Ohioan's retirement puts new House seat in play

by Matthew Hay Brown

The retirement of veteran Republican Rep. Ralph Regula of Ohio could put another House seat in play for 2008.

The second-most-senior Republican in the House has coasted to double-digit victories in every election since he first entered Congress in 1973, and the northeastern Ohio district that he represents voted 54-46 for President Bush in 2004. But Democrat Ted Strickland carried the district in the gubernatorial race last fall, and the party appears to be united behind a single candidate, state Sen. John Boccieri, for next year’s election.

Republicans, meanwhile, could face a crowded primary field, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Contenders include state Sens. Kirk Schuring and Ron Amstutz, state Rep. W. Scott Oelslager and Ashland County Commissioner Matt Miller, who waged a primary challenge against Regula in 2006.

Regula told the newspaper that the district "could go either way." Ohio GOP Chairman Bob Bennett said his party would keep the seat, "but it will be ground warfare."

One challenge for Boccieri: he doesn’t actually live in the 16th District. He does represent portions of it in the Ohio Senate.

In announcing his retirement this morning, Regula becomes the 11th Republican planning to step down at the end of the 110th Congress. The dean of Ohio’s congressional delegation has served as ranking minority member on the House Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education.

In a statement, the 82-year-old former schoolteacher called the decision to retire "difficult."

"I am blessed with great health and still come to work everyday committed to working hard on behalf of the people of Ohio’s 16th congressional district and to making a difference for our nation," he said. "However, I have several goals that I would like to achieve following my service in Congress, and I believe that now is the time to begin these new opportunities.

"Our country faces many challenges, including preparing its youth to succeed in the global economic and political arenas. Now more than ever it is important that we impress upon them how vital their service will be, and I intend to spend much of my energy working with young people to encourage them to enter public service.

"I started my life’s career in teaching, and returning to this mission, I hope to share my experience and knowledge preparing our future leaders, something I believe is critical to our nation’s continued leadership in the world."

Fellow Ohioan John A. Boehner, the House minority leader, said Congress was losing a "great leader and a loyal colleague."

"More than that," Boehner said, "Ralph’s constituents will be losing a thoughtful and effective representative. … There is no Member of Congress more dedicated to improving educational opportunities for our nation’s students than Ralph Regula.

"He remains a champion of the principle that all children – rich or poor – deserve a quality education, and he is acutely aware that to remain competitive in our global marketplace, higher education must become more affordable and more accessible for our nation’s students. And he doesn’t just talk about these issues; throughout his career, he’s assembled a remarkable record of achievement that our nation’s students, parents, and teachers will benefit from for years to come."