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4 candidates vie to unseat US Rep. Wilson
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Richard D. Stobbs
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Charlie Wilson
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U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Poland, R-6th
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Donald K. Allen
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Jim Renner
By DAVID SKOLNICK
YOUNGSTOWN
U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson faces a political newcomer in the 6th Congressional District’s Democratic primary.
Meanwhile, three Republicans are on the ballot to determine that party’s nominee for the November general election.
Wilson’s challengers say he is out of touch with the citizens of his 12-county district that includes all of Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning.
Wilson, of St. Clairsville, sees it differently, pointing to his seven-straight elections — four two-year terms in the Ohio House, one term in the state Senate and two times in the U.S. House.
“My constituents keep voting for me,” he said. “That means they think I’m effective.”
In the May 4 Democratic primary, Wilson faces Jim Renner of North Benton, who owns a contracting and building company.
Renner, who’s never run for office before, said he opposes the health-care bill that Congress recently passed. Wilson voted in favor of the bill.
When asked to name one thing that would have improved the bill, Renner said, “I can’t tell you what I want in a health-care bill. I don’t know. They could have done a better job.”
Wilson said his vote for health-care changes was a “vote for my district.”
The bill is on par with the votes to establish Social Security and Medicare, he said.
“I think it will be the biggest vote I’ll ever cast,” Wilson said.
Also, Wilson said he voted for the $787 billion federal stimulus bill because without it, the country would have collapsed.
“I see light at the end of the tunnel and an end to the recession,” he said.
The Republican primary features:
Bill Johnson of Poland, a retired Air Force officer who serves as the chief information officer for a Warren technology company. Johnson has never run for political office.
Donald K. Allen of Boardman, a veterinarian, who ran as a write-in for president of the United States in the November 2008 election in Ohio. He finished in ninth place with 212 votes.
Richard D. Stobbs of Dillonvale, a deputy recorder with the Franklin County recorder’s office. Wilson easily beat Stobbs in the 2008 general election for the 6th District. Stobbs finished last among four Republican candidates in the 2006 primary for the seat. He also ran for Belmont County sheriff four times, winning one time in 1980.
Johnson wants to pass policies, if elected to Congress, that would help small-business growth and innovation as well as reduce government spending and lower taxes.
Allen said he would fight to stop the federal government from allowing others to dictate policies such as environmental groups’ determining energy policies, Wall Street’s running the economy and teacher unions’ controlling education.
Stobbs said the government is “out of control” and “going in the wrong direction.”
Stobbs wants to cut government waste, increase production of American-made energy and rein in government spending.
“We’re all pretty much saying the same things,” Stobbs said when asked what is different about the Republican candidates in this election.
The winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries would face Libertarian Martin J. Elsass of Columbiana and Richard E. Cadle of North Jackson, the Constitution Party candidate, and any independent who files by May 3 in the November general election.
DEMOCRATS
CHARLIE WILSON*
Age: 67
Home: St. Clairsville
Education: A graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science; a bachelor’s degree in general studies from Ohio University.
Employment: A congressman.
Family: Four sons.
Priority: To create incentives to spur job growth locally, reduce the federal deficit, increase private lending to small businesses, and Wall Street financial reform.
JIM RENNER
Age: 52
Home: North Benton
Education: Attended Kent State University; a Southeast High School graduate.
Employment: Owner of BerryStone Building, a contracting and building company.
Family: Wife, Darla; three sons and three daughters.
Priority: To start laying the ground work for jobs through tax cuts, dealing with imports and bringing back manufacturing jobs.
REPUBLICANS
DONALD K. ALLEN
Age: 63
Home: Boardman
Education: A veterinarian medical degree, a master of science degree in animal nutrition and a bachelor of science degree in veterinary medicine from University of Illinois College of Agriculture at Champaign- Urbana; a bachelor of science degree in animal science from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture at Macomb.
Employment: A veterinarian.
Family: Wife, Paula; three daughters and one son.
Priority: Help small business by reviewing regulations that are inhibitive and try to overturn or repeal them. Oppose all bills that further socialism and entitlements, work to reduce taxation and reduce government, and work to eliminate government agencies that have not proved themselves to be effective or accomplish their intended purposes.
BILL JOHNSON
Age: 55
Home: Poland
Education: A master of science degree in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a bachelor of science degree in computer science from Troy University in Alabama.
Employment: Chief information officer for Stoneridge Inc.
Family: Wife, LeeAnn; two sons and two daughters.
Priority: To work with small business owners to stop the federal government from burdening them with unfunded mandates, protect them from unfair competition, and put an end to undue government regulation; and getting the federal budget under control and lowering taxes, which will result in real economic growth.
RICHARD D. STOBBS
Age: 63
Home: Dillonvale
Education: A master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University; a bachelor of art’s degree from Ohio University; an associate degree from Jefferson Community College.
Employment: Deputy recorder with the Franklin County recorder’s office.
Family: Wife, Jo Ann (deceased); one daughter and three sons.
Priority: To restore fiscal responsibility, repeal the health- care bill, protect veterans’ rights.