The race for Ohio’s Sixth District Congressional Seat came close to home Thursday morning with a visit from Republican candidate Chuck Blasdel.

Blasdel paid a visit to Ohio University Southern Thursday morning to formally announce his candidacy in the region.

The seat in question will be left vacant by Democrat Ted Strickland, who is currently in the midst of a bid for the Ohio governor’s seat.

No stranger to politics, Blasdel is serving his third term in the Ohio House of Representatives and is currently serving as the Speaker Pro-Tempore, the second highest leadership position in the House.

A financial advisor by trade, Blasdel is the President of Blasdel Financial Group where he provides general accounting services and is also a registered financial advisor, specializing in retirement planning for families.

Blasdel says he has out-earned all other candidates in the race.

With the cash in hand, Blasdel was on a three-day tour to drum up support for his campaign; with him were wife Lisa and son Justin.

“Having my family with me as much as possible is vitally important, because in a district that is over 380 miles long, it takes a lot of support from home to do what I’m doing,” Blasdel said during his Thursday speech.

Blasdel spoke of one accomplishment that may be of interest to a community staring down the barrel of a $14.55 per month storm water utility fee, which will soon increase for non-residences.

“When Hall China in East Liverpool was under siege by the state EPA and being brought to the brink of closing their doors and put the needs of the workers ahead of that of Columbus bureaucrats,” Blasdel said. “Keeping the doors at Hall China open proved that the EPA should not be allowed to bully small business into shutting down.”

Blasdel will have a primary race against Danny Harmon, a Noble County Commissioner and retired

Air Force veteran. The winner of that race could face Democrats Diane Murphy or Charlie Wilson in November.