The 5th Congressional District sprawls across 14 counties in northwest and west-central Ohio, including western Lucas County and Wood County. As in most of the state’s 16 U.S. House districts, the 5th District has been deliberately gerrymandered to minimize party competition in elections. In this largely Republican district, GOP incumbent BOB LATTA has earned re-election.

Mr. Latta, of Bowling Green, is completing his fourth term in Congress. His district includes part of Toledo as well as suburban communities, and has substantial presences in manufacturing and higher education. Above all, though, it is the most heavily agricultural House district in Ohio.

Representative Latta sits on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, and is vice chairman of the panel’s Communications and Technology subcommittee. These posts afford him influence over matters of interest to the 5th District, including domestic energy production, environmental protection, food and drug safety, public health, trade policy, and Internet and television regulation. He also has taken a useful interest in veterans affairs.

Since Toledo’s water emergency in August, Mr. Latta has proposed legislation that he says would help reduce phosphorus pollution of Lake Erie and its tributaries, mostly caused by runoff of agricultural fertilizer and manure, while shielding area farmers from excessive regulation.

Mr. Latta appropriately represents the conservative views of the bulk of his constituency on fiscal, economic, and regulatory issues, as well as opposition to the federal Affordable Care Act. He also has achieved a solid record of constituent service during his tenure.

In next week’s election, Mr. Latta is challenged by the Rev. Robert Fry, a West Toledo Democrat and first-time candidate who is pastor of Heritage Church of God in Monclova Township, and by Libertarian Eric Eberly of Bowling Green, who ran for the seat two years ago. Both candidates are sincere advocates of their views, but neither has raised much money or otherwise attracted much attention to his campaign.

Especially given this lack of effective competition, BOB LATTA has earned another term representing the 5th District.

First Published October 28, 2014, 4:00 a.m.