NEWS

Republicans Biggers, Householder vie for state rep

Kent Mallett

Reporter

Cliff Biggers, 64, of Coshocton, is council president, Baptist minister, retired police detective.
Larry Householder, 56, of Glenford, was Ohio House Speaker in 2004 when he left state politics.

NEWARK - Republican primary voters will choose between the Coshocton City Council president making his first run for state office and the former Ohio House speaker attempting a political comeback in the race for state representative from the 72nd House District.

The 72nd District includes parts of Licking County, mostly in the east and south, and all of Coshocton and Perry counties. The primary election is March 15.

Cliff Biggers, 64, of Coshocton, a Baptist minister and retired Newark police detective, said he wants to broaden his reach to help improve people's lives, especially in a district with areas struggling economically.

"Politics is a contact sport and a lot of people across the country have lost contact with the system," Biggers said. "I want the people to get involved. It's about the people."

Larry Householder, 56, of Glenford, was Ohio House Speaker in 2004 when he left state politics amid an investigation into alleged money laundering and irregular campaign practices. The government closed the case without filing charges.

"The issues you hear from about everybody is a return to traditional values," Householder said. "They think that government, in particular, isn't doing enough to try to bring back traditional families.

"Our region has been left out of a lot of success the rest of the state has seen. I felt it was time for me to step up and go back to Columbus."

Biggers said he considers the economy the top issue for the district and sees the problems from his position on Coshocton City Council.

"It's more than just jobs," Biggers said. "It's health, safety, infrastructure, drugs. We're dealing with infrastructure -- streets, water system, lights -- all those things that concern people and touch them where they live."

Biggers said Bill Hayes, the current state representative, encouraged him to run.

"I've set out to do the best I can do," Biggers said. "Republicans, Democrats, independents -- people are fed up with what's happening in government. They're not listening to people. I've been listening. You don't have to agree with what they're saying. Just listen."

Householder said people he talks to on the campaign trail long for a simpler time.

Householder said parts of the district lack such essentials as infrastructure, quality of water, training for jobs, internet access, cell phone coverage

"Some parts of the district doing very well," Householder said. "The western part of Licking County is exceeding even state averages. Parts of this district are way behind in employment and household income."

Biggers said he has focused on his own campaign and not Householder's history.

"There's people who let me know how they feel (about Householder) with their facial expression," Biggers said. "Larry has to deal with Larry. They bring it up to me. You take it with a grain of salt, all that stuff. I'm concentrating on me."

Householder, considered by some one of the most powerful and feared politicians in Ohio, said his constituents never feared him.

"People were concerned I'd go on and be the governor of the state of Ohio and they were upset with me because they couldn't manipulate me. They were doing everything they could to stop my political career.

"I was feared by lobbyists, I can tell you that. I don't think the people of Ohio feared me. Party elitists and lobbyists may have been concerned by me."

Householder said he chose to leave state politics, but not because of the investigation.

"When I was term-limited, I did what I thought every citizen legislator should do and that's go home," Householder said. "You need to spend some time away and I've done that. I've got my batteries recharged."

kmallett@newark

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