The presidential race will come to Northeast Ohio later this month...weeks before the "Super Tuesday" primary on March 6th.

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum is slated to headline the Summit County Republican Party's "Lincoln Day Dinner" on February 18th at Akron's Quaker Station.

That's just two days after ex-Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney performs the same honors at the Cuyahoga County party's "Lincoln Day Dinner" in Mayfield Heights.

With the nomination still "in play", it may not be the last time the area sees presidential contenders before the March 6th primary.  Ohio is one of a number of states voting that so-called "Super Tuesday".

News release - Ohio House Speaker William Batchelder's office

Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and members of the House Republican Caucus today announced the slate of candidates who have applied for appointment to the 43rd House District seat, which was vacated following the departure of former State Representative Todd McKenney.

Applicants for the 43rd Ohio House District include:

* Anthony DeVitis (of Uniontown), small business owner and Green city councilmember

* Gary Peters (of Coventry Township), businessman with experience in state and local government

* Nick Skeriotis (of Suffield Township), president of S&K Asphalt and Concrete and a member of Portage County Republican Central Committee

The Speaker’s office will contact individual candidates who met today’s deadline with a time for an interview with the House Republican screening panel. State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) will serve as chairman of the screening panel and will be joined by Representatives John Adams (R-Sidney), Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City), Dave Hall (R-Millersburg) and Ron Young (R-Painesville).

The full Republican Caucus will vote on filling the 43rd House District vacancy following the screening.