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Two Republicans are running in the 59th Ohio House District
BOARDMAN
An Army sergeant stationed in Georgia and a group leader at the Mahoning County juvenile justice center are vying for the Republican nomination for the 59th Ohio House District seat.
The winner will face state Rep. John Boccieri, a Democrat from Poland, in the November general election. Boccieri is unopposed in the Democrat primary.
Jim Murphy of Boardman, 28, is finishing his time with the Army in May, and is having friends and family campaign for him during the primary. This is his first time running for elected office. During his seven years in the military, Murphy served in Afghanistan and South Korea.
“The reason I’m running is what I’ve seen over the course of my lifetime is the Democrats in control of the Mahoning Valley, and not getting anything done,” he said. “It’s time to have a conservative representing Mahoning County.”
Don Manning of New Middletown, 48, a group leader at the justice center, has unsuccessfully run for commissioner in both Mahoning and Trumbull counties and for the U.S. House.
“The 59th District has not gotten our fair share of economic growth, and I put the blame squarely on Democrats being in control of the area for the past 50 years,” he said. “There’s no incentive for Republicans to help this area because it’s strongly Democratic.”
Both candidates said they strongly oppose Common Core, now called Ohio’s Learning Standards, and oppose bans on possessing assault weapons unless the person seeking them is a convicted felon.
Manning said he wants to switch the funding of education from property taxes to a flat sales tax.
When asked why he’s a better candidate than Murphy, Manning said, “The biggest difference between us is he’s a political novice. I’ve been involved in Republican political campaigns for several years. I’m in a better position to take on Mr. Boccieri in the general election than my opponent.”
Murphy wants a repeal of the state income tax and go to a flat income tax but for state operations. He supports the continued use of property taxes to support schools and local governments.
Murphy said he’s the better candidate because “I have the voice to make things happen. I have more of an appeal to the younger voters.”
Boccieri was appointed Sept. 30, 2015, to the seat to replace Ronald V. Gerberry, who resigned a month earlier when he was convicted of unlawful compensation of a public official.