SOUTH POINT — Congressman Bill Johnson visited the Snak Shak on Wednesday to mingle with residents and to get an idea of the key issues the people of Ohio’s Sixth District felt the strongest about.

Johnson has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2011, and is heading into a crucial November election against Democratic candidate Jennifer Garrison. Johnson said getting out in the public is essential not only to win the election but also doing his job as a congressman as well.

“There are two battles that go on in American politics,” he said. “The battle for who’s in charge and the battle for governance. Those are two very different battles but you have to win the political battle to be able to do anything on the side of governance.

So this is the most important thing I do. To be a problem solver you have to know the problems. A lot of the solutions are outside the Beltway. They aren’t in Washington D.C., the answers are out here in the public.”

Trying to juggle a campaign while simultaneously serving the country and the Sixth District isn’t an easy task Johnson admitted. But, it’s a skill he had to develop to become an effective member of the House.

“It isn’t easy, it’s quite difficult,” Johnson said. “You have to win the campaign. You have to be elected to be able to have any effect on governance. It’s hard to juggle both especially in a district like ours that is so large. But, it’s a juggling act you learn out of necessity.”

Several Lawrence County politicians were also at the Snak Shak including South Point Mayor Ron West and Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship.

“I think it’s good that the congressman comes and has these kinds of discussions with the public,” Blankenship said. “Lawrence County affects Ironton and vice versa so I thought it was important for me to be here.”

The general election will be held on Nov. 4.