Fostoria's Shaver announces congressional bid

FOSTORIA — Fostoria City Council President Brian Shaver wrapped up Tuesday night's meeting with the announcement of his candidacy to represent Ohio's Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives.Shaver is one of four Democratic candidates on the ballot for the May primary with hopes of unseating Republican Bob Latta, of Bowling Green, who has represented the district since 2007, in November's general election.Shaver, a teacher at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School, has served both as a voting city council member in as well as council president. He said he's taught government for more than 20 years.While noting that a comprehensive press release regarding his candidacy would be forthcoming, Shaver said in a post-meeting interview: "As a teacher and a parent, I think it's important — as I teach about our Constitution, which starts with the words 'We, the people' — that we have people in our Congress who represent the will of the people and also the document that was created in the Constitution and follow it and understand what the rule of law is, and the letter of law. And we need to have people who are willing to stand up and fight for the people's rights in (Washington,) D.C., and make sure that the constitution's being followed and that government is happening the way our founding fathers intended it to be."Shaver said he announced his congressional candidacy at the meeting so council members and other city officials would hear of it directly from him.Latta is listed on website www.ballotpedia.org is the lone Republican candidate, while those opposing Shaver on the Democratic side are Daniel Burket, of Findlay; Martin Heberling III, of Lorain; and Scott Tabor, of Columbia Station. Dalton Franklin, of Payne, is listed as an independent candidate.Council on Tuesday night also approved an ordinance to vacate a portion of Roby Court to the east of Earl Foust American Legion Post 73. Restricting that area would allow for safer foot travel between the back door of the legion and its parking lot east of Roby Court, said Safety Service Director Eric Keckler.Also OK'd by council was an internet auction to be conducted in 2026 to unload "personal property, motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, tools or supplies which are not needed for public use, or are obsolete or unfit."Keckler said the city should have a new street sweeper next month. The previous sweeper, which was due to be replaced regardless after about 10 years of use, burned in a fire in recent months. Keckler said the cause of the fire has not been determined.During the public speaking portion of the meeting, citizen Paul Allison said the next regular meeting of the Fostoria Records Commission is scheduled for 2 p.m., Feb. 26 in a conference room at the municipal building, 213 S. Main St.