By Joshua Chaney

 

The more I get to know the candidates running in the 18th District Republican primary, the more it becomes clear to me Bob Gibbs is the man for the job.

 

The people who live in Ohio's 18th District deserve and need a change. With an economy in ruins and increasing unemployment, especially in our area of Ohio, the stakes couldn't be higher, and it's important that voters choose wisely at the ballot box in May.

 

Claiming to be a conservative, "Blue Dog" Democrat Zack Space went to Washington and has voted 90 percent of the time with President Obama. Sound conservative to you? Unfortunately for Mr. Space, facts, not cutesy names, really matter.

 

Mr. Space voted for the health care bill twice before he was released to vote against it, and before he did so, he voted for "deem and pass," something that would have allowed his vote for health care to go unrecorded so you and I wouldn't know how he voted. His voting record also includes voting for cap-and-trade legislation that would kill jobs and raise energy costs in every household in this district.

 

The people of the 18th gave Mr. Space a chance, and he went to Washington and quickly changed into a party-first, constituents-second politician.

 

If the people of the 18th want their views to be represented again, it is clear they need to vote Mr. Space out of office. But beating Space starts on primary day. Voters must choose wisely in the Republican primary in order to get the right candidate, with the most potential to win. State Sen. Bob Gibbs is that man.

 

For one, Gibbs is one of two candidates who has been a legislator. This knowledge is important because it allows Gibbs to hit the ground running on day one.

 

Secondly, Gibbs is the only person with a conservative record to back up his words.

 

He co-drafted and co-sponsored HB 66, which contained the largest income tax reduction in Ohio history, and is a three-time recipient of the Watchdog of the Treasury award given by the United Conservatives of Ohio. Most major conservative leaders endorse him and organizations in the state, received an "A" rating from the NRA for his support of gun owners' rights.

 

And last, it's quite simply naïve to think money doesn't matter, because in politics, as in business, it really does. Gibbs has proven his ability to raise money, having already raised more than the last Republican candidate did the entire election.

 

The other primary candidates are good people, but now is not the time for ego trips, evangelical crusades and repeat losers.

If you like being shouted at and you prefer arm-waving rhetoric, Gibbs isn't your man. If you want someone on an ego trip, Gibbs isn't your man. If you want someone who already got beat by Space in a landslide in the last election, Gibbs isn't your man.

 

If you have no interest in beating Zack Space and welcome two more years of misrepresentation in Congress, vote for one of the other Republicans in the race on May 4.

 

But if you want a commonsense conservative and small business owner, with a proven conservative record, campaign cash in the bank, the ability to start writing legislation on day one and the strongest chance at beating Space in the fall, your candidate is Bob Gibbs.