Kaptur files to run for re-election to seat in Congress

1/25/2014

Kaptur

THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
Buy This Image

CLEVELAND — U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) filed her petitions to run for re-election to the 9th Congressional District on Friday at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

Miss Kaptur is the first person to file for the seat, and did so 12 days before the deadline.

She will be seeking a 17th two-year term.

“We will focus on growing the economy and increasing the number of jobs, starting with industries closest to us in the manufacturing sector — automotive, rail, marine, intermodal,” she said.

She said she will defend the Affordable Care Act that she supported in 2010 for its benefits in allowing people with pre-existing conditions to get coverage and allowing children to stay on their parents’ coverage until they turn 26. She said it should lead to more emphasis on illness prevention.

“I hope we talk about the benefits, not just some of the adjustments people are having to make,” she said.

The 9th District was redrawn by the GOP-controlled Ohio General Assembly to include west Cleveland in 2012 in the wake of the 2010 Census. The district now includes Lake Erie communities in Lucas, Ottawa, Erie, Lorain, and Cuyahoga counties. It is one of four districts drawn with large Democratic voter majorities. The other 12 Ohio Congressional districts are Republican-leaning.

“We’ve met a lot more people all along the coast. We’ve accommodated the longer district and people have been very, very nice. It feels like we’ve gotten traction. You’re more familiar with the people, you’re more familiar with the issues,” Miss Kaptur said, referring to her first term with the unusually shaped district. Her drive can be as long as 170 miles one way.

She has opened three offices in the eastern half of the district — in Lorain, Lakewood, and Parma — in addition to her longtime office in Toledo.

One other person has taken out petitions to run in the 9th District — Republican Robert C. Horrocks, Jr., of Lakewood.

Mr. Horrocks said via email Friday that he intends to file those petitions to run against Miss Kaptur.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419--724-6058 or an Twitter @TomFTroy.