U.S. House Speaker John Boehner's Mahoning Valley visit Thursday to raise money for the re-election campaign of U.S. Congressman Bill Johnson shows just how important it is to Republicans to maintain the seat in the next Congress.
Democrats have targeted Ohio's 6th U.S. Congressional District as one of the top races that could be flipped in November.
''It's pretty obvious that Congressman Johnson's re-election is high on the radar screen when the Speaker of the House John Boehner is willing to take time out to come to the valley,'' said Mahoning County Republican Party chairman Mark Munroe.
''It's doubly impressive when he is willing to take time to visit the local Republican supporters at the GOP offices,'' Munroe said.
Boehner was the featured speaker at a fundraiser for Johnson at a Canfield home. But first, he visited the GOP headquarters in Boardman to address the local Republican faithful.
Johnson, a member of the House Committees on Natural Resources, Veterans Affairs and Foreign Affairs, is seeking a second term against the man he defeated in 2010, former U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, a Democrat.
Expect a lot of money to be spent on both sides.
To attend Thursday's general reception with Boehner, it cost $500 a person. Tickets for two guests for the photo reception cost $2,500 and for six to attend the photo reception, the price tag was $10,000.
''We want to do everything we can do to defend the district to retain our majority in the House of Representatives,'' Munroe said.
Now, there are 242 Republicans to 190 Democrats.
TWO?NEW?TO?BOARDS
Two residents of Trumbull County have been appointed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich to serve on boards.
Pam Davies of Niles was reappointed to the Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council, which offers direct services to people with disabilities who to stay in the community, rather than a nursing home.
Her term runs through October 2014.
President of Warren City Council Bob Dean was appointed to the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Planning Council. The museum, near Dayton, aims to educate the public about black history and culture.
His term expires in January 2016.
SUNSHINE?LAWS
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Ohio Auditor Dave Yost have released an updated version of the Sunshine Laws Manual, a resource guide on the state's open meetings and public records laws.
''For government to be truly accountable and transparent, it must operate in the open,'' DeWine said in a news release.
He's right, and this guide will help interested citizens sift through and understand Ohio law overseeing public records and open meetings because, as Yost said in the same release, the owner of public records is the public, not the government.