st and 99th Ohio House Districts.
The 61st District takes in the northern portion of Mahoning County along with portions of Stark and Tuscarawas counties and all of Carroll County.
The seat is being vacated by state Rep. John Boccieri, a New Middletown Democrat who is running for the 33rd Ohio Senate District seat.
The Republican candidates are Randy Pope and Brant A. Luther, both of Alliance.
The winner will face Democrat Mark D. Okey of Carrollton in the November general election.
This is Pope's third run for this seat, having lost to Boccieri in 2002 and 2004.
A former one-term Alliance councilman, Pope wants to streamline the state budget by eliminating nonessential programs. He also wants to lower taxes and decrease regulations to keep businesses in Ohio.
Luther, a former Stark County auditor and three-term Alliance council member, says growing Ohio's economy is his top priority.
Creating a business-friendly environment will result in better and more jobs, he said.
To do so, the state must crack down on frivolous lawsuits, promote incentive programs and reduce regulations.
99th District
The 99th Ohio House District includes the northern portion of Trumbull County and all of Ashtabula County.
The winner of the Republican primary will face state Rep. L. George Distel, a Conneaut Democrat, in the November general election.
William Pikor of Thompson, who unsuccessfully ran in 2004 against Distel, and Donald Rogers of Kinsman, seeking elected office for the first time, are the Republicans in this race.
Pikor says the state's education funding problem could be solved by combining sales, income and property taxes instead of an over-reliance on property taxes, something the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional.
He also plans to seek help from the state for economic development in the district if elected.
Rogers wants to revise the state tax code and lower taxes. He also supports a school curriculum that concentrates on "the mastery of basic skills for students."
skolnick@vindy.com