Three 6th District hopefuls

Three candidates are vying to represent Ohio's 6th U.S. Congressional District for the next two years, including incumbent Democrat Charlie Wilson, Republican Richard Stobbs, and Independent (Green Party) candidate Dennis Spisak.

Wilson, who's running for his second term in the U.S. Congress, said the economy, energy, health care and education are significant issues for Ohio and the nation.

"We have lots of work to do on all of these fronts," he said. "We've recently put the rescue package in place for the country's larger financial institutions, and that will trickle down to affect the entire economy.

"We're hoping that as the rescue funding is infused into the nation's banks we'll see a return to more liquidity in credit for businesses," Wilson said.

He compared the situation to what occurred in the U.S. prior to the Great Depression.

"But in 1929 they just did nothing," Wilson said.

On other issues, he said health care costs are creating a strain on small businesses, and many can't afford to provide full family medical coverage.

Wilson said he has supported a bill expanding SCHIP, (State Children's Health Insurance Programs), that would provide health coverage for 10 million children, but the measure was rejected twice by the Bush administration

He said Congress plans to try for approval of the program again after a new administration takes office in January.

Wilson has also co-sponsored a bill that would provide energy credits for developers who renovate or construct "greener" residential and commercial buildings by installing more efficient windows and doors and by incorporating solar and other forms of alternative energy.

But he added that the increase for electricity over the next decade will also require the use of clean coal technology to fuel generation plants.

Stobbs believes the economy is the big issue facing Ohio and the nation.

"And that means jobs," he said. "This has been an issue in the district since I graduated from high school, but back then guys went to work at big companies like Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel.

"At that time everything was structured around a few major industries, but when one of those factories went down it affected the whole local economy," Stobbs explained. "What we really need is to diversify our businesses."

If elected to Congress, Stobbs plans to assemble a 6th District Jobs Action Team with representatives from chambers of commerce, businesses, labor unions, educational institutions, agriculture, religious organizations, veterans, and local governments, as well as private citizens.

He said the team would be an advisory group that would help him bring new businesses into the area.

"We need to bring more new industries with good-paying jobs," he said.

In addition, Stobbs believes the processing of permits to build and operate new power generating facilties and other industries could be completed more quickly, and blamed government and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency overregulation for slowing that development.

On health care, Stobbs would like to see more focus on the thousands of studies that have been performed on chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

"We may already have a cure among these studies, but we have to connect the dots," he said.

Spisak is running for Congress "because I'm not happy with the fact that there's not a progressive, liberal voice in this race."

He lists health care as his top issue.

"We need universal health care as I believe our current health care system has failed," Spisak said. "Health care should include no copayments, no deductibles, no premiums, and no denial of coverage or services."

He said the federal government has done a good job providing Medicaid and Medicare, and he believes the government could also provide better health insurance coverage than most private companies that have high profit margins.

"The other issue I feel strongly about is energy," Spisak said. "We need to move into more solar and wind technology in Ohio. I believe that's the wave of the future and we should create a green 'new deal' and declare war on energy issues."

He said developing and researching alternative energy projects would create jobs in both urban and rural areas across the state.

Spisak disagrees with a proposal by Wilson to develop jet fuel from liquified coal at a plant near Wellsville.

"There would be 10 million gallons of water a day coming out of that plant that contains mercury," he said. "What would that do to the rivers?"

In addition, Spisak said it would take a ton of coal to produce two barrels of fuel, and if the process is successful it would drain current coal reserves even faster, creating competition for coal with electric utilities who use coal for power production.

"Even though it could bring in jobs, electricity prices would increase and we would deplete another of our natural resources," he said.

Member Comments

View Comments: | 1-6 | Post a comment

Johanna
10-31-08 10:57 PM »Report Abuse	Good Politician? He is already, isn't he?
tingette
10-31-08 2:25 PM »Report Abuse	I think you would fit right in.
Contrarian
10-31-08 12:30 PM »Report Abuse	I wouldn't be a good candidate; too contrarian!
Indian
10-31-08 9:17 AM »Report Abuse	Saw some posting last night that you might be an good politician. Give it a try.
Indian
10-31-08 9:14 AM »Report Abuse	Contrarian: our next candidate. I nominate you first. Meet me at the court house and I will sign your petition.
Contrarian
10-31-08 9:00 AM »Report Abuse	Actually there are three liberal voices in the race--each one is cozier with the labor unions than the previous one...not good for economic growth if that's what you're proposing.

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