Special Primary Part Of This Fall’s Election

Voters in the Fifth United States Congressional District, which includes Fulton and Henry counties, will have an opportunity to vote in a special primary election, Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Five men and one woman are seeking the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, left open by the death of Paul Gillmor.

Voters who cast partisan (Democrat or Republican) ballots will choose their party candidate for a special election to be conducted, Tuesday, Dec. 11.

FIFTH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

Candidate: Steve Buehrer (Republican)

Resides in: Delta

Family: Wife, Cathy; sons Benjamin, Simon, and Daniel

Native of: Delta

Education: graduate, Delta High School; Bachelor of Science degree in social studies education, Bowling Green State University; juris doctorate degree, Capital University School of Law

Present employment: Ohio Senate, attorney, small business owner

Affiliations: St. John’s Christian Church

Previously held public office? state representative, 1999-2006, state senate, 2006- present

Comments: Buehrer’s goals are to lower taxes, reduce government spending, and protect conservative values.

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Candidate: Mark Hollenbaugh (Republican)

Resides in: Bowling Green

Family: Children Alex and Jordan

Native of: Bowling Green

Education: 1983 graduate of Bowling Green High School; bachelor’s degree in education, master’s degree in education and curriculum, Bowling Green State University

Present employment: teacher, North Baltimore High School; honorably discharged, Army National Guard

Affiliations: National Education Association; Word of Truth Church

Previously held public office? No

Comments: Hollenbaugh notes he is a government and history teacher, which will assist him in the House of Representatives. His objectives are economic reform and fair trade, cutting government waste, working to bring new industry, and bio-fuel development.

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Candidate: Bob Latta (Republican)

Resides in: Bowling Green

Family: Wife, Marcia; children Elizabeth and Maria

Native of: Bowling Green

Education: 1974 graduate of Bowling Green High School; 1978 cum laude graduate of Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree; 1981 graduate, University of Toledo College of Law

Present employment: Ohio State Representative and an attorney at law

Civic public projects: founding trustee, Wood County Arthritis Foundation; recognized by Wood County 4-H for outstanding service to 4-H; distinguished service award, Bowling Green Noon Kiwanis; honored in 1999 for service by Ohio State University/SeaGrant; recognized by Bowling Green Community Foundation for pro bono legal work in its incorporation as a non-profit organization.

Affiliations: past-president, director and trustee, Bowling Green Noon Kiwanis; Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce; Wood County Farm Bureau; Wood County Historical Society; Friends of Camp Perry; Wood County Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association; National Federation of Independent Business; National Rifle Association (life-endowment) Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association; Omicron Delta Kappa Honorary, BGSU; St. Thomas More University Parish

Previously held public

office? Wood County commissioner, 1991-96; Ohio State Senator, 1997-2000; Ohio State Fifth Congressional District Republican State Central Committeeman, 1986-88 and 1990- 92

Comments: Latta said while his father was in Congress, he was an unpaid aide, covering meetings around the district. His objectives if elected: reduce taxes, federal spending, and the national debt; eliminate the budget deficit, the death tax; promote national security, safe streets, fair taxation, constituent service.

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Candidate: George F. Mays (Democrat)

Resides in: Norwalk

Family: Wife, Magdalena; four children

Native of: Norwalk

Education: Graduate, Memorial High School, St. Mary’s; Bachelor of Science degree, psychology, Campbellsville (Ky.) College; Master of Divinity, Ashland University

Present employment: selfemployed, “Karaoke by George”; was also a church worker and spent one year working with the Salvation Army

Civic public projects: playing music for charity events, raising money for guide dogs

Affiliations: United States Bowling Congress

Previously held public office? No

Comments: Mays states he has “gotten to know thousands of people from all walks of life. I understand their needs and concerns.” His objectives are to “attack the fiscal, energy, job, and foreign policy problems we have in a sensible way,” and “take stands against bigotry, eminent domain, and the falsely accused.”

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Candidate: Fred Pieper (Republican)

Resides in: Paulding Family: Wife, Susan

Native of: Paulding

Education: 1974 graduate, Paulding High School; 1980 graduate of Anderson (Ind.) College, Bachelor of Arts degree; 1990 graduate of University of Toledo, master’s of business administration

Present employment: Paulding-Putnam Electric Cooperative, Inc.; owner, Pieper’s Wood Processing; U.S. Navy veteran

Affiliations: treasurer, Financial Partners Federal Credit Union, Woodburn, Ind.; trustee, Paulding Fish & Game Club; chairman, finance committee, Paulding United Methodist Church

Previously held public office? No

Comments: Pieper said his 15 years on the board of the credit union would assist him in office; his goals and objectives are to lower taxes, encourage more industry, and promote job stability.

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Candidate: Robin Weirauch (Democrat)

Resides in: rural Napoleon Family: Yes

Native of: Henry County

Education: 1975 graduate, Liberty Center High School; 1980 graduate, Bowling Green State University, Bachelor of Science in business administration; Master of Public Administration, BGSU, 1998

Present employment: none presently; former assistant director, Center for Regional Development; BGSU, 1998-2006; formerly program coordinator, Great Lakes Regional Office of the Humane Society of the United States, 1987-97

Civic public projects: cofounder, long-time leader, Henry County Humane Society; court-appointed special advocate, Henry County; affiliated with Rediscover Napoleon, Inc., an organization to promote Napoleon

Affiliations: Henry County Humane Society; St. Luke Lutheran Church

Previously held public office? No

Comments: Weirauch said, “We need to bring a responsible end to the war in Iraq, we need fair trade that works for working families, and we need a representative who understands the challenges our communities face and delivers for our district.”

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(Michael Smitley, a Republican candidate, did not return a questionnaire.)