Wednesday, March 1, 2000

U.S. House, 6th District (Rep.)

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BY CINDI ANDREWS
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        LEBANON — Two conservative Republicans, both relative political novices, are competing to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland this fall.

        Michael Azinger, 34, is the more familiar name in Warren County — the western edge of the 14-county 6th Congressional District that stretches to the West Virginia border. This is his second try for the GOP nomination, Mr. Azinger having run two years ago. The insurance agent and Bible college graduate has never held public office.

        Jimmy Stewart, 30, has the distinction of having won elected office twice in heavily Democratic Athens. Mr. Stewart, the city auditor, received his master's of business administration from Xavier University.

        “I think either one of them this fall is going to be able to really put the masses together on the Republican side,” said Les Spaeth, Warren County GOP chairman.

        Mr. Spaeth predicts a good fight in November as — unlike in the Strickland-Nancy Hollister contest in 1998 — Republicans field a candidate who is strong on both fiscal and social issues.

        Mr. Azinger and Mr. Stewart both oppose abortion rights and gun control.

        Mr. Stewart sees electability in November as the main issue in the primary. Mr. Strickland, of Lucasville, is the first incumbent in a decade to have won re-election in the 6th District seat.

        “If you take Athens out of the equation, Mr. Strickland would never have won,” he said. “I am the only Republican in this race who has been able to do well in this area.”

        Mr. Azinger is campaigning on a range of issues, advocating cutting taxes, rebuilding the military, returning education to local control and preserving Social Security while giving people the option to put their contributions in private-sector mutual funds.

        Both candidates grew up in West Virginia. Mr. Azinger has lived in Marietta for 2¹/₂ years, and Mr. Stewart has lived in Athens for five years.

THE CANDIDATES
        Michael Azinger

        Personal: 34, 535 6th St., Marietta. Insurance agent. Seminary graduate of Hyles-Anderson Bible College in Crown Point, Ind. Family: Single.

        Experience/qualifications: Placed second in the GOP primary for the 6th Congressional District two years ago; background in insurance and other family businesses.

        Jimmy Stewart

        Personal: 30, 247 W. Union, Athens. City auditor. Master's of business administration, Xavier University; bachelor's in business administration, Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. Family: Single.

        Experience/qualifications: Athens city auditor since 1998; city councilman 1997-98.

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