Back burner, front burner and a few on the side - lots of things are cooking in Lawrence County.

U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland (D-6th) sure likes what he sees on the menu.

Strickland, set to begin his sixth two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives in January, has won two elections since the district was re-divided in 2002. The 6th District now includes more than 630,000 people in 12 counties: Athens, Belmont, Columbiana, Gallia, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mahoning, Meigs, Monroe, Noble, Scioto and Washington.

Strickland took advantage of being out of session to visit Lawrence County Friday and talk with local leaders about some of the projects that are ongoing including development at the industrial parks, possibilities in downtown Ironton and on the western edge of the county.

"My perception is that there are a lot of good things happening in the southern part of the district now," he said. "I think there is pretty good leadership in the county. Š Some of the dreams are starting to be fulfilled."

For many, one of those dreams is The Point industrial park. Strickland has toured the facility many times, but said he was blown away by the recent infrastructure changes and addition of a massive spec building.

"The progress that has been made in the past year is really impressive," he said. "It is starting to come together and look like an industrial park."

Of course, Strickland couldn’t visit the county without talking about the Chesapeake Bypass, or Tri-State Metro Outerbelt, something for which he continually has fought.

To date, he has helped earmark a total of $12.75 million for the project that would relocate State Route 7 in Union and Rome Townships and complete the bypass of Chesapeake and Proctorville.

"I was and continue to be disappointed in the Ohio Department of Transportation pulling back from the bypass in that it was a broken promise," he said. "Many of the property owners have had to put their lives on hold."

The Congressman said he hopes to seek additional funds for the project in a federal transportation bill in the spring.

Not ready to throw his hat in the ring just yet, Strickland said he is still considering running for governor in the 2006 election. Gov. Bob Taft cannot run again because term limits.

"I am looking at making a decision sooner rather than later," he said.

His love for the district is one factor that Strickland said holds him back a little.

The Lucasville native said he will continue to work to address national issues of concern that include health care and outsourcing of jobs as well as garner resources to help the 6th District recover from a sluggish economy.

"Real ideas for what a community needs to do, especially in economic development, need to come from the community," he said. "I see my role as being a partner when they come to me."