News Summary

The retirement of Congressman David Hobson creates not only an opening in Congress, but a problem.

Rep. Hobson — whose 7th District includes Greene and Clark counties — has the respect of pretty much everybody as a capable, independent voice and as an effective force for his district, the region and Ohio. Indeed, in his last year or so, some have considered him a bit too effective in his pursuit of those now-controversial "earmarks." He's no John McCain on that score.

But among community leaders, his main identity is as the leading advocate for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, especially in its competition with other bases for jobs and missions. He is knowledgeable, relentless and skilled, and he used to have a important, relevant subcommittee chairmanship when the Republicans were in control.

The Republicans' choice to succeed Rep. Hobson is state Sen. Steve Austria. He has been in the state Legislature for 10 years. He knew Rep. Hobson before that. He has been being groomed for promotion to Congress for years, including by Rep. Hobson.

But Sen. Austria does not have the kind of reputation that Rep. Hobson had when he first ran for Congress, after serving in the Legislature, or the kind that Mike Turner brought to his after being mayor of Dayton.

Sen. Austria has played a significant role in passing certain laws: conceal and carry and crackdowns on sexual predators. But he does not have a special expertise in any major policy area. He is not associated with any exceptional accomplishment in the Legislature. He is not somebody to whom people turn to for special insights or leadership on taxes, school funding, health care or any of the most pressing problems Ohio is facing.

Sen. Austria also is scared of saying anything that might offend. When asked about the North American Free Trade Agreement, he wants it both ways, saying he supports free trade, but most likely would have opposed the treaty. He told the Dayton Daily News editorial board during the primary that he would be more conservative than Rep. Hobson, but now he waffles on that.

Experience — a decade of it — is a two-edged sword. It gives a person a chance to demonstrate that he is good — or that he is not so good. Sen. Austria has not earned a major promotion. The 7th District should be looking for somebody better.

Is that person Sharen Neuhardt, the Democratic candidate?

She has no political experience. She's a corporate lawyer who lives outside of Yellow Springs and works in Dayton. But she compares well with the experienced politician in her understanding of issues. She can articulate her case, and she is bright.

She calls herself a "moderate" and says she voted for Rep. Hobson in 2006. She seems to be a mainstream Democrat. Asked what she disagrees with Democrats on, she says that she would have opposed the bipartisan stimulus package passed earlier this year. If that money was to be spent at all, she says, it should have been put into infrastructure projects.

Ms. Neuhardt is harder to pass judgment on than Sen. Austria. One thing is clear, though: if she wins in a big Democratic year, she will have won because it was a Democratic year; she will have a tough time holding the position. She will have to prove herself and do so quickly. Republicans will come back at her hard in 2010, thinking the district is rightly theirs, as it historically has been.

However, if Sen. Austria gets in, he will be awfully hard to beat, unless he royally messes up.

If the voters of the 7th District choose Sen. Austria, they are settling for mediocrity, quite possibly on a long-term basis. If they choose Ms. Neuhardt, they are hoping for something better. She has the potential to develop into a leader in an important policy realm or more than one. They almost certainly wouldn't get anything less.

The Dayton region has a tradition of stronger-than-average representation in Congress. In this race, there is only one way, at most, to continue the tradition. The rookie is the better, bolder, more optimistic choice.

More about Steve Austria

Age: 49

Education: Bachelor's degree, Marquette University

Personal: Married, three children

Web site: www.steveaustriaforcongress.com

More about Sharen Swartz Neuhardt

Age: 57

Education: Bachelor's degreee, Northwestern University; law degree, Georgetown University

Personal: Married, two children

Web site: www.neuhardtforcongress.com

Candidates running in the Nov. 4 election were asked to provide an endorsement from someone of their choosing to appear along with our views.

Steve Austria: 'Understands the issues that are important'

This endorsement of Steve Austria was provided by U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson of Springfield.

I strongly endorse Steve Austria to serve as the next congressman from Ohio's 7th District. He understands the issues that are important to the constituents and businesses throughout our region.

As our state senator, Austria has worked well with our community and business leaders, and other elected officials, to protect and bring new jobs to the region. The missions at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Springfield ANG Base, and the hundreds of businesses that support our bases have benefited from his leadership over the years. Austria will continue that important work as the next congressman.

Austria has also worked to provide tax relief for Ohio families, military retirees, seniors and small businesses. Further, he was the lead sponsor of Jessica's Law that protects children from violent sexual predators.

Austria is the best candidate with the training and experience needed to get things done for our region.

Sharen Neuhardt: 'She is change we need in our future'

This endorsement of Sharen Neuhardt was provided by Carroll N. Day of Beavercreek.

It is my pleasure to support Sharen Neuhardt for Congress. My experience with her opponent occurred several years ago as an Elections Action Team volunteer working with AARP, attempting to extend Dayton's effective predatory lending ordinance to all of Ohio. Steve Austria was firmly in the financial institutions' corner, and even Dayton's ordinance was rendered void.

With our current economic crisis, I wonder how much better off Ohio would be if we would have had a people-first leader in Columbus.

In our corner, Neuhardt is a progressive who believes that a force of working Americans with health care and a level playing field provided by the government is the rock-solid foundation of a strong economy. She is endorsed by our much-respected Gov. Ted Strickland, and will easily work with his administration. She is change we need in our future with down-to-earth values from our past.