Former State Senator Steve Stivers today announced his candidacy for the 15th Ohio Congressional District - marking the beginning of a race that will once again have the attention of Central Ohio families and employers as well as political pundits across the nation.
"Today I am renewing my pledge to the people of the 15th Congressional district - I'm running for Congress to bring the common sense solutions and values of Central Ohio families to our nation's capitol," Stivers said. "We can no longer afford to continue to grow government, increase spending and damage our economy - our children deserve better. We need to leave a legacy of prosperity for future generations - not more debt, more bad policies and more taxes.
A Lieutenant Colonel in the Ohio Army National Guard, Stivers served the nation oversees for nearly a year in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Djibouti. Stivers plans to draw on his 24 years of experience as a soldier and his time as a battalion commander overseas in his work in Congress.
A former s
tate senator for the 16th Ohio Senate District, Stivers also has a steadfast commitment to hard work and a dedication to public service here at home. In the Ohio Senate Stivers worked to pass legislation to protect Ohio's children, lower taxes, make college more affordable, and improve the business climate. He is known for his bipartisanship and his efforts to work with members of both sides of the aisle to get things done.
Less than one year ago Stivers and Kilroy faced off in one of the closest Congressional races in the country. Ultimately, Stivers lost by less than 1 percent - or 2,312 votes - in a subsequent, month-long count of provisional ballots. Stivers will again face Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy and expects the end result of the 2010 race for the 15th to be a very different outcome.
"We need to work together to put our state and nation back on track," Stivers said. "And it doesn't matter to me where you sit on the political spectrum. We need to put a stop to out-of-control spending, higher taxes and more debt and instead focus on helping Ohio families, encourage job creation and businesses growth here at home. We need common-sense solutions for Ohio that's what I'll bring to the job."
In contrast, in Kilroy's first six months in office, she has voted to grow the size of government, increase federal spending to its highest level since World War II, and supported bonuses and bailouts with billions in taxpayer dollars.
In fact, as unemployment has risen in the district, Kilroy, in a letter, recently lobbed negative criticism on Ohio employers trying to keep and retain jobs - a letter The Columbus Dispatch called "blistering" and "not helpful."
As for criticism of Stivers and attacks against his character in the last campaign, Stivers says he expects it will continue - indicating that Kilroy and out-of state, liberal special interests groups will surely continue to focus on baseless attacks and partisan politics rather than working for progress and enacting real change for Ohioans.
Already anticipating an attack regarding his announcement, Stivers added "when you've been shot at by real bullets, negative political attacks just don't matter."
Stivers and his wife Karen reside in Columbus. The couple is expecting their first child in September.
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