T-L Photo/MIRANDA SEBROSKI U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio, visited Woodsfield for a campaign stop Monday afternoon. Renacci faces U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, in the Nov. 6 race for the Senate seat. He had lunch with elected officials in Monroe County before visiting American Energy Corp. in Beallsville and Swiss Hills Career Center in Woodsfield.

WOODSFIELD — U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci said Monday afternoon that Monroe County reminded him of the western Pennsylvania coal and steel community where he grew up.

“I understand what these people here are concerned about,” said Renacci, R-Ohio, who is vying for a U.S. Senate seat on Nov. 6. “I grew up in a blue collar union town. I do understand the trials and tribulations of what people go through. It’s great to be here, and there are a lot of great folks down here. Not only did I come from a small town, my grandfather was a coal miner and died of black lung. My uncles were steelworkers and my dad was a union railroad worker, so I do understand the people here.”

Renacci made his comments while having lunch with several Monroe County officials at Traditions in Woodsfield. It was one of three stops the current representative for Ohio’s 16th Congressional District made while he was in the region. The others stops were at American Energy Corp. in Beallsville and Swiss Hills Career Center in Woodsfield.

Renacci said he also came to Woodsfield because he wants to spread the message about the differences between him and his opponent, Democrat U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. Renacci said he goal is to make sure the Buckeye State continues to grow. He said people want good-paying jobs with security and a decent wage, so he wants to continue to work on providing those for the people of Ohio.

Renacci said he voted for a tax bill in 2017 that he believes helps middle class Americans.

“I want to make sure people realize that there are two different candidates with two different visions,” he said. “I am a business guy with a vision for jobs and job creation. We need to make sure our tax cuts and jobs bill are in place. It’s working now, but we need to make sure it continues to work.

“We need to make sure we take some of the regulatory issues away from our coal miners and our steelworkers in this area,” Renacci continued. “We need to make sure we can compete with China. That’s why I appreciate the President taking on China with these tariffs. These are all good things that are going to help Ohio that haven’t been done for years and should have been tackled. The Republican administrations and Democrat administrations have neglected this.”

Other issues that Renacci said he wants to take on are cracking down on illegal immigration, providing better education, defending the Second Amendment, making sure there is quality health care and supporting pro-life initiatives.