OH-16: On Rainy Saturday, John Boccieri Events Draw Hundreds

EXCLUSIVE

John Boccieri for U.S. Congress, Communications Director, Bryan Collinsworth reported in from the field this Saturday evening. Tonight, I'm posting his "guest-blog" that many of our readers have been checking in to read.

September 7, 2008

On Rainy Saturday Morning, Union Members and Lifelong Republicans Alike Turn Out for Boccieri

Canton, OH - A steady drizzle didn't stop more than 200 local workers from showing up to a labor rally in support of John Boccieri's campaign for Congress on Saturday morning; nor did lingering clouds deter roughly 75 community members from joining lifelong Republican Frank Fleischer at his North Canton home to hear from Boccieri and Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland.

The 10:00 a.m. rally at the Steelworkers Local 1123 Golden Lodge Hall in Canton was sponsored by the Steelworkers and Teamsters, and also featured Canton Mayor William J. Healy, II. The house party began at noon, and was hosted by Fleischer and his wife Barbara.

Frances Strickland told house party attendees that Boccieri had cautioned her husband, Gov. Ted Strickland, during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, when he was serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. She said that Boccieri, a member of the U.S. Air Force, urged Strickland to look out for the best interests of America's military men and women by asking tough questions about the rationale for war.

The First Lady said:

"John will go to Washington and use his first-hand experience to stand up for what's right. That's the kind of leadership we need in Congress now."

House Party host Frank Fleischer decided to support Boccieri after he gave the candidate a list of policy questions and Boccieri took time to sit down with him and go through the issues one-by-one.

Fleischer said:

"He's fought for America, and I know he'll fight for the middle class."

Photographs from both events are included below, with captions.


16th District congressional candidate John Boccieri speaks to workers at Saturday morning's labor rally.


Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland speaks about her support for John Boccieri at the North Canton house party.


Frances Strickland and John Boccieri at the Fleischers' house party.


A sign displayed by house party host Frank Fleischer, a lifelong Republican, outside his North Canton home.


John Boccieri speaks with voters at Saturday's house party.

John Boccieri for Congress * P.O. Box 3016 * Alliance, Ohio 44601
(330) 754-0534 * www.johnforcongress.com