OH-16: Boccieri (D) Campaign Kickoff UPDATED

Yesterday I drove to North Canton to attend the launching of the 16th District congressional campaign of State Sen. John Boccieri (D-New Middletown). In a strong display of party unity, the Democratic chairs for all five counties in the district (Ashland, Medina, Wayne, Stark and Tuscarawas) were present and Gov. Ted Strickland (D-New Lisbon) and Treasurer Rich Cordray (D-Grove City), close friends of Boccieri, spoke on his behalf. Other lawmakers in attendance included campaign treasurer State Rep. Mark Okey (D-Carollton), State Rep. Steve Dyer (D-Green), and State Sen. Capri Cafaro (D).

Speaking in front of the Hoover plant that is scheduled to close this year at the cost of 750 area jobs, Boccieri and his supporters stressed turning around the Ohio economy and fighting the off-shoring of Ohio jobs due to unfair trade agreements. Boccieri also emphasized his family roots and military service. Invoking the "American spirit" reflected in families, he described his grandparents' emigration from Europe in pursuit of a better life, and related that his schoolteacher parents instilled in Boccieri the values of sacrifice and public service. Boccieri also drew on his experience as a major in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, who has served four rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan commanding a C-130 transport, to call for proper training and equipping of those in military service, better care of wounded veterans, and a prompt and honorable end to U.S. involvement in the civil war in Iraq.

I am working on editing and uploading additional photos, video and audio and will post them on the state sub-page shortly.

UPDATE: Now you can hear the audio of the entire program, and watch video clips of State Treasurer Rich Cordray, Gov Ted Strickland, and John Boccieri (video make take a bit more time to be available from YouTube). I am working on a wrap-up of the event with additional photographs.