Farmer wants to succeed Tiberi

The race for Ohio Congressional District 12 is exciting for many reasons. Twelve Republicans and seven Democrats have filed in hopes of filling Pat Tiberi’s open seat, the same seat once filled by our own Gov. John Kasich (Dispatch article, Feb. 8). As a special election in August, this will be only the third congressional election of 2018, just months ahead of the highly anticipated midterm elections.

For Democrats, this is a chance to flip a seat that has been Republican for 35 years.

Nevertheless, Democrats ought to be most excited about who is running to fill this seat. In particular, Galena farmer and small-business owner John Russell is especially promising.

At age 27, Russell is the youngest Democrat in the race, and if elected, he would become the youngest Ohio representative elected to Congress since John B. Weller in 1839.

Despite his youth, Russell is perceptive, persuasive, and undeniably charismatic, all of this emerging from a deep commitment to community values. As such, Russell’s instinct is to listen to his potential voters, meeting them in person and calling them himself.

In refreshing contrast to the outgoing representative, Russell already has hosted eight town halls across the massive district, with more scheduled. In the same spirit, Russell is fundraising from his own community, in local venues, asking for small-dollar donations from friends of friends. He has sworn off corporate money.

Young, energized and progressive, John Russell is the grassroots answer to the soulsearching of a divided Democratic Party. As a farmer and small-business owner from a small town built by the working class, John Russell has broad appeal beyond even just Democrats, and he will resonate with District 12 voters.

He has to. He is an opportunity not to be missed.

Christopher Ayoub Columbus