State Rep. Law laments loss and 'close' legislation

Tom Letson says he will be part of a strong push to help the area's economy.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- State Rep. Randy Law says his greatest disappointment in being turned out of office at the polls this month is that he was "so close" to getting approval on several pieces of legislation that now probably won't get off the ground.
Among them, he said, is a proposal that Delphi Packard workers losing their jobs through buyouts be allowed a tax credit of up to 10,500 to start a small business or get training for a new career.
Another one is a proposal to provide 1 percent interest loans to Trumbull County residents who need money to replace a failing septic system.
Other legislation would have provided funds for Packard Music Hall and Kinsman House in Warren, water lines in Southington, and renovations to township halls around the district. He said there are about 20 such funding projects in the state capital budget bill.
"All of them are likely to be dead," said Law, of Warren, R-64th, who lost the district vote to Democrat Tom Letson of Warren.
"That's probably the most disappointing thing. We were so close on a number of things," Law said.
District coverage
The district covers Warren, Cortland, West Farmington, and the townships of Howland, Champion, Warren, Braceville, Southington, Farmington, Johnston, Vernon, Mecca, Bristol, and parts of Mesopotamia, Fowler and Bazetta.
Law added that he now also wonders whether there is a future for the proposed lodge at Mosquito Lake.
Law, members of the business and philanthropic group Trumbull 100, and others have spearheaded the preliminary stages of the project, including a feasibility study to determine whether such a facility could be successful and how to pay for its construction.
Law said eventually the project will require state funding if it goes forward, and now he wonders whether that will be possible. Like all of the projects he has championed during his two years in Columbus, the lodge project probably won't get support from the Legislature once he's gone, he said.
Becoming a lame duck has "basically chopped my legs off," Law said of what he'll be able to accomplish on the capital budget during his last five weeks in office. "When you're not coming back, things change real quick. I now have a sliver more clout than a Democrat."
House majority
Republicans have the majority in the House, which gives them more control of the budgetary process.
Law said people from Delphi Packard have asked him since the election whether his tax credit legislation will pass, and he has told them, "Why don't you go talk to the people who talked you into getting me out," Law said.
Law said Delphi workers have repeatedly told him they didn't vote against him personally but were told by union leadership and others to vote for Democrats. "People have to understand elections have consequences," Law said.
His future
On a personal level, Law says he has not decided what his future holds.
"I don't know. All options are on the table, but none of them political," Law said of his employment after he leaves the Legislature Jan. 1.
As for Letson, he says his agenda for the 64th District is economic development, and that agenda "cuts across party lines." For example, if the completed feasibility study for the Mosquito Lake lodge comes back positively, "there is probably reason to see further funding," he said.
"To say otherwise is really an insult to the people of Trumbull 100," he said. "Saying someone's going to turn them back isn't the way to treat people who have worked hard on that."
Letson said he will be in a position to help the district move ahead because Governor-elect Ted Strickland, a fellow Democrat, has plans for economic growth. Likewise, Democrat U.S. Senator-elect Sherrod Brown has plans for bringing jobs back to the United States from overseas with tax incentives.
Mentioning other Democrats, Letson said, "Congressman Tim Ryan and Congressman-elect Charlie Wilson both understand the economic struggles in this area, and I believe they will do what they can to assist Senator-elect Brown in what has turned into an economic advantage in this area -- a well-trained work force."
runyan@vindy.com