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PARMA, Ohio -- State Rep. Nicholas J. Celebrezze, a Democrat, and Republican Patty Gascoyne-Telischak are vying again for the Ohio House seat in District 15, which covers Parma, Brooklyn Heights, Cuyahoga Heights and a portion of southwest Cleveland.

Celebrezzedefeated Gascoyne-Telischak in 2012 to retain the seat he was appointed to earlier that year to replace Tim DeGeeter, now the mayor of Parma.

Celebrezze, a former Cuyahoga County assistant prosecutor and adult probation officer, is a partner with the Cleveland-based firm of Calo & Celebrezze. He served on the Parma City Council from 2005-11.

The Celebrezze name has been a staple on Ohio ballots. His father, James Celebrezze, was elected as an Ohio Supreme Court Justice. His grandfather served as a Cleveland safety director in the 1940s and later as a municipal judge.

His opponent, Gascoyne-Telischak, is a mother of six children, three of whom are in the military. She homeschooled her children until they reached the third grade. Since 2012, she's worked for Fireside Chimney Cleaning.

The Parma residents spoke Tuesday with Northeast Ohio Media Group. Here are some highlights:

Why they're running

As a state representative, Celebrezze serves on the transportation, state and local government and judiciary committees. He was also asked by the Ohio attorney general to serve on the Foster Care Advisory Review Group, which helped push legislation to enhance child safety and welfare.

He said he's running for reelection because his work isn't finished.

"I think I've done a very, very good job of holding the seat, being open to my constituents, moving along legislation in the House, which is sometimes very difficult to do as a Democratic member," Celebrezze said. "I've been able to do the hardest job, which is to balance the needs of the district as well as the needs of all Ohioans."

Original post:
Democrat state Rep. Nicholas J. Celebrezze and Republican Patty Gascoyne-Telischak compete in the Ohio House District 15