Lou Gentile Plans Run For Seat In Ohio House
By JOSELYN KINGA veteran political aide will seek an Ohio House seat in 2010.
Democrat Lou Gentile of Steubenville, who recently served as assistant director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia, will announce his candidacy for the 95th House District this week.
He will be joined by Ohio Sen. Jason Wilson, D-Columbiana, and Ohio Rep. Allan Sayre, D-Dover, at 6 p.m. Thursday at the United Steelworkers of America Local 1238 hall in Martins Ferry. Gentile will seek the seat presently held by Ohio Rep. John Domenick, D-Smithfield.
Domenick will be finishing out his eighth year in the Ohio House in 2010, and term limits prohibit him from seeking re-election.
Gentile - just 30 years old - nevertheless has nearly 10 years experience in government at both the state and federal levels. While still a political science major at West Virginia University, Gentile worked for the office of former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise.
After graduation, Gentile returned to Steubenville in 2001 to serve as field director for the Ted Strickland for Congress campaign.
When Strickland was elected to Congress in 2002, Gentile became his representative to Jefferson, Belmont, Monroe and Noble counties.
Strickland announced his bid for governor in 2005, and Gentile joined him on the campaign trail again as his special assistant.
Strickland was elected governor that year, and after he took office he appointed Gentile assistant director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia - a position in which he helped local communities to expand infrastructure and save and retain jobs.
Gentile resigned from the job Nov. 3 to seek public office himself.
"I was taught at an early age about public service," he said.
His father, Lou Gentile Sr., was a social worker with the Jefferson County Department of Job and Family Services. His mother, Carm, was a teacher.
