Joe Cimperman says he wants to be a full-time replacement for Kucinich. He says the six-term congressman has been too busy running for president to work for residents in the state's 10th congressional district, which has been called ground zero for the nation's foreclosure crisis.
Joe Cimperman: "We have a serious set of issues in this district. We don't need distractions and we don't need part time representation. I believe in my heart of hearts that Dennis is a good man, but he's out of touch."
Cimperman, 37 has a populist pedigree similar to Kucinich. He grew up in a working class family in Cleveland's St. Clair -- Superior neighborhood. He’s known as a bulldog for his constituents and has focused his efforts on underprivileged kids and the poor. Unlike Kucinich, he has strong ties to the business community, a relationship that has earned him praise and criticism.
Cimperman doesn't shy away from his ties to big-business. He says his role in supporting legislation for the Flats East Bank project, 400 Million dollar mix of housing and commercial development is an example of the success he will have as a congressman.
"I’ve a pretty good understanding of this region, and I've also, because I represent downtown, got a lot of familiarity of how to get deals done."
Cimperman also said he supports some form of universal healthcare, and chastised Kucinich for voting against the children's insurance program SCHIP.
Joe Cimperman: There's no way, if I were in congress, that I would have voted against SCHIP. I really don't know how you vote against kids with healthcare -- to me it's shameful.
Kucinich will face Cimperman and fellow democrats Rosemary Palmer and Barbara Ann Ferris -- if he decides to run as the incumbent for the congressional seat he has held since 1996.
Kucinich won't comment on whether he intends to run, but he released a written statement on Cimperman's candidacy from the campaign trail in Iowa. In the statement, he says Cimperman, quote "brags about how much money he raises from big business."
The congressman also faulted Cimperman for living outside the 10th District. That's not something that disqualifies congressional candidates. Nevertheless, Cimperman says he lives approximately two streets away from the district line, and will move into the district when he wins.
Mary Rose Oakar, a former Cleveland City Councilman and Ohio Congresswoman who lives in Cimperman's district said the councilman's current home turf is pretty small, and it's unknown if he'll have wider appeal.
Mary Rose Oakar: "You know, you're talking about 18 or 19 suburbs and a good part of Cleveland. His real base is St. Clair Avenue.
Ned Hill, professor of economic development at CSU's Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs said the Cimperman has definite strengths.
Ned Hill "The key to Dennis' operation is that his constituent service is superb. And that's the backbone of a congressional office. Cimperman knows and understands constituent service. Cleveland city councilmen get more telephone calls than anyone else in politics.
"With Joe I think you've got the possibility of someone who can work within the collegial nature of the congress, that's important to the district. I think that's important to the district and it's important to the region."
The filing deadline for congressional candidates is 4 p.m. Jan. 4. Ohio's presidential primary is March 4.
Kymberli Hagelberg, 90.3