Dem Ed Jerse to challenge Goop Steven LaTourette for Ohio-14

[Kolesar]

A challenger for LaTourette

08/17/03

State Rep. Ed Jerse, a Euclid Democrat, has formed a campaign committee and plans to run next year for the congressional seat held by Madison Republican Steven LaTourette.

Jerse, 45, will announce his candidacy in the fall. Term limits prohibit him from seeking re-election to the Ohio House next year.

Jerse considers himself a conservative Democrat, which he said should help him appeal to Republicans and independents. Jerse plans to emphasize Republicans' handling of the economy and the absence of political balance in the Republican-dominated Congress. He intends to move into the 14th Congressional District, which includes all of Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties and parts of Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage and Trumbull counties.

LaTourette plans to announce soon that he will run for a sixth term, a spokesman said.

LaTourette once said he would step down after four terms in Congress, then amended that to five. Recently he said he did not want leave the seat open in a year when President George W. Bush was up for re-election.
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/insidepolitics/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1061037768297290.xml

[goobergunch]

1. LaTourette is fairly entrenched...

but this supports my strategy of "expanding the field". :thumbsup:

[Fescue4u]

2. what a choice..

Between a Republican and an anti-gun zealot.

Jerse is an anti-gun zealot unlikely to appeal to many Ohio republicans.

Otherwise Jerse is ok, but his constant attacks on concealed carry reform in Ohio have him on my shit list.

[Kolesar]

3. If Ohio never adopted the concealed carry law I would be happy

And further, the paleolithic Ohio legislature spent most of last year's legislative time on two issues: concealed carry and the defense of marriage act. They just don't know when an issue is dead and it is time to move on.

[Fescue4u]

4. I agree on the marriage act thing

But concealed carry itself is hardly a dead issue. Ohio is surrounding by states that recognize the right to carry.


In fact its quite possible, if not likely that Oh SC will rule the current law unconsititutional (based on the ohio consitution).

Nonetheless, Jerse is an anti-gun zealot that no ones needs in Congress. If he cant respect the bill of rights, he's not qualified.

[Kolesar]

10. If your college classmate was murdered while working at a gas station

you might feel different about this "dead issue". One of my classmates was working his way through electronics school at a gas station, and a gun owner shot him to death while robbing the gas station. If you want a thread on "anti-gun zealot" Jerse, you are welcome to start one over in the gun dungeon.

He was 20 years old. Moms never forget their sons' birthdays.

[mndemocrat_29]

5. Glad that he's running

I keep saying we need to run good candidates in all races. That's the best way to win back the House.

[BayCityProgressive]

6. Are you kidding me?

What is with all the gun nuts on this board lately? I feel like I am at an NRA convention! I support common sense gun laws and letting everyone carry concealed weapons is not common sense! Also check the constitution again. Gun rights are for well trained militias to protect from the feds. You are buying in to NRA propaganda. Hunting rifles and the like are fine, but if we have restrictions on vehicles and licenses it should be no different for guns.

[mndemocrat_29]

7. I never said anything about guns

n/t

[BayCityProgressive]

8. I'm sorry

I was referring to the other poster not you.

[dsc]

9. This will be an astonishingly tough race

The district is very favorable to LaTourette. Geagua County is a Republican bastion, Lake County is his home county. Ashtabula County is Democratic but only around 60/40 and way smaller than Lake County. I hope he can win, and will work for him if he actully campaigns, but this is a very, very, tough race.