A U.S. Congressman from Ohio unexpectedly retired from his post Wednesday amid the state’s long and dramatic congressional redistricting saga.
“These long, drawn-out processes, in which the Ohio Supreme Court can take weeks and months to deliberate while demanding responses and filings from litigants within days, is detrimental to the state and does not serve the people of Ohio,” Representative Bob Gibbs (R-OH-07) said. “It is irresponsible to effectively confirm the congressional map for this election cycle seven days before voting begins, especially in the 7th Congressional District where almost 90 percent of the electorate is new and nearly two thirds is an area primarily from another district, foreign to any expectations or connection to the current Seventh District.”
Though he said he was optimistic about America’s future, he said “[t]his circus has provided me the opportunity to assess my future.” He also said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve.
Gibbs first served in Ohio’s 18th congressional district beginning in 2010, until he was redistricted into the 7th district in 2012, where he successfully won his election bid.
The congressman gave little indication that he would not seek re-election.
In fact, he introduced a new bill just last Friday.
“On Friday, Congressman Bob Gibbs introduced the Innocent Landowners Protection Act to give Americans who have never been involved in the drilling and production of an orphaned well from being considered a responsible party in the capping and cleanup of said wells,” said a press release on his website. “The bill amends the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) to ensure the National Pollution Funds Center (NPFC) can no longer misapply the definition of ‘responsible party’ and go after those with no connection to the operation of orphaned wells.”
Tuesday night, just hours before his retirement announcement, he was bashing President Joe Biden’s border policies on his Facebook page.
The way the current congressional map is drawn, Gibbs would face a tough primary opponent in former Trump administration official Max Miller, who is well-funded and well-liked among the Trump wing of the Republican Party.
Miller had kind words for Gibbs upon the latter’s announcement.
“Congressman Bob Gibbs has championed Ohio values in Congress for more than a decade,” he told The Hill. “He has been a fighter for Ohio voters and we should all be thankful for his contribution to our state and our country.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Bob Gibbs” by Congressman Bob Gibbs.
