Republican car dealer Tom Ganley filed petitions Thursday to challenge U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Copley Township, instantly turning what was considered a relatively safe district for Democrats into a fiercely contested race.

Ganley, who had been running for the U.S. Senate against former Bush administration official and Congressman Rob Portman, has high name recognition and a personal fortune from his car dealerships that will make him a formidable opponent for Sutton’s 13th District seat, both Republicans and Democrats said Thursday.

“In the present climate, anything can happen,” Lorain County Republican Party Chairwoman Helen Hurst said. “We’re looking forward to a real interesting and exciting race, and I have confidence Mr. Ganley can pull it off.”

In a message posted on his Web site, Ganley said there needs to be change in how government is run with a greater focus on job creation, spending discipline and limited government.

“I believe Betty Sutton’s leadership has failed on these important principles, especially in putting people back to work,” Ganley wrote.

Hurst said Ganley’s decision to leave the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, a Republican, means the party can avoid a bruising and costly primary that Portman was favored to win.

Ganley wrote that he had been urged to run for Sutton’s seat.

Sutton’s chief of staff, Nichole Francis Reynolds, repeated a statement from Wednesday in which she said Sutton remains focused on her job and fixing the economy.

“Since her first day in office, she has been effectively fighting to foster jobs and economic opportunity for the people of the 13th Congressional District,” Reynolds wrote. “That’s where her focus is and that’s where it will remain.”

Before Ganley can face off against Sutton, he must first survive a crowded Republican primary in which six others —James Brihan of Avon Lake, Frank Chestney of Brunswick, Bill Haney of Brunswick, James Hrubik of Norton, James Meade of New Franklin and C. Todd Sharkey of Akron — also have filed to enter.

Sutton faces a single Democratic primary opponent, Justin Wooden of Green.

Tom Smith, chairman of the Lorain County Democratic Party, said he feels confident Sutton will win a third term representing her district, which runs from Lorain County to Summit County. She replaced U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, when he successfully ran for the Senate in 2006.

“She’s doing a very, very good job; she’s well-liked and a good campaigner,” Smith said.

Smith also predicted that Ganley’s entry into the race will see both candidates receive backing from their respective parties.

“Both parties are concerned about controlling the House,” he said.

Ganley already has a financial advantage over Sutton, according to Federal Elections Commission filings. He had almost $1.3 million in his campaign war chest compared with Sutton’s less than $140,000.

The 13th district consists of northern Lorain County, including Elyria, as well as parts of Cuyahoga, Summit and Medina counties.

Also facing election competition will be U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo. Dale Terry of Huron has filed to run against her in the Democratic primary.

On the Republican side, there are two candidates, former Food Town CEO Rich Iott and Jack Smith of Holland.

Also entering the race against Kaptur is Libertarian candidate Joseph Michael Jaffe of Sylvania.

Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.

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