Kaptur, Latta face challengers
Petitions filed for 5th, 9th congressional district races
2/5/2014Robert Fry, a Democrat and West Toledo resident who pastors a church in Monclova Township, filed petitions Tuesday with the Lucas County Board of Elections to challenge U.S. Rep. Robert Latta (R., Bowling Green) in the 5th congressional district.
And a Cuyahoga County man, Robert Horrocks, Jr., filed petitions Monday in Cleveland to challenge U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) in the 9th congressional district.
Both men are among the candidates for countywide, statewide, and congressional seats who are filing in time for the 4 p.m. deadline today to get on the May 6 primary election ballot.
Mr. Fry, 63, of Violet Road, pastor of Heritage Church of God, is making his first run for public office.
Mr. Latta filed his petitions Jan. 31 for re-election to the seat he has held since 2007.
Also filing for the the 5th District was Eric Eberly of Bowling Green, on the Libertarian Party ballot. Mr. Eberly ran unsuccessfully for the 5th District seat in 2012.
The next step for candidates is to have their petitions certified by the board of elections.
Mr. Horrocks, 40, of Lakewood filed at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections as required because that county has the largest population in the 9th district.
He said he is a sales representative for an industrial bearing distribution company and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton.
He was a councilman in the city of New Carlisle in Clark County from 1996 until 2003 when he was one of three councilmen who were removed from office in a voter referendum.
A 2003 story in the Springfield News-Sun quoted the sponsor of the recall campaign as saying it was in response to the three councilmen's support of the city manager's “wild spending ideas.”
Mr. Horrocks said the recall supporters wanted the city manager fired, and he did not want to fire him.
He said his reason for running against Miss Kaptur is to “help restore faith in Washington and put government back to work for our people.”
Miss Kaptur, who has held the office continuously since her first election in 1982, filed on Jan. 24.
Also filing Tuesday was state Rep. Barbara Sears (R., Monclova Township) and a primary opponent, Republican Scott Allegrini of Sylvania, for the GOP nomination in the 47th House District.
Mr. Allegrini is backed by Tea Party members who disagree with Ms. Sears support of expanding eligibility for Medicaid health coverage.
Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419--724-6058 or an Twitter @TomFTroy.