13 square off in 13th District
Name recognition, money called key to winning race
Stephen Szucs
The Chronicle-Telegram
ELYRIA — With the May 2 primary a little over a month away, the 13 candidates vying for Sherrod Brown’s soon-to-be-vacant 13th District Congressional seat are busy making their final impressions on voters.
And one Ohio political analyst says name recognition will do a lot to determine the winners.
Though national Republicans have anointed Lorain Mayor Craig Foltin as their favorite to win the Republican nomination, 2004 candidate Joe Ortega III of Strongsville has an edge, said Steven Brooks of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron.
“Ortega has been running for this position for quite a while,” Brooks said. “Based on name recognition, I think he has the advantage.”
Foltin has called Ortega his main rival in the primary, which features three other Republicans: Paul Burtzlaff, Charles DeLorean and David McGrew.
Robert Rousseau, chairman of the Lorain County GOP, says Foltin is the local favorite, but voter turnout could turn the tables.
Summit County has more registered voters in the district than Lorain County, and also boasts more candidates.
Paul Blevins, president of the Lorain County Young Democrats, said he’s concerned about the impact on the county if a non-resident wins the election. Brown, of Avon, has represented the district since winning the seat in 1992.
“I think the thing that we lose is somebody knowing the community,” Blevins said. “I believe that no matter who’s elected, (Lorain County) won’t be ignored.”
More well-known names are battling it out on the Democratic side. Candidates include former Akron-area U.S. Rep. Tom Sawyer, who lost his seat after redistricting in 2002, former state Rep. Betty Sutton, Elyria Mayor Bill Grace and Gary Kucinich, brother of Cleveland-area U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich.
One of the most formidable candidates is Capri Cafaro, heiress to a shopping mall fortune who lost the race for the 14th District seat, representing the Youngstown area, in 2004. Cafaro, who moved to Sheffield this year to run for Brown’s seat, has said she plans to spend $1.2 million on the primary alone.
Brooks said the high name recognition of the experienced politicians will help them, but doesn’t discount the effect of high levels of campaign spending on the race.
Blevins said Sutton’s and Sawyer’s experience could help them in the primary, but they could be hurt because their political bases are in the same region.
He said while the district has leaned Democratic, Foltin’s win as a Republican in traditionally Democratic Lorain can’t be ignored.
“The Democrats have to consider who will better represent us, rather than who will defeat the Republican opponent in the fall,” Blevins said. “But Foltin’s win throws a wrench in the plot of that line of thinking.”
Stephen Szucs
The Chronicle-Telegram
ELYRIA — With the May 2 primary a little over a month away, the 13 candidates vying for Sherrod Brown’s soon-to-be-vacant 13th District Congressional seat are busy making their final impressions on voters.
And one Ohio political analyst says name recognition will do a lot to determine the winners.
Though national Republicans have anointed Lorain Mayor Craig Foltin as their favorite to win the Republican nomination, 2004 candidate Joe Ortega III of Strongsville has an edge, said Steven Brooks of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron.
“Ortega has been running for this position for quite a while,” Brooks said. “Based on name recognition, I think he has the advantage.”
Foltin has called Ortega his main rival in the primary, which features three other Republicans: Paul Burtzlaff, Charles DeLorean and David McGrew.
Robert Rousseau, chairman of the Lorain County GOP, says Foltin is the local favorite, but voter turnout could turn the tables.
Summit County has more registered voters in the district than Lorain County, and also boasts more candidates.
Paul Blevins, president of the Lorain County Young Democrats, said he’s concerned about the impact on the county if a non-resident wins the election. Brown, of Avon, has represented the district since winning the seat in 1992.
“I think the thing that we lose is somebody knowing the community,” Blevins said. “I believe that no matter who’s elected, (Lorain County) won’t be ignored.”
More well-known names are battling it out on the Democratic side. Candidates include former Akron-area U.S. Rep. Tom Sawyer, who lost his seat after redistricting in 2002, former state Rep. Betty Sutton, Elyria Mayor Bill Grace and Gary Kucinich, brother of Cleveland-area U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich.
One of the most formidable candidates is Capri Cafaro, heiress to a shopping mall fortune who lost the race for the 14th District seat, representing the Youngstown area, in 2004. Cafaro, who moved to Sheffield this year to run for Brown’s seat, has said she plans to spend $1.2 million on the primary alone.
Brooks said the high name recognition of the experienced politicians will help them, but doesn’t discount the effect of high levels of campaign spending on the race.
Blevins said Sutton’s and Sawyer’s experience could help them in the primary, but they could be hurt because their political bases are in the same region.
He said while the district has leaned Democratic, Foltin’s win as a Republican in traditionally Democratic Lorain can’t be ignored.
“The Democrats have to consider who will better represent us, rather than who will defeat the Republican opponent in the fall,” Blevins said. “But Foltin’s win throws a wrench in the plot of that line of thinking.”
13th Congressional District
The district stretches from Lake Erie along the shores of Avon Lake, Sheffield, Lorain and Vermilion to south of Akron.
| Craig Foltin, 39 LIVES IN: Lorain JOB: Mayor of Lorain PREVIOUS OFFICES: Lorain auditor, mayor ISSUES: Bringing federal tax dollars back to 13th District. |
| Capri Cafaro, 28 LIVES IN: Sheffield JOB: Self-employed PREVIOUS OFFICES: None ISSUES: Tax cuts on U.S. durable goods, ethanol gasoline and withdrawing from foreign trade agreements. |
| Bill Grace, 42 LIVES IN: Elyria JOB: Mayor of Elyria PREVIOUS OFFICES: 3 terms, Elyria City Council ISSUES: Economic recovery of Greater Cleveland, Lorain County |
| Paul Burtzlaff, 38 LIVES IN: Avon Lake JOB: Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church PREVIOUS OFFICES: None. ISSUES: Improving strength in families, education |
| Norbert Dennerll, 76 LIVES IN: Westlake JOB: Real estate consultant PREVIOUS OFFICES: 3 terms, Cleveland City Council ISSUES: Increasing jobs |
| Joe Ortega III, 56 LIVES IN: Strongsville JOB: President, Absolute Group PREVIOUS OFFICES: None ISSUES: Job creation |
| Michael Lyons, 51 LIVES IN: Richfield JOB: Mayor of Richfield, Norton law director PREVIOUS OFFICES: Richfield City Council ISSUES: Jobs, economic development |
| Gary J. Kucinich, 55 LIVES IN: Strongsville JOB: Sales manager, John Lance Ford PREVIOUS OFFICES: Cleveland City Council, school board ISSUES: End U.S. involvement in Iraq |
| Charles DeLorean, 79 LIVES IN: Medina JOB: Retired Cadillac dealer PREVIOUS OFFICES: None. ISSUES: Limiting the amount of foreign competition in U.S. markets |
| John L. Wolfe, 79 LIVES IN: Akron JOB: Lawyer PREVIOUS OFFICES: Precinct committeeman ISSUES: End U.S. involvement in war in Iraq, jobs and healthcare |
| David McGrew, 47 LIVES IN: Akron JOB: Owner, MCS Marketing PREVIOUS OFFICES: None ISSUES: Pro-economic growth, pro-family and pro-defense |
| Thomas C. Sawyer, 60 LIVES IN: Akron JOB: Self-employed PREVIOUS OFFICES: Ohio House, Mayor of Akron, U.S. House ISSUES: Economic recovery of Northeast Ohio |
| Betty Sutton, 42 LIVES IN: Chardon JOB: Lawyer PREVIOUS OFFICES: Summit County Council, Ohio House ISSUES: Ethics and clean government, fair trade |
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