4 Democrats vie for 5th District nomination

FINDLAY — Two local candidates from Hancock and Seneca counties are helping drive interest in the largest Democratic primary Ohio's 5th District has seen in at least a decade, according to Ohio Secretary of State records. The field includes Findlay native Daniel John Burket, Fostoria City Council President Brian A. Shaver, Martin M. Heberling III of Lorain and Scott E. Tabor of Columbia Station. The winner will advance to challenge longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Latta in November. He is unopposed in the Republican primary. Latta has represented Ohio's 5th Congressional District since 2007. Before his election to Congress, he served as a Wood County commissioner and later in both the Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives. Unseating Latta will be a steep climb in a district that has backed him consistently for nearly two decades. Even so, the Democrats are looking for a path to victory and using their larger-than-usual field to elevate new voices they believe can finally gain traction. Their platforms focus on economic pressure, education, labor issues and government transparency. The district encompasses all of Hancock, Seneca, Crawford, Henry, Huron, Lorain, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Wood counties. Early in-person absentee voting for the May 5 primary election begins Tuesday. Daniel John Burket Daniel John Burket is a small business owner from Findlay. He graduated from Liberty-Benton High School in 2013 and attended Ohio University before transferring to Bowling Green State University. While in college, he purchased and began operating Stevi B's Pizza, Findlay, which he continues to run. His campaign materials highlight economic fairness, healthcare access and support for working families. Burket said he believes Democrats can win the district this year, pointing to recent flips in Republican-held seats and what he describes as growing "buyer's remorse" among voters. He argued that Republicans control the House, Senate and White House but have not delivered on key promises, citing the lack of a replacement for the Affordable Care Act, continued tariffs, rising prices and an ongoing conflict with Iran. "Latta won't stand up for the people of his district or stand against a president due to party loyalty," Burket said. "Representatives are tasked with one important job: be the voice of the people and support the people in your district in our capital, no matter what party or president is in power." Burket said his path to victory centers on visibility and accessibility. He has traveled across the district since last summer to meet voters and hear their concerns, and said people want a representative who shows up and listens. He said he plans to continue attending events and meetings throughout the campaign so residents "know that I am putting the work, time and dedication in for them." More information is available on Burket's campaign website: www.burketforcongress.com. Brian A. Shaver Brian A. Shaver is president of the Fostoria City Council and a social studies teacher at Fostoria Junior Senior High School. He was born and raised in Fostoria and lives on a small family farm with his wife and daughter. His campaign materials focus on government transparency, campaign finance reform, term limits and strengthening democratic institutions. Shaver said he is running on a pragmatic, community-focused approach shaped by his work as council president and as a teacher. He said long-term planning, infrastructure needs and day-to-day concerns he hears from residents have convinced him the district needs a representative who is present and engaged. He said voters are looking for someone who understands local challenges and is willing to work across differences to address them. "I want to bring people together to solve problems," Shaver said, adding that his focus is on practical solutions rather than partisan fights. He said he has spent the campaign meeting residents across the district and believes consistent outreach and responsiveness are essential to rebuilding trust in government. "At the end of the day, we're here to represent the will of the people," he said, adding that his campaign is centered on restoring public trust and ensuring elected officials "put the public first, not personal financial gain." More information is available on Shaver's campaign website: www.brianshaverforcongress.com. Martin M. Heberling III Martin Heberling is a public school teacher in Lorain and a longtime labor leader with the Lorain Education Association and the Lorain County AFL-CIO. He grew up in a union household and previously served seven years as an at-large councilman in Amherst. He also founded a nonprofit focused on youth environmental education. His campaign emphasizes education funding, health care, and working-class economic issues. Heberling also said he believes the district is ready for a change, pointing to what he describes as a widening gap between Washington and the day-to-day realities facing families in northern Ohio. He said he is not a career politician and sees the impact of rising costs and underfunded services in his classroom every day. He framed issues such as rail safety in Fostoria, the health of Lake Erie and the stability of rural hospitals as "survival issues," not partisan ones, and said voters are looking for a representative who prioritizes local results over national talking points. "I'm not running against any specific person or party. I'm running against the status quo," Heberling said, adding that families aren't looking for a red or blue solution but an Ohio solution. He said his path to victory depends on building a coalition of Democrats, Independents and moderate Republicans who want economic dignity, safer communities and a representative who understands the value of a hard day's work. He said his experience as a teacher, Amherst councilman and union leader has shown him that many voters feel overlooked and are ready for someone who will fight for better healthcare, public education and jobs. More information is available on Heberling's campaign website: www.heberlingforohio.com. Scott E. Tabor Scott E. Tabor is a union sheetmetal worker and former small-business owner who spent years running a restaurant nightclub on Cleveland's west side. His campaign biography highlights his hands-on work in the skilled trades, his experience managing a family business and his involvement in neighborhood-level community efforts. He notes completing coursework at Lorain County Community College and Ohio University. Tabor said he is running to give working families a stronger voice in Washington. He said the district needs a representative who understands the economic pressures residents face, from rising costs to long-term financial stability. He framed his campaign around constitutional protections, direct engagement with voters and what he describes as a need for more accountable leadership in northwest Ohio. "It's time for a break from the status quo," Tabor said. He said his path to victory depends on introducing himself across the district and building support through conversations about affordability, community needs and the kind of leadership he believes has been missing. More information is available on Tabor's campaign website: www.setandready.org.