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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is seeking his seventh two-year term in the House
YOUNGSTOWN
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan’s Republican challenger, Thomas Pekarek, said he’s running for the 13th Congressional District seat because “all people deserve a race.”
When asked if he will be competitive against Ryan, a Democrat from Howland, Pekarek of Cleveland, said: “By normal standards the way campaigns are run nowadays, not very, but I would like to be.”
If re-elected to a seventh two-year term, Ryan said he will continue to focus on promoting manufacturing and advanced technology.
He touts the successes in those fields in the district, particularly in Youngstown.
“We’re starting to shift the story about Youngstown and create a new narrative with the [Youngstown Business] Incubator, with America Makes [additive manufacturing facility], with the $440 million in software that went to Youngstown State through Siemans,” he said. “Just continuing to build that out” is my priority.
It is critical to make investments in technology, Ryan said.
“China’s pumping billions into additive manufacturing, India, some of these other countries in Europe,” he said.
“They’re on the ball and they’re saying, ‘Boy, whoever gets there first is gonna have the manufacturing piece and the exporting of these products. They’re going to be the winner.’”
But, Ryan said, he believes House Republicans are more focused on “how do we impeach [President Barack] Obama or how do we vote on repealing Obamacare for the 52nd time? That’s what’s frustrating.”
Ryan also wants to expand and support renewable energy sources to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, and make teacher recruitment and training priorities.
Pekarek has run for office at least seven other times, including in the Cleveland-based 11th Congressional District in 2008 and 2010. He received 15 percent and 18 percent of the vote, respectively, in those two congressional races.
Pekarek’s platform includes a limit of 10 percent of income going toward taxes, and having people tell the federal government what it wants done rather than the other way.
The 13th District is heavily Democratic and includes large portions of Mahoning, Trumbull, Summit and Portage counties, and a small part of Stark County.
Pekarek doesn’t live in the district, but that’s not a requirement to run or serve in Congress in Ohio.
David Allen Pastorius of Akron is running as a write-in candidate.