From Marc Guthrie: Is Ney lowering his standards?

Article Published Jul 17, 2005 - Newark Advocate

Ney announces move to Heath Congressman's daughter picks Newark High School

By KENT MALLETT Advocate Reporter

NEWARK -- The city of Heath will soon be home to a current member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. Bob Ney, R-St. Clairsville, has announced plans to move from his Bellmont County home to Heath on Aug. 6. He has lived in St. Clairsville since 1992 and spent all of his life as a resident of Belmont County.

Ney said he had planned to move to Licking County in two years, after daughter Elizabeth graduated from high school, to be more centrally located within the 18th district.

But instead of beginning her junior year at St. Clairsville High School, Elizabeth decided to enroll at Newark High School.

"She kind of surprised us, saying she was willing to move (now)," Ney said. "We were not going to ask a junior in high school to uproot. She looked at all the schools and she liked them all, but she wanted a larger school."

The U.S. representative said it will be difficult to leave the area where he has spent all of his 51 years, but covering the entire district has become time-consuming.

"In three weekends, we spent 21 hours in an auto," Ney said. "Now, it's a seven-hour round trip. We knew we had to be more centrally located."

The redistricting five years ago changed the district and increased Ney's drive to reach all of his constituents. The 18th district includes 16 counties, from Jackson in the far south to Belmont in the east, Holmes in the north and Licking in central.

Although Licking County has supported Ney at the polls, the congressman said the choice to live in Licking County was not a political one.

"Licking County is a great place," Ney said. "I always liked Licking County. But I'm very blessed the 16 counties all gave me tremendous support."

Ney said his federal office will remain in St. Clairsville, but his campaign office will be located in Licking County. He said he plans to run for re-election in 2006.

Ney's daughter, Kayla, is enrolled at Ohio State University in Columbus and his son, Robert, will attend Columbus State.

The Ney family considered homes in Newark, Heath and Hebron.

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