Ex-auditor seeks seat in House's 61st District
ALLIANCE -- Brant Luther, a former Stark County auditor and Alliance city councilman, is the first candidate to announce he is running for the 61st Ohio House District seat.
Luther, a Republican, made the announcement Wednesday more than a week after The Vindicator reported that he was strongly looking at running for the post.
The filing deadline is Feb. 16.
Luther, who works as a Stark County Probate Court staff attorney, stressed in his announcement the need for "strong moral and ethical leadership in government."
Luther also stated he is the son of a former minister, a member of the National Rifle Association and a faith-based organization that promoted "the sanctity of human life from a Biblical worldview."
State Rep. John Boccieri, a New Middletown Democrat, won't seek a fourth two-year term to the Ohio House this year, opting to run for the 33rd Ohio Senate District seat.
Stark has the most residents in this district that also takes in all of Carroll County and portions of Mahoning and Tuscarawas counties. The Mahoning part includes Beaver, Springfield, Smith, Goshen and Green townships.