It was about four months ago that Republican Michael Rulli defeated Democrat Michael L. Kripchak in a special election for the 6th Congress-ional District seat.

The two face each other again in the Nov. 5 general election for the position.

Rulli, of Salem, won the June 11 special election, beating Kripchak of Youngstown by 9.4% for the open seat. Based on voting results in partisan statewide elections during the past decade, the congressional district favors Republicans by 18%.

While Kripchak did better than expected, he acknowledged he had a better chance of winning the special election than the Nov. 5 general. Though national Democrats haven’t supported his campaign, Kripchak said he is working hard.

Rulli, who spent more than five years in the state Senate before winning the congressional seat, said he is focused on retaining the position.

The 6th Congressional District includes all of Mahoning, Columbiana, Carroll, Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison, Monroe, Noble and Washington counties and portions of Stark and Tuscarawas counties. Mahoning is the district’s most populous county.

Rulli is a strong supporter of fracking for natural gas and oil, saying increasing the process in his district would help make the country energy-independent.

“If we can build 15 to 20 more power plants throughout the Ohio 6, there will be plenty of electricity for Ohio and to export” to other states, Rulli said.

But he said he also wants to explore green energy, including solar, wind and water.

“You just have to make sure the grid is secured,” Rulli said.

Kripchak said fracking plays a role in energy, but called it a “bridge solution,” and the district’s focus should be on attracting better jobs through alternative energy such as fusion.

“My biggest concern is depending on (fracking) for the source of our economic strength,” he said. “We need to start transitioning off of it.”

The biggest issue is changing how energy is transported, Kripchak said.

“This requires innovation and investment, which we are sorely falling behind other countries in,” he said. “We have to look ahead and stop being so myopic.”

Rulli said comprehensive immigration reform is needed that balances border security enhancements, advanced technology and increasing personnel to prevent unlawful entry.

Rulli also wants to foster robust job growth.

“Entrepreneurship serves as the backbone of our economy yet excessive regulations stifle innovation and impede business expansion,” Rulli said. “I am staunchly in favor of reducing regulatory burdens, incentivizing investment in key sectors and cultivating a competitive marketplace that empowers entrepreneurs to generate employment opportunities and drive economic prosperity.”

In order for the district to succeed, it needs to grow its infrastructure, particularly the housing stock, Rulli said.

“Politicians have to be humble and reach out to the business community and local (public officials) and bring people to the table,” he said. “Let’s start building houses and let’s fill these jobs.”

Rulli said he also supports responsible fiscal policies that “prioritize prudent spending and deficit reduction.”

He said: “By confronting inflation and fostering economic stability, we can safeguard the financial well-being of all Americans.”

Kripchak said his economic development plan is built on “getting the infrastructure here and helping to support job training programs to get kids more opportunities. It will take work and it’s going to take federal investments in the district. The businesses that have been coming to our state haven’t come to our district. We haven’t had a fighter in Congress doing that.”

Kripchak wants to create high-paying, high-skilled jobs in the district, but it takes time and a long-term plan.

“Advanced capitalist economies continue to invest in manufacturing where their workers can enjoy high salaries along with the personal fulfillment of continuous training and education,” Kripchak said.

“They not only compete, but thrive in the global marketplace. Building off the recent successes in bringing Ultium Cells and the under construction Intel production facility here in Ohio, I will direct federal programming to create an advanced materials manufacturing hub in the Ohio River Valley.”