News
Gentile Won’t Run For U.S. House Seat In 2014
By: Sara Brumfield | Athens Messenger
Posted on:
State Senator Lou Gentile, D-Stuebenville, says he won’t run for the 6th District U.S. Congress seat despite being asked to by several constituents.
The 6th District seat is currently held by Republican Bill Johnson of Marietta.
On Wednesday, Gentile released the following statement, "In the past few months, I have been humbled by the number of constituents, local leaders and supporters who have asked me to consider running for the U.S. House. During this same time, I have been working in Columbus to protect seniors, homeowners and small business from new taxes and fighting to put more police and firefighters on the street and teachers in the classroom. After careful consideration and deep deliberation, I have decided not to enter the race for Congress because I believe at this time I can best represent my constituents in the Ohio Senate."
Gentile, 33, represents the 30th Senate District, which includes Jefferson, Carroll, Harrison, Belmont, Noble, Monroe, Washington, Meigs and portions of Athens and Vinton Counties. He previously served in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he represented the 95th House District. Prior to joining the General Assembly, Senator Gentile served as assistant director in Ohio’s Governor’s Office of Appalachia under former Gov. Ted Strickland.