CAMPAIGNING — State Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus, R-Paris Township, of the 50th House District introduced himself to Jefferson County Republicans and Central Committee members while on the primary campaign trail for the 6th Congressional District seat Monday. -- Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — During a presentation on Monday before members of the Jefferson County Republican Party, the current state representative of Ohio’s 50th House District promised all-around conservatism from his policies should be elected to Ohio’s 6th Congressional District.

State Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus, R-Paris Township, is seeking a victory in the March 19 primary election, which would set him up to compete for the House seat being vacated by Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, who served the 11-county district for 13 years, will resign to become the president of Youngstown State University on Jan. 21.

Serving the 50th House since 2019, Stoltzfus is the owner of Dutchcraft Truss & Component Inc., a wooden roof truss manufacturing business. He is a resident of Stark County, where he served for two years as a trustee and board president for Paris Township.

Stoltzfus’ campaign stop at the First Christian Church on North Fourth Street was part of a county-by-county visitation effort, which last brought him to Washington County.

Stoltzfus told listeners he is proud of his record during his time in the Statehouse, voting in favor of expanded parents’ rights in education, Second Amendment protection and pro-life legislation — a “top priority” for him. Stoltzfus said that his record is such that he was ranked the No. 1 most conservative among the 132 members of the Ohio General Assembly, according to the Institute for Legislative analysis, a political research organization advocating for limited government.

“I believe in limited government (and) I believe in life, liberty, property and protecting those things,” he said.

Part of his record includes co-authoring the Save Women’s Sports Act, which would bar biological men from playing on and competing against women’s sports teams. After five years of pushing, Stoltzfus said, Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed the act in December, following legislators’ fears that the NCAA would pull out of Ohio if it passed, though Stoltzfus said he anticipates receiving enough votes to override the veto.

“(The NCAA) won’t change anything. It’s just a threat,” Stoltzfus said, adding that the NCAA has held tournaments in other states that passed similar acts.

Other efforts in the Statehouse include sponsoring House Bill 240, which Stoltzfus said requires schools to report their health curriculums — dictated by Ohio Revised Code — to the Ohio Board of Education. Schools must notify students’ parents whenever “questionable content,” namely LGBTQ+, abortion and contraception, is being taught and provide parents the decision to opt their children in.

Other issues Stoltzfus said are important to him are border security, inflation and oil and gas regulations. Stoltzfus said he hopes to cut through regulatory red tape to create a boom for oil and gas, which the 6th District has much of. The free market should be the judge on all types of energy, he said, and a reliable energy source can lead to the return of manufacturers, from which wealth will trickle down to individual communities.

Further, Stoltzfus said he would be frequently on the legislative defensive if the 2024 presidential election results in a victory for President Joe Biden. Contrarily, he said, a win for former President Donald Trump would mean “our economy is going to be roaring and a lot of good things are going to be happening.”

Contesting Stoltzfus in the primary is State Sen. Michael Rulli ,R-Salem, of the 33rd Senate District, which covers Mahoning, Columbiana and Caroll counties. Former president of the Leetonia School Board, Rulli is the director of operations for Rulli Bros. Market, a business begun by his grandfather and great-uncle more than 100 years ago.

In his presentation, Stoltzfus addressed his own “dirty laundry,” which he said Rulli has tried to use against him in political ads, as have other political opponents in the past. That refers to an incident when he punched a hole through a living room wall after a family member allegedly threatened his mother. That led to a domestic violence conviction that Stoltzfus said was later expunged.

“That was a growing experience for me that made me a stronger person,” Stoltzfus said.

Comparing himself to Rulli, Stoltzfus said he is an all-around conservative, whereas Rulli is a “flaming liberal when it comes to social issues.” He based that claim on Rulli’s support of Senate Bills 11 and 119, which he said would “strip women of their rights,” allowing transgender men to access women’s private spaces, including women’s shelters.

Stoltzfus himself was born in Hartville in Stark County. He has four children with his “high school sweetheart” and wife of 21 years, Jennette, and he is a member of the Stark County Township Association, National Rifle Association, Stark County Farm Bureau and Right to Life Stark County chapter.