Mark Pitrone challenging U.S. Rep. Joyce in primary

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave P. Joyce, R-Bainbridge Township, is being challenged by retired carpenter Mark Pitrone in the March 17 Republican primary election.

Navy veteran and attorney Hillary O’Connor Mueri is running unopposed on the Democratic side to represent the 14th Congressional District. The winner in the November election will serve a twoyear term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The district is composed of all of Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties, plus portions of Cuyahoga, Portage, Summit and Trumbull counties.

The News-Herald sent questionnaires to the candidates in the contested Republican primary. Here are some of the answers they provided:

Dave Joyce

Joyce, 62, has been in Congress since 2013. He previously served as Geauga County Prosecutor from 1988-2012.

If reelected, Joyce said one of his priorities is protecting and preserving Lake Erie.

Last year he was appointed Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. Joyce said in that position he led the charge to increase Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding from $300 million to $320 million.

He now serves as a cochair of the House Great Lakes Task Force, which he said will allow him to better advocate for Northeast Ohio and steer resources to the area.

Another priority is combating the opioid epidemic. He said he has helped pass more than 70 bills related to combating the crisis. Those include bills that have toughened penalties for drug dealers, expanded access to evidence-based care for those working to overcome addiction, and provided counties and law enforcement agencies with “the necessary resources to battle the crisis on the front lines.”

Joyce also wants to focus on jobs and economic growth for Northeast Ohioans. He said “our economy is enjoying historic economic output and record unemployment for women and minority groups. That’s why I am a proud advocate for pro-growth legislation like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which put more money in the pockets of hardworking, middle class Ohio families. “While I have taken great measures to protect the Great Lakes and combat the opioid epidemic, there is still much work to do and I look forward to continuing to fight for Northeast Ohio families in Congress,” Joyce said.

Mark Pitrone

Pitrone, 65, of Stow is a retired carpenter and retired U.S. Navy Reserve Avionics Technician 1st Class.

He said as a retired builder, he recognizes problems and can address them. He said “sometimes to fix things you have to dismantle and repair what underlies the problem before finishing the veneer.”

Pitrone said he would like to change “the size and the intrusiveness of the federal government into our everyday lives, and repeal just about the whole legislative year of 1913.”

Pitrone said he is “something D.C. needs a lot more of; an honest man.”

“I’m a bit blunt, but I’m not a habitual liar,” he said.