John Boccieri for Ohio's 16th District

I practically grew up being represented by Ralph Regula. He was my state senator and later my Congressional representative when I lived in Canton. Imagine my surprise when many years later he once again became my representative after redistricting placed Medina County in the 16th District. Ralph Regula has represented Ohio well during his 36 years, 18 terms in Congress. I haven’t always agreed with his position on the issues, but I do have tremendous respect for his service to our state and our nation. I am particularly grateful for his support for education. The Stark County Branch of Kent State University made it possible for me to graduate from college.

After this term of office, Congressman Regula will retire. In this age of divisive politics and political scandals, one may wonder if there is a candidate who can represent the people of the 16th District with the integrity and dedication that Ralph Regula has demonstrated throughout his career in public service.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to meet candidate, John Boccieri at the Medina County Democratic Rally on February 2nd, and I was truly impressed! John has already demonstrated his dedication to this country and the people of our state by serving 11 years in the military including 4 rotations in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He has had legislative experience in the Ohio Assembly, currently serving as Senator for the 33rd District and previously serving as a state representative. His education is also everything you might ask for in a Congressional Representative, a bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s degrees in public administration and business. But it wasn’t only his resume that impressed me; it was his ability to connect with people and his passion for fixing the problems that we face.

It is time to pass the torch of leadership to a new generation. The people of Ohio’s 16th District are fortunate that John is stepping up. On his website, there is the promise to, " bring a common-sense approach to crafting legislation and policies, making sure that working families in the 16th District – and across the country – see the benefits of decisions made on Capitol Hill. " For those of us hoping to change the way our Congress has been doing business, electing John Boccieri to be our representative is a great place to start the reformation. Check out his website.