Letson to face Law for Ohio 64th District seat

By Ed Runyan

runyan@vindy.com

WARREN

In one of the most hotly contested races in Trumbull County, incumbent state Rep. Tom Letson of Warren, D-64th, has succeeded in winning his party’s nomination and will face Republican Randy Law in November.

Law, also of Warren, held the seat in 2005 and 2006 but lost it to Letson.

On Tuesday, Law had the highest vote total among three Republicans running. The other GOP candidates were Albert J. Haberstroh Jr. of Southington and Roger Peterson Jr. of North Bloomfield.

Law said the support he got from the Republican Ohio Speaker of the House, William G. Batchelder, and the Ohio House Republican Caucus was crucial to his success.

Law said he believes the redrawing of the boundary lines for the 64th District into areas farther north in Trumbull County and southern Ashtabula County will work to his benefit. “But we’re still going to have to do our groundwork in Warren and Howland,” Law said.

Letson defeated his challengers Sheila Calko and David Cook, both of Warren.

The 64th District encompasses Warren city, the village of West Farmington and the townships of Bloomfield, Braceville, Bristol, Champion, Farmington, Green, Gustavus, Howland, Johnston, Kinsman, Mecca, Mesopotamia, Southington and Warren.

“I’m very pleased the residents of Trumbull County have believed in me. I will work hard for them,” Letson said, referring to legislative work to provide help for witnesses to crime, and for dyslexic children.

“We’ve got more to do, but we’ve got great partners,” Letson said of fellow state Rep. Sean O’Brien of Brookfield, D-65th. He and O’Brien worked together on legislation that should positively affect the distribution of state Local Government Funds locally.

Letson, 64th District representative five years, had financial and personal challenges a year ago, receiving treatment for alcoholism just after the Internal Revenue Service filed a tax lien against him for failing to pay a $37,427 assessment related to his 2006 federal taxes.

At least one of Letson’s challengers, Calko, admitted that Letson’s troubles were a reason she got into the race.

A nonparty candidate, Warren Councilwoman Cheryl Saffold, has filed to run as an independent.