A freshman under attack
In 2008, Cong. Mary Jo Kilroy took over a House seat that had been in GOP hands since 1967, defeating former state Sen. Steve Stivers by just 2,312 votes after a month-long recount. Now Stivers is back, with the full force of the GOP behind him. Fellow Ohioan and House Minority Leader John Boehner worked hard to recruit Stivers for the rematch, and the National Republican Congressional Committee has been attacking Kilroy since she took office in January. House Republicans even made Kilroy a target in their sleazy campaign to try to create embarrassing “You Tube” moments by ambushing freshmen Democrats during floor speeches.
A strong advocate for Ohioans
An attorney and former social worker, Kilroy is a powerful voice in Congress for her constituents, many of whom have been profoundly affected by the economic downturn. She successfully pressured a reluctant AIG subsidiary to participate in the federal “Making Home Affordable” program and restructure subprime mortgages. She courageously voted for landmark environmental legislation to curb greenhouse gases. And Kilroy, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003, is a passionate leader on health care reform. She’s giving Ohioans a voice in the debate through an interactive web site that links citizens to resources and solicits their ideas for reform.
A stark contrast in values
Stivers was a right-wing state senator who repeatedly opposed legislation to protect consumers and curb predatory lending. In 2008, Republicans sued to stop the vote count, hoping to steal the election for Stivers. That didn’t work, so Stivers has said he's counting on lower turnout among urban and university voters to help him unseat Kilroy in 2010. A former banking lobbyist, Stivers can tap special interests to raise millions for his campaign. Kilroy has deep roots and a sterling reputation in this community: she was president of the Franklin County Commission and served eight years on the Columbus School Board. But she is in for a costly and vicious rematch. Kilroy must raise $3 million to hold onto her seat in 2010.
