By DAVID SKOLNICK

Staff writer

NILES — State Rep. Gil Blair, appointed to the Ohio House 63rd District seat in June 2019, is being challenged by two Democrats in that party’s March 17 primary.

Blair will face Niles Councilman-at-Large Barry L. Profato and Werner Lange of Newton Falls.

The House Democratic Caucus selected Blair, who was a Weathersfield Township trustee and Warren Municipal Court prosecutor, over six other candidates — including Profato — to fill the rest of Glenn Holmes’ unexpired term. Holmes resigned for a six-year appointment to the Ohio Parole Board.

Blair, who has a private law practice, said one of his top priorities is to promote economic development in not just the 63rd District, but in all of Trumbull County.

“I’m trying to work around the county to identify areas for development,” he said.

We are “at a time for tremendous opportunity with the LG Chem / (General Motors) plant coming and Lordstown Motors,” Blair said.

He added: “In an effort to promote economic development in my district, I have divided the county into quadrants and attempted to meet with local leaders in each community to ascertain the best ways that we can reach toward greater

economic development for them.”

Lange criticized Blair for being only one of two Democrats — the other was state Rep. Michael J. O’Brien, D-Warren — to vote for House Bill 164, known as the Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act. The bill allows students to engage in religious expression during school hours and prohibits schools from restricting a student from engaging in religious expression in completing assignments. Critics, including other Ohio House Democrats, say HB 164 doesn’t penalize students for work that contradicts science.

“It’s a direct attack on public education,” Lange said. “I was appalled a so-called Democrat would vote for it. We’re going back to the Dark Ages. It’s an assault on public education.”

Lange is a former professor of sociology and a pastor with a doctor of ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary.

He said religion shouldn’t be taught as fact and for Blair to vote for the bill is “a huge red flag. If he’s done that, he’s willing to vote with right-wing Republicans against a woman’s right to choose.”

Blair strongly disputes that. Although “on a moral basis, I’m pro-life,” as a “legislator I’m pro-choice and uphold all existing pro-choice laws.”

Lange, a supporter of Bernie Sanders for president, said he’s “a true progressive.”

Lange said he realizes Democrats won’t gain control of the Ohio House this year.

“I’ll hold the fort until the reinforcements come in,” he said.

Lange has lost numerous elections dating back to the Warren school board in 1984 and as recently as last year losing the Newton Falls mayoral race.

Profato, a Niles councilman at-large, said his years of political experience make him the best candidate in this race.

Regarding Blair, Profato said: “Not a whole lot going on at the state level. Since he got in in June (2019), there hasn’t been a lot of things passed that he’s sponsored. I can be more effective than him.”

When asked about his economic development plan, he focused on helping to get Niles out of fiscal emergency, which happened in March 2019, and “we are drafting laws to enable to grow our economy in both Niles and Trumbull County.”

Profato said coming from Niles, the most populous city in the district, gives him an edge.

“If you win Niles, you win it all,” he said. “I have all the contacts. I have a good name. It’s all predicated on Niles being the largest city.”

One of his priorities is keeping the Mahoning Valley Scrappers minor league baseball team in Niles. Major League Baseball is considering a plan to eliminate its affiliation with 42 minor league teams, including the Scrappers.

Profato was first elected to city council in 1985, serving two terms before being appointed in 1988 as Niles clerk of courts. He left the job in 1995 to unsuccessfully run for mayor. He also lost mayoral races in 1999 and 2015 and a state House race in 2002.

He served as 3rd Ward councilman from 1998 to 1999, and as an at-Large councilman since 2018.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Mike Loychik of Cortland in the November general election.

The job pays $63,007 annually.

The 63rd District consists of all of or parts of Bazetta, Brookfield, Cortland, Girard, Fowler, Hartford, Vernon, Hubbard city, Hubbard Township, Liberty, Lordstown, McDonald, Newton Falls, Newton Township, Niles, Vienna and Weathersfield.

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