The race for the Democratic nomination of the 89th District House seat will pit two Scioto Countains against each other.

Ron Hadsell, a Portsmouth businessman, and Scioto County Commissioner Mike Crabtree are running for State Representative Todd Book’s seat. Book is term limited.

Crabtree’s chief concerns include education, jobs and the economy.

“I think that even at the state level that’s what the focus is going to be,” Crabtree said.

While the economic outlook may look grim, Crabtree said it is about to improve.

“I just think in the time I’ve been on earth I’ve seen upturns and downturns in the economy and we’re definitely in a very serious downturn,” Crabtree said. “I have a positive attitude that we will go the other way. We have in the past.”

He added that despite what voters may have heard to the contrary, he is in favor of unions.

“People tried to say that I’m anti-union and that’s completely untrue,” he said, adding that the company he works for has worked with union employees for 40 years. “I’ve worked with a lot of people. I understand the interests of the blue collar people and the laborers and I intend to take those sentiments to the statehouse.”

Hadsell also is concerned with job production. He is vice president for business development at Hadsell Development and a project manager and chief estimator for J&H Erectors.

“I have a proven track record of creating jobs in our area,” Hadsell said.

His company builds industrial buildings that bring jobs to the area, he said.

“We need jobs in southern Ohio,” Hadsell said. “We’ve got to keep pushing forward. That’s what is important. That’s been the theme of our campaign all along. We’ve got a model that’s worked all along.”

Hadsell’s company reinvests its profits in economic development projects, he said.

“We just would appreciate more people getting involved in economic development,” he said. He added that people who are “sitting on their money” would do better to reinvest it in the community.

‘It’s a hard time for us but our future’s going to be bright here in the next few years.”

When reached for comment Friday, both candidates were campaigning.

“I’m pretty optimistic,” Hadsell said. “I think we’ve run a strong, clean campaign and kept the interest on the job creation.”

Crabtree, too, is hoping for the best.

“I get a lot of positive feedback,” he said. “I have a positive attitude and I think we’re going to be successful. We’re going to work up to the last minute.”

The primary election is Tuesday.