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Wilson positions himself for run
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While he’s waiting until the redistricting process ends to make a decision, ex-U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson is taking major steps needed to position himself for another congressional run.
In addition to filing a statement of candidacy, Wilson, a Democrat from St. Clairsville, contributed $150,000 to his campaign Sept. 30, according to his campaign-finance form filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Wilson also is in full campaign mode with a prepared statement emailed Monday to The Vindicator stating his interest in the seat “is about my commitment to the people of southeastern Ohio during a time when they need local leadership to help build our economy.”
Wilson is strongly considering a challenge to U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Marietta, R-6th, who beat the Democrat in last year’s congressional race.
Congressional redistricting by Ohio Republican officials shifted the 6th District, beginning with the 2012 election, from leaning Democratic to leaning Republican.
But the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision Friday permitting Democrats to seek a referendum on the redistricting plan makes the upcoming congressional election unclear.
Wilson wrote in the email that he wouldn’t make a final decision until the redistricting process is over.
He then took a shot at Johnson.
“I am disappointed with Bill Johnson’s votes for new free-trade agreements that will continue a terrible trend of Ohio jobs being moved overseas,” he said.
In response, Mark Weaver, a Johnson campaign spokesman, said Johnson’s votes in favor of free trade will “bring hundreds of thousands of jobs to America with a lot of those jobs in Ohio. Congressman Wilson appears to be making Washington political attacks without getting his facts straight.”
The Johnson campaign expects Wilson to run next year, Weaver said.
“Congressman Wilson has a long record in elected office, and voters will have a chance to compare that to the changes Bill Johnson is bringing to Washington,” he said.
Wilson’s potential candidacy also is drawing criticism from the National Republican Congressional Committee. A committee spokeswoman said Wilson enacted legislation that “hurt” coal and energy industries, and raised taxes on small-business owners when he was in Congress.
“Wilson’s biggest problem is that Ohioans rejected his partisan, big-government record in 2010, and with President [Barack] Obama at the top of the ticket in 2012, they’ll do it again,” said Andrea Bozek, NRCC spokeswoman.
The House Majority PAC started a radio campaign Monday criticizing various Republicans, including Johnson, for various votes he’s cast that the pro-Democrat group says hurts the middle class.
Wilson said last month, while he was in Washington talking to high-level Democrats about a potential run, that he would spend money on polling to see if he could beat Johnson.
But between July 1 and Sept. 30, Wilson spent only $237 for payroll and Internet services.
As of Sept. 30, Wilson had $153,566 in his campaign fund. Nearly all of that was the $150,000 contribution he made.
Johnson raised $221,434, with $152,366 coming from political- action committees, during the year’s third quarter. Johnson spent $51,683 during that same time frame with most of it going to media and fundraising firms.
As of Sept. 30, Johnson had $324,415 in his campaign fund.
Also, ex-U.S. Rep. John Boccieri, a Democrat from Alliance, said he also is looking at running for Congress, likely against Johnson, but is waiting for clarity on the impact of the Supreme Court redistricting decision.
Boccieri said he was in Washington last month meeting with Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee officials discussing a potential run.
Boccieri raised only $190 in the third quarter and spent $10,129, including $5,000 to Anthony J. Travena of Massillon, his former chief of staff and campaign manager, for a “consulting fee.”
Boccieri, with money left in his account from his unsuccessful 2010 re-election bid in the 16th District, had $18,629 in his campaign account as of Sept. 30.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, raised $168,686 and spent $89,137 between July 1 and Sept. 30. He had $256,648 in his campaign fund as of Sept. 30.
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette of Bainbridge, R-14th, raised $109,635 and spent $124,950 between July 1 and Sept. 30. He had $562,923 as of Sept. 30.
In Pennsylvania, U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire of McCandless, D-4th, raised $388,243 and spent $77,667 during the third quarter with $736,939 on-hand as of Sept. 30. U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of Butler, R-3rd, raised $211,345 and spent $85,809 during the third quarter with $237,682 in his campaign account as of Sept. 30.
Comments
I guess he just likes loosing
Boccerri will run in the primary in new columbus district with about 800 other democrats trying to get their snouts back into the DC trough.
Bill Johnson needs to get booted also. He hasn't done squat for the district.
What politician isn't for free-trade agreements (save Ron Paul)? Clinton signed Bush Sr's NAFTA into law. Then, Clinton, when he was caught for accepting $$$ for his reelection campaign from the communist Chinese in exchange for nuclear weapons' technology, ultimately got the OK from his masters and made CHINA the USA's most-favored trading partner. All the jobs and industry that was destined to MEXICO, through the passage of NAFTA, went to CHINA instead. That's why the Mexicans are crossing the border- they got screwed, and Washington, along with all of our politicians, are allowing them to cross our borders to "ease their pain" and not only that, but wanting to give them amnesty, free education, free health care, free social security.... Basically, they're getting a free lunch all because of Clinton's moves that have been covered up. Clinton made that deal with CHINA. Clinton's masters covered for him when they conveniently managed to have the treasonous charge reduced to misconduct in office with Monica Lewinsky. They used Janet Reno and Kenneth Starr, both who were in the hip pocket of their masters who own them (the same masters that own Clinton and all of our politicians) to accomplish it.
I'm sure Wilson backed his fellow Democrat Clinton on that while he was in office. And I'm sure he backed Obama's globalist policies also......... He just wants his cake job back and will say and promise anything in order to get it.
Both parties are corrupt.
Please vote for Ron Paul in 2012. He's the ONLY ONE who has the answers and can help bring this country back. His fellow Republicans (NEOCONS- which Ron Paul is not one of) avoid him because they too are also the hip pocket of their international bankster masters who own them.
Will Charlie have to conduct a write-in campaign again this time or will he actually know where his district is?
I certainly do not want a man who couldn't get valid signatures on a petition representing me. While the current talking points involve "they are against the middle class" resonates with the entitlement community, the real enemy of the middle class is the government that just keeps spending money they do not have. The spending on the criminals (illegal aliens) alone is enough to sicken me. All that spending is on the backs of the middle class.
The Wilson in the Tom Hanks movie "Cast Away" had more upstairs than the former congressman.
2nd, at least Johnson responnds to his emails and teleophone calls more then I can say about Wilson (I must have sent him at least 6 emails ( no response) and called his Washington office 3 times and got some young"kid" that couldn't answer my questions and then received a "form letter" as a response. Did you feel the same about Wilson getting things done???
Rep. Timmie Ryan couln't even persuade Nancy Pelosi to vote against the 3 trade Agreements. O'bama touted that the agreements would create over 300,000 US jobs. Why villify Bill Johnson when the upper echelon Dems don't agree with Ryan. Historically all the free trade concept was enacted by Pres. Bill Clinton
Don't we need to give the top Dems a chance to finally create some jobs which they have promised for 3 years. Sure was a nice welcome Obama gave to the S. Korean leader in Michigan last week.
I hope the people of this district are not dumb enough to put this moron back into office. He was a do nothing congressman and an embarrasment to the area. Face the fact Charlie that we don't want you back. That is the reason you got booted out. Go crawl back under your rock.
Charlie who??
Commoncitizen, what the question that you wanted answered?
I ask because I could see a politician ignoring some pensioner with nothing better to do than try to pick fights with him.
Judging by your comments over the years, I would guess that you were just looking to yell at someone, rather than actually having a question that needed answering.
300, Seems like YOU know all about Wilson???
One of my questions to him, in case your interested, was "is it fair that people on S.S received NO increases and members of Congress voted themselves a pay raise? If the cost of living didn't go up for seniors then why would Congress get a raise?.
Also, I haven't been on this blog for "years" so get your facts BEFORE you accuse someone.
I don't really know anything about Wilson that isn't public knowledge. I voted for him last time, and depending on where Canfield is districted, I'd vote for him over Johnson for a second time.
I don't think he was the best, but I feel that he did a better job than Johnson at representing the district and its population.
You see. I guessed that you were a senior citizen. And be honest, were you actually looking for an answer, or were you looking to pick a fight? I don't like the idea of politicians voting themselves raises, but I also don't know off the top of head if that actually happened.
I'm sorry, citizen, you've only been on here 1.5 years (which is still plural, mind you).
300,so if someone asks a question from a politician they are "picking a fight"?? WOW !!! I feel sorry for anyone that asks YOU a question.
And yes Congress did give themselves a pay raies when seniors did not get an increase but that's probably OK with you since it sounds like you don't care for seniors. Just remember you might get there some day.
Wilson lost once!
He is still a looser.
Charlie Wilson is epitome of everything that's wrong with a "bad politician”.
Since when has any Free Trade Agreement helped this area? just look at the manufacturing jobs we lost and the closed plants