ELECTION 2020: Bob Gibbs faces Brandon Lape, Quentin Potter in contest for Ohio's 7th Congressional District

Bob Gibbs, 66 Party: Republican Education: Associates Degree, Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute, 1974 Family: Jody, wife of 34 years. Three adult children: Andrew, Amy, Adam Job history: Owner, Hidden Hollow Farms since 1976; owner, Gibbs Enterprises, LLC; congressman, 2011-present; state senator, 2009-2011; state representative, 2003-2009 Website: www.bobgibbsforcongress.com Brandon Lape, 38 Party: Libertarian Education: Associate of Science in Computer Services and Networking Technology Family: Spouse, Lisa Lape (Mizer); children, Simon, 13 and Miranda, 11 Job history: Five and a half years retail sales at Verizon Wireless, four years Computer Services support and application administration in health care at Knox Community Hospital, six years and counting Computer Services support and Networking in Manufacturing at Ariel Corp. Website: LapeforOhio.com Quentin Potter, 64 Party: Democrat Education: The Ohio State University, B.S. in education Family: Spouse, Cynthia Burnell Job history: Commissions chair, Office of Budget and Management, July 2015-January 2019; vice president and treasurer, Lorain County Community College, January 2011-May 2014; chief financial officer, Ohio Department of Administrative Services, February 2007-January 2011; executive director, Medicaid Administrative Study Council, October 2005-February 2007; deputy director and CFO, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, October 2001-August 2005; budget analyst, senior budget and management analyst, acting deputy director, Ohio Budget and Management, January 1989-October 2001; budget officer, Ohio Department of Development, March 1988-January 1989 Website: www.quentinpotterforcongress.com Incumbent Republican Bob Gibbs, who has served in Congress since 2011, is facing challenges from Democrat Quentin Potter and Libertarian Brandon Lape. What makes you the best candidate for the position? Gibbs: I support a pro-growth, pro-worker agenda that lifts up all Americans, makes American businesses competitive in the global marketplace, and reduces the regulatory hurdles that stifle American innovation. I've supported commonsense efforts to defeat COVID-19, provide real relief for those hurt by the virus, and get Americans back to work. I have always been a staunch defender of our law enforcement community and will stop any and every attempt to defund police. Lape: I am the only viable option to "drain the swamp" and vote out a career politician. I am more conservative on spending. I am more committed to restoring our Second Amendment rights. I will work to repeal the Gun Control Act of 1968, the National Firearms Act (1934) and the Federal Firearms Act. Government needs to get out of service industries and remove regulations on the private market. This will drive down costs and allow us to purchase better retirement and health care plans. I fix things for a living and a hobby. Vote Brandon Lape and I'll work to fix our government. Potter: I will bring 30 years of experience of public service in finance and administration and a record of concrete accomplishments. I understand what it takes to work within constitutional and other legal limits, and will make time to meet with and understand various constituent concerns and then to advance a pragmatic agenda. We need a return to decency and competence, along with a renewed commitment to the American vision of life in a welcoming, diverse country striving to achieve opportunity and justice for all. What is the biggest challenge facing the 7th district and how would you address it? Gibbs: We must recommit to the principles that helped usher in prosperity. We can rebuild the economy, lifting up every American, not dragging them down with government mandates. We can make it easier to achieve the American Dream by furthering educational choice and expanding career and tech ed opportunities. We can restore our way of life: continue investing in rapid testing, fast-tracked vaccine trials, and effective therapies against the coronavirus. We must keep our communities safe. Rather than defund the police, we need to make sure they have adequate training. Looting and rioting weakens communities, makes them less safe. Lape: Our biggest challenge is restoring our freedom. We have been sold the illusion of security at the cost of our liberty. We start by electing a person that isn't beholden to super PACs, major corporations, or party leaders. If elected, I work for the people of the 7th. I represent their needs, their views, and I protect their liberty. We elect a principled individual that doesn't use divisive politics to dissuade. We elect the person willing to fix our problems as opposed to only working to run for re-election. If elected, I promise to work to pass term limits and will not serve more than two terms. Potter: COVID-19 relief legislation will be necessary given the current lack of a national plan. But the biggest challenge in the 7th District is the shrinking middle class. Too many people are living paycheck to paycheck and some without a paycheck at all. I will work to secure and broaden the middle class and respecting the "dignity of work" by investing in good-paying jobs, increasing the wages of many of our "essential workers," protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act and by protecting unions, Social Security and Medicare. — Dylan Reynolds