In November, the citizens of Lawrence County showed their support for U.S. Representative-elect Bill Johnson. Now, Johnson has the opportunity to show his support for the citizens of Lawrence County.

Johnson, the Republican elected to represent Ohio’s 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, takes office January 1, replacing Democrat Charlie Wilson.

Regardless of your political views on Wilson, one thing that is certain about the elected official is that he understood and supported Lawrence County.

In addition to helping move a variety of projects forward and securing funding for economic development, Wilson became the first U.S. officeholder to have a field office here in Lawrence County in many years — or perhaps ever.

Johnson has the opportunity to show his continued support for Southern Ohio by keeping the office at its current Park Avenue location.

At least until the much-expected redistricting happens later this year, the 6th District remains a massive geographical region that includes all or parts of 12 counties primarily located along the southern and eastern edges of Ohio.

It is important that Lawrence County and Southern Ohio don’t get forgotten by our leaders in Washington, D.C.

A key step toward that is keeping the office here so that Lawrence County has a direct link to our leaders Washington, D.C.