GOP endorses Blasdel for seat

LISBON -- State Rep. Charles Blasdel received the endorsement of the Republican Party of Columbiana County, where he lives, in his bid for the 6th Congressional District seat.
Members of the county party's central committee unanimously endorsed Blasdel, of East Liverpool, the Ohio House speaker pro tempore.
This is Blasdel's first county party endorsement for the congressional race. There are 12 counties in the congressional district, including Columbiana -- the largest county in the district in terms of population -- and a portion of Mahoning County. The two counties make up about one-third of the congressional district's voters.
Blasdel, a three-term Ohio House member, is among four running in the Republican primary in May for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Lisbon Democrat. Strickland is running for governor.
The other Republican candidates are Noble County Commissioner Danny Harmon, Tim Ginter of East Liverpool, and Richard Holt of Lawrence County.
The Columbiana County Democratic Party had previously endorsed state Sen. Charles Wilson of St. Clairsville for the congressional seat.
John Stephen Luchansky of Poland has already filed as a Democratic candidate for the seat, and Diane DiCarlo Murphy of Beaver Township plans to run in the Democratic primary.