MANSFIELD — Jim Jordan has represented Ohio’s sprawling 4th District since 2006.
Democrats Tamie Wilson and Steve Thomas, both from Delaware County, seek to challenge the incumbent Republican from Urbana to represent the district in Washington, D.C.
Jordan defeated Wilson in the November 2022 general election, receiving 69.2 percent of the vote, according to Ballotpedia.
The sprawling district includes Richland, Ashland, Crawford and Knox counties.
Richland Source spoke with Wilson and Thomas about their backgrounds, areas of concern, and some of their future goals, if elected.
Tamie Wilson
Wilson, a 51-year-old entrepreneur, told Richland Source she’s running because “people need real representation in the 4th District.”
She said people are suffering and she wants to put the focus of national politics on problem-solving within the district.
This has been demonstrated through the writing of her nine bills, Wilson said.
A granddaughter of a World War II veteran, Wilson’s journey has been shaped by her strong family values and commitment to community service, she said.
“I can give voice to a lot of different people, and I think that is what sets me apart from both of my opponents,” she said.
Wilson, a small business owner, has been a business strategist and inspirational teacher, as well as a personal and professional development speaker for more than 23 years.
She recently authored a book and hosts her own political podcast.
Wilson wrote her book to encourage women to enter politics, she said.
The lifelong Ohioan considers herself a “common-sense candidate,” and said she’ll work in a bipartisan manner to do what’s best for the 4th District, state and country.
She serves on the Delaware Democratic Party’s Executive Committee and is also a member of the Delaware County Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association.
“We need someone that’s going to get the government working,” Wilson said.
“Because when politicians just cater to the party, so to speak, it really causes gridlock in Washington (D.C.) and we all suffer.”
Wilson working on nine bills
Wilson said she is writing nine bills centered around helping people in her district —something she feels has been lacking from its current representation.
Her legislative agenda addresses areas including domestic violence, Social Security, tax cuts, domestic terrorism and cyber security.
She’s also working on a comprehensive sexual abuse prevention and accountability act, aimed at protecting students and athletes from sexual abuse in educational institutions.
The act seeks to implement stricter policies and accountability measures to prevent and stop such incidents, she said.
Bills focused on enhancing resources, services and support for veterans and senior citizens are also featured in her current efforts.
“I want to make a difference and improve people’s lives,” Wilson said. “If you look at Jordan’s record, he votes against the things that people actually need.”
She also is an advocate for women’s equality, pay equity, entrepreneurship, safety, and freedom to make their own healthcare choices.
Wilson said she’s made efforts to help protect women’s reproductive health care rights.
“I chose life for my son, but I believe in a woman’s right to choose what’s best for her and her health,” she said.
Protecting quality of life for all Americans
Wilson said she’s concerned with the country’s current “direction” and “division.”
“I feel everyone should be represented and honored,” she said. “I think that’s really important. That’s what the U.S. stands for.”
According to her website, Wilson’s campaign principles include improving the economy and education system, as well as supporting the Black community and law enforcement, among others.
She also lists advocating for agricultural and rural communities, the LGBTQIA community, military personnel, veterans, senior citizens, and the disabled community, among others, as important issues.
“I want to represent all people,” Wilson said. “With that being said, I do feel there are certain demographics that haven’t been as represented as they should, like minorities and women. But I do want to represent all people.”
Winning the votes of Republicans and independents is something Wilson knows she’ll need to do in order to represent Ohio’s 4th District.
The Democrat said she’s been doing everything she can to “reach across the aisle” while on the campaign trail.
“I feel like both parties have extremes,” she said. “I feel most of America is straight down the middle and so am I.”
Wilson has an upcoming town hall meeting Feb. 26 in Mansfield. The meeting, beginning at 5 p.m., will take place at Deja Food, 54 Park Ave. W.
Steve Thomas
Thomas, a 69-year-old software executive, told Richland Source he’s running for office due to concerns with the current state of relationships between conservatives and liberals.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Thomas said he feels the best interests of Ohio’s 4th District aren’t being served or promoted by Jordan.
“I saw the way that our candidates were performing as Democrats, here in Ohio, and they weren’t doing that well,” he said.
“I really wanted to get involved because, like everyone else, I love my country and I don’t want to see it destroyed.”
Thomas earned his bachelor’s degree in government from The College of William & Mary, followed by a master’s in computer science from American University in Washington, D.C.
Upon moving to Ohio 30 years ago, he started an e-learning software business and brought on three partners to form Pathlore Software based in Columbus.
“We grew from nothing to become an international company with offices across the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific,” he said.
“By the time we sold the business, we had created over 250 high-paying, high-tech jobs.”
Thomas said for around the last seven years, he’s been working with Blockchain.com, a cryptocurrency financial services company.
He also co-wrote a book, “Marketing Automation Foundation,” with his son, Brian, and was an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.
‘One issue election’
For Thomas, the election is about one thing — “saving democracy.”
“Right here in America, we have well-funded, well-organized forces and they’re trying to topple our democracy, take away personal liberties, and if we let them, overturn elections,” he said.
Job creation, economic opportunity, promoting Ohio farmers and continued infrastructure investment are issues important to Thomas’ campaign.
Thomas said he wants to help ensure small businesses have access to capital.
“We must create new, better paying jobs in our district,” he added.
“I’ve been an entrepreneur. I started a business from scratch and we created over 250 well-paying jobs. If I’m the congressman, I’ll bring this same know-how to Congress.”
Protecting personal liberties, including a woman’s right to reproductive freedom, as well as equal pay and opportunity, and LGBTQ rights are also reasons Thomas is running for office.
He added that racial discrimination also remains a problem throughout the country.
“We have not reached racial equality in this country,” he said. “Discrimination still exists. With it comes access to jobs, education and in the application of our laws.”
Thomas said his agenda is not “attention-grabbing political theater,” but involves issues important to the 4th District — which he feels Jordan has neglected while in office.
Thomas wants to do ‘what’s right’ for 4th District
Focused on expanding opportunities for residents of Ohio’s 4th District, Thomas said he’s not running to promote self-interests or a political party.
He knows he’ll need to resonate with and win the votes of Republicans and independents in order to reach the nation’s capital.
“I’m focusing on bringing back economic opportunity for the 4th District. These are issues important to Democrats, but they’re also important to independents and Republicans as well,” Thomas said.
He said Republicans have continued to vote for their values against their best interests.
Thomas said he believes their are more commonalities between Republicans and Democrats, but his party hasn’t done a good job of showing it.
“We have to reach out and do that,” he said. “I’m a moderate Democrat and I think that I’m a better candidate to do that.”
As a community development group committed to growing Mansfield, NECIC sees civic engagement as vital for a healthy community. Rooted in the North End, their efforts benefit North Central Ohio and beyond. They promote informed voter turnout for a thriving society. Explore at www.necic-ohio.org.