The race for the 89th district state representative will come down to a physician, a businessman or a veteran.

Republican Terry Johnson, Democrat Ron Hadsell and Green Party candidate Dennis Lambert are all vying for the position.

Johnson is a 20-year-veteran of the Ohio Army National Guard who has served three deployments in the war on terror. He is also a physician who is currently the Army state surgeon.

Lambert has 15 years of experience in radio, television and film production, has worked in the food service industry and as a plumber, and is writing a book about the Underground Railroad in Lawrence County. He currently works as a shift manager at Taco Bell in Ironton and is a member of Ironton AMVETS Post 5293.

Hadsell, who is a longtime businessman, is the vice president of Hadsell Development and is involved in community organizations like the Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce.

All three of the men say the biggest concerns for their communities are prescription drug abuse and unemployment.

“I think the biggest problem is actually prescription drug abuse because it is killing people, and those it isn’t killing, it’s wrecking their families. It’s a devastating problem,” Johnson said. “Over 90 percent of our crime is due to prescription drug abuse, people trying to get money to get drugs. It’s overwhelming and dragging us down. “

As the county coroner since 2002, Johnson said he had documented overdose fatalities and found it a big problem.

As for unemployment, Johnson said he is concerned that one of his areas is one of the hardest hit by unemployment.

“Scioto and Adams counties typically have unemployment rates that are much higher than Ohio (as a whole),” Johnson said.

Hadsell has an opinion about what needs to be done.

“Jobs is the number one issue, putting people back to work,” he said. “We have created thousands of jobs while pumping over $250 million into the local economy in the last decade. The key to bringing back our economy is rebuilding our manufacturing base. We need to start making stuff in America again.

“The prescription drug abuse is another big issue which must be dealt with immediately, Hadsell said. “I have pushed for legislation on the prescription drug abuse issue and in May, a day after calling on the Ohio Senate President and the Ohio House Speaker to put forth a bill, House Bill 547 was introduced which calls for physician licensure and insurance requirements for pain clinics in Ohio.”

Johnson said the job problem has to start by healing the community of the drug problem. “Employers don’t want to hire people because of it,” he said.

“I have been instrumental in attacking it as a team player,” Johnson said. “I will look at ways to fix it through legislation, looking for ways to control the supply of prescription drugs, so that we can still get them to those who need them, but keep them off the streets.”

Johnson said the real hope for jobs is from the private sector and wants to put distance between government and the small business.

“Get government off our backs and out of a parasitic role, to where they help them succeed instead of seeing them as sources of revenue,” Johnson said.

Hadsell feels strongly about his own values and what they would mean to his position.

“I bring Southern Ohio values to this race,” Hadsell said. “I am a pro-Second-Amendment and anti-abortion candidate and I am for strengthening our families and communities.”

“My campaign is about jobs,” he added. “Good jobs. It’s about a Southern Ohio strategy that builds on our strengths and put us as a region on a path that is smart, sustainable and focused on the future.”

Lambert said if he is elected he will make sure Lawrence County is well represented in Columbus.

“A vote for me is a guarantee we will not be ignored in Southern Ohio,” he said. “We need state funds to improve our infrastructure; I will fight for everyone in Southern Ohio to get their fair share.”