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Contractor challenging Wilson in 6th District
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Charlie Wilson
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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-17)
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Ex-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr.
YOUNGSTOWN — U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson will have a Democratic primary opponent in his bid for a third two-year term serving the 6th Congressional District.
Jim Renner of North Benton, who runs a small contracting company, filed nominating petitions Tuesday to challenge Wilson, a Democrat from St. Clairsville, in the May 4 primary. This is the first time Renner has run for elected office.
“It’s time we put people down there [in Washington, D.C.] who are going to take care of business,” he said.
The filing deadline to run in a partisan-party primary is Thursday.
The 6th District is quickly filling up with numerous candidates.
The Republican primary has three candidates — Donald K. Allen of Boardman, Bill Johnson of Poland and Sam Hepfner of Salem.
Also, Richard D. Stobbs of Colerain, who unsuccessfully ran for the seat in 2006 and 2008, said he’ll also file as a Republican by Thursday’s deadline.
Two third-party candidates also have filed for the congressional seat.
They are: Corey McCusker of Poland as a Libertarian and Richard E. Cadle of North Jackson with the Constitution Party.
There are 12 counties in the 6th District including all of Columbiana and a portion of Mahoning. Those two counties are the voter-SFlbpopulation centers of the congressional district.
A wild card in that race — or possibly in the 17th Congressional District — is ex-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr.
The former congressman is examining election data for potential runs in the 6th or the 17th Congressional districts, said Dennis Malloy, his communications director.
Traficant is not leaning toward either district or running as a Democrat, Republican or independent at this point, Malloy said.
“His phone’s ringing off the hook” from supporters urging him to run, Malloy said.
Traficant served seven years in federal prison for bribery, racketeering, tax evasion and obstruction of justice.
Independents have until May 3, the day before the primary, to file for the November general election.
In comparison to the 6th, it’s relatively quiet in the 17th District race.
As of Tuesday, the only candidates to file for the seat are Democrat Dan Moadus of Girard and Republican M.E. “Bing” Henderson of Tallmadge.
Incumbent Tim Ryan, a Democrat from Niles, said he’ll file today.
The 17th District includes portions of Trumbull, Mahoning, Portage and Summit counties. Trumbull and Mahoning are the voter-population centers of the district.
The 14th Congressional District race is a rematch of the 2008 election.
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, a Republican from Bainbridge, and Democrat Bill O’Neill of Chagrin Falls are the only two candidates who’ve filed for the seat. LaTourette beat O’Neill in the 2008 general election by almost 20 percentage points.
The district includes seven townships in northern Trumbull County.
The busiest Ohio House race in the Mahoning Valley is the 65th District where state Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles cannot run for re-election.
Harwood is serving her fourth two-year term in the state House. State law prohibits her from seeking another term this year.
Three Democrats have already filed nominating petitions to replace her.
They are: J.D. Williams of Liberty, Sean J. O’Brien of Brookfield and Michael V. Boccia of Niles.
The district includes the Trumbull County communities of Niles, Girard, Lordstown, Liberty, Vienna, Newton Falls, McDonald, Hubbard and Orangeville as well as portions of Bazetta, Brookfield and Fowler.
skolnick@vindy.com