Another candidate gets in race to fill Boehner's congressional seat

Credit: Anthony Shoemaker

Credit: Anthony Shoemaker

By Michael D. Pitman

A local Butler County businessman announced he will be seeking the Republican nomination for the 8th Congressional District.

Eric Gurr, of Liberty Twp. and Hamilton native, will try again to win the nomination to be the party’s candidate to replace outgoing Speaker of the House and Congressman John Boehner, a West Chester Twp. Republican who’s been the district’s representative for 25 years. Boehner announced in September he would step down from his speakership and Congress by the end of this month.

“I want to return our government to us … to ‘We The People,’” said Gurr. “If elected, I will serve no more than four terms as your representative in Washington.”

Credit: Anthony Shoemaker

Credit: Anthony Shoemaker

Those who’ve formally announced their candidacy for the congressional district seat include Rep. Tim Derickson, R-Hanover Twp., Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds, Sen. Bill Beagle, R-Tipp City, and Miami County residents J.D. Winteregg and Scott George.

Gurr, who received less than 6 percent of the vote in the 2014 primary, also unveiled a “6 For 6” plan, which are six proposals he intends to work on during his first six months in office. The topics of Gurr’s plan include:

  • The Economy (which he calls "job number one")
  • Spending and regulations
  • Immigration
  • Support of 2nd Amendment
  • Strong military
  • Reduce the debt

“This is a crowded field of the candidates and 2016, will prove to be the year of non-politicians,” said Gurr, the grandson of former Hamilton Mayor Mark Petty. “Already we are seeing candidates speaking vaguely and talking about how much money they are going to raise. It is disturbing how few are taking positions on the issues that truly impact our lives.”

Gurr is also calling for three debates of the state’s 8th Congressional District candidates. The congressional district encompasses all of Butler, Clark, Darke, Miami and Preble counties, and the southernmost portion of Mercer County.

“I’m not a career politician,” he said. “I want to do my part to serve you and then get back to running my small family business.”

Gurr owns a computer consulting business.

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