TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - Owens Community College hosted a debate between candidates hoping to represent Ohio's Fifth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives Thursday. Congressman Bob Latta, who currently represents the district in the house, failed to show up. Latta's opponents did attend and shared strong words about his absence.
"It really shows clearly how he feels about the people of district five, and it's unfortunate, it really is. This is democracy in action and this is where he should be tonight," said libertarian Eric Eberly.
"I really just think that he has his own agenda, and is not concerned with what the people want or think. He's not willing to engage, we call him silent bob, because he doesn't talk and we think that he needs to talk and listen to the people in this district," said democrat Angela Zimmann.
Zimmann said she can bring some serious change to the district.
"Number one, I'm definitely here to represent the people in this district. My opponent, clearly has an agenda that does not reflect the people here. And you can see that in his votes against the auto industry, in an area where one out of six jobs is based in the auto sector and he votes against the auto loans, clearly his representation does not reflect the people in this district," said Zimmann.
District five is historically republican but Zimmann said she has a chance because of the redistricting.
"District five is now a very different district than it's been in the past. In the past it was a historically republican district, however with the redistricting, a good chunk of Toledo was drawn into Ohio 5 we have 165 thousand new voters a big chunk of whom are Marcy Kaptur Democrats, the district is now a very competitive swing district with a slight democrat lean," said Zimmann.
Eberly said he is more in touch with the people than his opponents.
"People work full-time jobs, we carry mortgage, we have to fill up our gas tanks, we struggle to pay the bills and the groceries, as opposed to the millionaires that are in congress and that they're out of touch with the needs of the people," said Eberly.
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