Training and Experience
34 years in education: 15 years as a Biology, Chemistry, & Environmental Science Teacher & the remainder as a high school principal, district Curriculum Director, and Superintendent
Volunteer/Community Service
Currently serving on the Portage Foundation Grant & Scholarship Committees, Past member of Aurora Rotary, Kent State Trustees Board (Twinsburg), and Portage Foundation Moore Scholarship Committee,
Elections in Ohio over the years have shown to be secure, efficient, and accurate so I do not believe there needs to be radical changes to the election process or policies. As a representative we must work to limit barriers to participation in the democratic process. I support ending gerrymandering, expanding mail-in voting grace periods, and lifting other restrictions that interfere with people’s right to vote. Bills such as SB293 which eliminates the ability to count absentee ballots that are postmarked before the election but arrive after the election and SB153 which is Ohio’s version of the SAVE Act that, in many ways acts as a poll tax and can potentially undermine women who changed their name after marriage ability to vote must be eliminated.
Property taxes need to be revisited beyond the “shell game” of moving local money around being played by the State House. High property taxes are a symptom of a bigger problem which is a lack of support from the State over the years and particularly from the current Majority Party. Property taxes have shifted from 46% being generated by local residents and agriculture to nearly 70% today. This trend needs to be reversed. Also, a flat 2.75% state income tax that is projected to bring in $1 Billion LESS without lowering taxes for the working class who are making less than $100,000 per year needs to change. I would support smaller increases in sales or income tax with targeted lowering of property tax, such as increasing the homestead exemption to provide relief to seniors and veterans.
A strong economy is tied to a strong working and middle class, so it is important that State laws reflect protections and opportunities for working families. Strong workers rights help to maintain a balance between workers and administrators that keep a system healthy and strong. I am an advocate of policies that strengthen the middle class such as raising the minimum wage, oppose “right to work” policies, and promote strong collective bargaining rights which lead to a strong workforce. I also support work force development programs, especially tax credit programs and state investment to help alleviate the cost and burden of childcare. Too many parents are removed from the labor force because the cost of daycare is too high, which is something I want to address as a State Senator.
I would work to reverse the erosion of support for public schools. This is because education is important, it is the “tide that raises all boats” no matter your social-economic status. Specifically, I would prioritize revisiting how Ohio funds public schools as it currently does not meet its constitutional obligation to fund a "thorough and efficient” education system. This means working to fully fund the bipartisan fair school funding plan and reduce or eliminate universal school vouchers which will siphon off $2 billion of K-12 public funds for private schools over the next two years. I would also work to reduce or eliminate the effects of SB1 which has caused as much economic damage to local economies of college towns as erosion of the educational integrity within each campus.
As a former school Superintendent, I learned to be a voice for students, parents and all of the community through listening, empathy, and advocacy. Specifically, I found ways to bring people together on common ground over the years by leading with a focus on serving others. It is a leadership style that I believe can be effective across State Senate District 27 as well as down in Columbus. We need that same approach applied in the State House, where collaboration, compromise, and my experience will ensure I'm representing the people of State Senate District 27 without the hyper-partisanship that is prevalent throughout our current political landscape.
