U.S. Congressman Jim Renacci (R-Ohio) visited sheet metal fabricator and HARDI member Heating and Cooling Products in Mount Vernon, Ohio, to discuss business leadership and factory worker issues.

Renacci is running for governor of Ohio in 2018.

“I’m a business guy. I was in business for three decades,” Renacci said. “This state has been good to me, and I want to be able to give back.”

Renacci served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, but said one of the problems facing the government is that we have “too many career politicians down there.”

“What I have found over the past seven years is if we continue to send the same career politicians to Washington, we’re going to get the same thing, which is career political ideals. It’s people wanting to be re-elected, so they’ll do what’s necessary to be re-elected.”

Heating and Cooling Products President Brian Blaushild said most people don’t feel like they have a voice when it comes to politics, so the one-on-one visit with Renacci was encouraging.

“This was a great opportunity for all of us to make our voices be heard, and we thank Congressman Renacci for coming out to our plant to listen,” he said.

Topics during the visit included the state of the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid expansion, the lack of job creation in Ohio and the state’s opioid epidemic, encouraging high school students to join the trades and Renacci’s opposition to Common Core education standards.

“I’ve been endorsed by both the Teamsters and the tea party, which means I’m a good listener willing to put ideas together,” Renacci said. “I decided Ohio cannot wait any longer. There are career politicians that are running for governor, and I decided to come back because of that.”