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Rep. Johnson supports Romney
NORTH JACKSON
When he looks at the four Republicans running for president, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson says Mitt Romney stands out as the most qualified based on his business and leadership experience.
But whether Romney, Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich is the Republican nominee, Johnson, R-6th, said, “They all have far better ideas” than President Barack Obama.
Later on, Johnson, of Marietta, also threw in Ron Paul as a better choice for president than the Democratic incumbent.
Johnson made the comments in response to a question from an employee of DDi Corp., a North Jackson circuit-board manufacturing business in Youngstown Commerce Park during a Friday visit to the company.
“I think Ohio made the right decision last Tuesday,” Johnson said about Romney’s narrow victory over Santorum in the state’s primary. “I believe Gov. Romney will do an excellent job. I believe it’s a clear path, and Gov. Romney will win the nomination at some point.”
During a discussion with the local media, Johnson said, “The sooner the better” for Romney to win the Republican nomination so “we can start drawing the contrast with [the Obama] administration.”
But Johnson pointed out that the 2008 Democratic primary wasn’t resolved until June, and the 1976 Republican primary wasn’t decided until that party’s August convention.
“Sometimes these things take a lot of time,” he said. “I’d prefer it to happen sooner than later so we can get on to the big game.”
Johnson visited DDi’s North Jackson facility, which employs 165.
About one-third of the business done there is for the military, said Mikel Williams, its chief executive officer, who came from the company’s Anaheim, Calif., corporate headquarters to welcome Johnson.
DDi circuit boards are used by the military in tanks, bombs, planes, missiles and helicopters. Williams said.
Williams urged Johnson to make sure the federal government doesn’t outsource circuit boards to countries such as China because it could compromise national security.
“Don’t treat circuit boards like nuts, bolts and nails,” Williams said.
Johnson said, “Your product is critically important to national defense.”
Johnson spent Friday in the Mahoning Valley. After the DDi stop, he went to the Pregnancy Health Center in Boardman to talk about pro-life issues and finished at Ohio Pet Foods in Lisbon for a tour and a discussion with company executives.