Wenstrup makes campaign stop in Highland County

Second Congressional District candidate Dr. Brad Wenstrup is in Highland County Monday, June 25, meeting with public officials, visiting a local business and working on his campaign.

Wenstrup will face Democrat William R. Smith of Pike County in the Nov. 6 general election.

On Monday morning, Wenstrup stopped for an informal meeting with Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst at the commissioners' office.

A tour of Candle-lite in Leesburg also was on the congressional candidate's local agenda.

Wenstrup said he wants to hear concerns from business owners about federal regulations that could be an impediment to doing business.

"We're going to get something on our website – usabrad.com – where people can list the issues they've had with (excessive) regulations," he said.

Wenstrup also called "ObamaCare," the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, "a microcosm of everything that's wrong in Washington."

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the health care law sometime this week.

Wenstrup defeated Republican incumbent Jean Schmidt in the March primary race for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District. Republicans Fred Kundrata and Tony Brush also were in the 2012 GOP primary.

Smith defeated David Krikorian in the Democratic primary.

Highland County is currently part of Ohio's Third Congressional District, represented by Republican Mike Turner. In accordance with the new redistricting map, Highland County will join the Second District in 2013.

In addition to his medical practice, Wenstrup received an officer’s commission with the U.S. Army Reserve in 1998, serving in the Medical Service Corps. In 2005, he deployed for a year of active duty in Iraq where he served as a combat surgeon with the 344th Combat Support Hospital.

For his service and actions in Iraq, Wenstrup was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge. Wenstrup continues his service in the U.S. Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel.