Mr. Patton hoping to go to Washington
State Rep. Tom Patton running for Congress
State Rep. Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) announced his intention to run for the 16th District Congressional seat during a July 31 event at J. Bella restaurant. Current U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Wadsworth) will run for Ohio governor. Photo by TERRY BRLAS
STRONGSVILLE – State Rep. Tom Patton announced he is running for the 16th District Congressional seat at a July 31 event at J. Bella restaurant in Strongsville.
The 63-year-old Strongsville resident enters the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, who is running for Ohio governor. Patton, who currently serves Ohio House District 7, will face off with fellow state Rep. Christina Hagan in a Republican primary battle.
Patton, the current Ohio House majority whip and a former Senate majority leader, served six years in the Ohio House and another eight in the Ohio Senate before returning to the House this year.
Patton touted his conservative roots.
“If the conservative Republican Senate elected me majority leader three times over six years I can’t be too shabby when it comes to being conservative,” he said. “When you’re in leadership you get to be in that little room where big decisions get made. On behalf of northeast Ohio, I needed to be in that little room.”
Patton stated he has considered running for the U.S. House of Representatives even before Renacci announced his intention to run for governor in March of this year.
“I talked with Jim Renacci back in January when he intimated his plans,” Patton said. “It’s a big decision to try and take on Washington. Despite a lot of good people being there it’s a dysfunctional group.”
Patton stated he has been able to get bi-partisan support on bills 91 percent of the time during the last six years in the Senate.
“Bi-partisan bills are always the best bills because everybody feels good about it, so if you arrive at something where you can only get three quarters of a loaf, it’s better than no loaf,” Patton said. “That’s the kind of thing we need in Washington, D.C.”
Health care tends to dominate the current political conversation. Patton is no different.
“We need to be the people who take care of the people that have long-term illnesses,” he said. “Medicaid expansion is not working. Repeal and replace, we’ve got to get it done.”
Cuyahoga Republican Party Chairman Rob Frost quoted President William McKinley when speaking on behalf of Patton’s candidacy.
“President McKinley said, ‘Half-heartedness never won a battle.’ Tom Patton is in this race to win it,” Frost said. “Tom Patton does not and will not forget those who love him and will never forget those he represents.”
The J. Bella event had a pep rally feel to it. Supporters were entertained by the West Tech Warriorettes, an alumni group of cheerleaders. Patton played basketball at West Tech High School.
The 63-year-old Strongsville resident enters the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, who is running for Ohio governor. Patton, who currently serves Ohio House District 7, will face off with fellow state Rep. Christina Hagan in a Republican primary battle.
Patton, the current Ohio House majority whip and a former Senate majority leader, served six years in the Ohio House and another eight in the Ohio Senate before returning to the House this year.
Patton touted his conservative roots.
“If the conservative Republican Senate elected me majority leader three times over six years I can’t be too shabby when it comes to being conservative,” he said. “When you’re in leadership you get to be in that little room where big decisions get made. On behalf of northeast Ohio, I needed to be in that little room.”
Patton stated he has considered running for the U.S. House of Representatives even before Renacci announced his intention to run for governor in March of this year.
“I talked with Jim Renacci back in January when he intimated his plans,” Patton said. “It’s a big decision to try and take on Washington. Despite a lot of good people being there it’s a dysfunctional group.”
Patton stated he has been able to get bi-partisan support on bills 91 percent of the time during the last six years in the Senate.
“Bi-partisan bills are always the best bills because everybody feels good about it, so if you arrive at something where you can only get three quarters of a loaf, it’s better than no loaf,” Patton said. “That’s the kind of thing we need in Washington, D.C.”
Health care tends to dominate the current political conversation. Patton is no different.
“We need to be the people who take care of the people that have long-term illnesses,” he said. “Medicaid expansion is not working. Repeal and replace, we’ve got to get it done.”
Cuyahoga Republican Party Chairman Rob Frost quoted President William McKinley when speaking on behalf of Patton’s candidacy.
“President McKinley said, ‘Half-heartedness never won a battle.’ Tom Patton is in this race to win it,” Frost said. “Tom Patton does not and will not forget those who love him and will never forget those he represents.”
The J. Bella event had a pep rally feel to it. Supporters were entertained by the West Tech Warriorettes, an alumni group of cheerleaders. Patton played basketball at West Tech High School.