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Training and Experience
State Senator serving Ohio's 27th district
The Ohio Treasurer of State collects the state's taxes and fees, safeguards those funds and manages the investments. The Treasurer serves as the state’s chief investment officer and financial steward, responsible for safeguarding and managing billions in public funds. The Treasurer is custodian of Ohio’s pension systems and manages STAR Ohio, allowing municipalities to pool funds for higher yields with full liquidity. The office also oversees programs serving Ohioans, including STABLE Accounts, OhioCheckbook.com, ResultsOHIO, and AgLink, promoting financial stability, transparency, and responsible management of taxpayer dollars.
As Treasurer of State, my goals for improving the function of the Treasurer’s office include strengthening oversight to safeguard taxpayer funds, modernizing cybersecurity to protect state financial systems, and increasing transparency so Ohioans can easily see how their tax dollars are spent. With legislation currently pending in the Ohio General Assembly to move unclaimed funds to the Treasurer's office; I would streamline the process to more quickly reunite citizens with their money. I would also expand tools like OhioCheckbook to include more local entities, and improve efficiency in processing payments and distributions. Finally, the Treasurer should pursue strong but conservative investment strategies that maximize returns while maintaining safety and liquidity for public funds.
The Treasurer of State can, through wise investing, maximize returns on investments which can then be used to help reduce the property and/or income tax burden on all Ohioans. As the Treasurer’s office also manages bond issuances, which directly impacts borrowing costs, the Treasurer’s office also plays an important role in the capital budget and overall fiscal planning. I will also leverage the office of Treasurer to make suggestions to my colleagues in the Governor’s office and the General Assembly on ways to positively influence fiscal policy through cost savings, government efficiency, and tax reduction. The Treasurer’s office can both directly help strengthen Ohio’s fiscal position and provide informed support to the state budget process.
Ohioans should expect transparency in government and particularly when it comes to their tax dollars. I was proud to vote for legislation to put Ohio’s checkbook online back in 2013 (HB175). This led to the launch of www.ohiocheckbook.com . It has served Ohio well, but needs to be expanded to include municipalities and schools. There is currently legislation pending in the Ohio House (HB413) which would do just that. I look forward to supporting this legislation when it clears the Ohio House and comes to the Ohio Senate as well as implementing this online checkbook expansion as Ohio’s next Treasurer. Whether it is a state tax dollar or municipal tax dollar, Ohioans deserve to know how all their tax dollars are being spent.
I am passionate about fiscal literacy and look forward to partnering directly with schools, community groups, and other organizations to help their students, members and employees learn as much as possible about smart budgeting, savings, investing and general financial planning. It is important that everyone, particularly our young adults, understand the power of compound interest. You want compound interest working to your advantage e.g. in investment accounts - not against you e.g credit card debt. I will also help promote programs that encourage smart savings and investing such as Ohio’s 529C (College Advantage Savings Program) and Ohio’s First Time Home Buyers Program.
