Steve Chabot will have to introduce himself to 120,000 voters this fall.

        He'll tell these new constituents in the 1st Congressional District that he's going to keep pinching pennies out of the federal budget, vote to build a national missile defense system and find sensible ways to stimulate the economy with permanent tax cuts.

        It's the kind of message the Westwood Republican has been telling his district for years.

        Mr. Chabot, 49, kicked off his campaign Tuesday for a fifth term, but for the first time in a newly configured district.

        Because of redistricting, his 1st District picks up about 120,000 voters, many in western Hamilton County and parts of southern Butler County.

        About 30,000 voters head east into the 2nd District represented by Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park.

        In a speech to campaign supporters at Republican headquarters downtown, Mr. Chabot echoed familiar themes of keeping a strong defense and guarding against domestic terrorism, but the emphasis was squarely on his reputation as a fiscal watchdog.

        Mr. Chabot, who frequently votes against appropriations measures he considers wasteful, cautioned that some in the Congress may try to “shamelessly” wrap unworthy expenses in the flag of national security or homeland defense.

        “While we made significant progress in the area of fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget, much of that good work could be undone by spendthrift politicians who are determined to use every dime of your hard-earned money,” he said.

        Mr. Chabot was first elected to Congress in 1994, signing on to the Contract with America manifesto that powered Republicans into control of the U.S. House for the first time in 40 years.

        In each of the next three elections, national Democrats targeted Mr. Chabot for defeat, saying he was too conservative. President Clinton even managed to get former Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls to challenge him in 1998.

        But the district's mix of urban and suburban constituencies have apparently found a comfort level with Mr. Chabot and his conservative fiscal policies and strong opposition to abortion. He has never been re-elected with less than 53 percent of the vote.

        This year, the Democratic Party seemingly has given up trying to bump off Mr. Chabot.

        There are more Republicans than ever in the district, and the party has endorsed a relative unknown, Greg Martin, a member of the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority and formerly of the Southwest Ohio Carpenters Union.

        Mr. Chabot will be well-financed again. He has raised $336,638 so far, $109,000 from political action committees.

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