Wilson wins second 6th District congressional term
Published 5:01am Wednesday, November 5, 2008BELLAIRE – Congressman Charlie Wilson of the Sixth District, won his second term in Washington, on a historic night — the election of the first African American as President of the United States.
That was a fact the Democrat alluded to when asked about his overwhelming victory in the 11-county district. Locally, Wilson, who previously spent a decade in the Ohio statehouse, took 56 percent of vote or 14,234.
“It has been a big night, a very important night,” Wilson said by phone from a watch party in Bellaire. “It is America’s way of saying it is time for a change. It is exciting to be a part of that change.”
Wilson faced Richard “Dick” Stobbs, also from Wilson’s home county of Belmont. Stobbs, a former sheriff, conducted a self-described frugal grass roots campaign.
“I am disappointed,” Stobbs said. “But I have to say the campaign was a success. We did very well. I had two strikes against me. I didn’t have much money and I had health issues with my wife. She has cancer. It was pretty exciting to be a part of the race. I got to campaign with Col. Tom Moe (the POW who headed up a segment of John McCain’s Ohio campaign). I feel real good about it.”
Wilson said he didn’t think his victory came from any particular part of his district.
“Most voters would check the experience of the candidate,” Wilson said. “When they would look at my 10 years in the legislature, a lifetime as a successful businessman and someone who has served on a bank board, that helped me a lot.”
