Congressman Steve Austria Drops Re-Election Bid

A Republican Ohio congressman headed for a tough primary as a result of newly drawn districts has told his rival he will not seek re-election. The decision Friday by U.S. Rep. Steve Austria of Beavercreek avoids a GOP faceoff with U.S. Rep. Mike Turner for the 10th congressional district in southeast Ohio drawn by state lawmakers in a protracted redistricting process. Austria, in his second term represents the current 7th congressional district which includes an area south of Columbus. In a statement, Austria said he is angry and frustrated that the current 7^th district has been divided into three different districts. Turner, in his fourth term, thanked Austria for his service in a statement. The new GOP-drawn map shrinking the state from 18 to 16 districts still pits Democratic U.S. Reps. Dennis Kucinich  and Marcy Kaptur against each other in the March primary, while Democrat Betty Sutton faces Republican Jim Renacci.