David Joyce will replace Representative Steven C. LaTourette as the Republican nominee in Ohio's 14th Congressional District, local party leaders said on Friday.
Mr. Joyce, a county prosecutor, enters the race for the northeast Ohio district as the favored candidate after being selected by the local party chairmen and central-committee secretaries from the seven counties that make up the district. Mr. LaTourette announced last month that he would retire from Congress at the end of his current term, his ninth.
The announcement on Friday was immediately welcomed by Representative Pete Sessions of Texas, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the arm of the party charged with finding and grooming House candidates.
“As a prosecuting attorney, David Joyce has worked on the toughest cases in Geauga County to ensure the safety of his community,†he said. “It is that tireless effort to d o what is best for his community and preserve the free-enterprise system that will serve him well in Congress.â€
“In a seat that favors independent leaders, David Joyce is the best candidate to support the pro-growth policies that are needed to help Ohio small businesses create more jobs,†he added.
Mr. Joyce, a former public defender, has been the Geauga County prosecutor since 1988. Mr. LaTourette, 58, is considered one of the last moderates left in Congress. He cited as the reason for his departure a partisan atmosphere that made it impossible for lawmakers to find common ground on policy issues.
Barring any movement in the field, Mr. Joyce is favored to beat Dale Virgil Blanchard, a Democratic candidate who is making his 10th run for the seat. Two other candidates - Elaine Mastromatteo of the Green Party and David Macko, a Libertarian - are also on the ballot.
