Ohio state Rep. Todd Book will be the Democrats’ 2010 challenger to Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt in the Cincinnati-area 2nd District.

Todd Book

Book, a lawyer, released a statement that said “the only way to bring real change to Washington is by sending new people to Washington.” He described himself as an “independent voice” in the legislature, where’s he served since 2003.  

Book’s Democratic backers include Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. Both men are from rural Scioto County in southern Ohio. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of House Democrats, circulated Book’s announcement to reporters.