Democratic candidate for Congress brings campaign to New Philadelphia

NEW PHILADELPHIA — Democrat Lou Lyras paid a visit to New Philadelphia on Friday to promote his candidacy for Congress in the Sixth District.

Lyras, who lives in Youngstown, met with area Democrats at the Daily Grind Cafe and then marched in the First Town Days Festival parade.

He is challenging U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, in November. Lyras describes himself as the underdog in the race.

The Sixth District covers 11 counties and includes the northern and eastern portions of Tuscarawas County.

Talking to the news media after the Daily Grind event, Lyras said he sees jobs and inflation being the top challenges facing residents of eastern Ohio.

"Everybody's talking about jobs, better jobs, and inflation," he said. "How are we going to do it? How are we going to develop the cities? Those are the issues that I'm hearing from most people."

He views environmental issues as being important as well.

"If we let the environmental issues go, if we think that it's not going to affect us, that's going to cost us more money and it will be another inflation," he said. "If you have drought in the southwest, massive drought, and you have mass migrations of people, they've got to go someplace. Where are we going to get water?"

He said the country has to be prepared for such issues and it has to start now.

Lyras is a graduate of the Ohio State University and founded Corcon Inc, an industrial painting company, in 1976. He also co-founded Advanced Recycling Systems, a company that specializes in manufacturing surface preparation equipment, in 1992.

On his campaign website, he describes himself this way: "I am pro-choice, pro-union, support immigration reform, legalize drugs, public schools, gun control, expand Medicare, fair taxation and (so important to all of us]) serious environmental changes."

Lyras said he enjoys going out and meeting people and learning their views on the issues.

"i don't see any other way but getting out and talking to everybody, as many as who come and see," he said. 

Referring to those who attended the Daily Grind event, he said, "Now this is the choir, but maybe they're going to bring other people in."

He also wants to talk to Republicans. "Of course I do. Don't t they care? Aren't these issues affecting them, especially the economy issues? And tell the truth about the economy. Tell the truth, what is inflation and where it started and it's not just because (Joe) Biden is the president. That's kind of too simplistic."