Training and Experience
Thomas West brings over two decades of public service and leadership experience. He served 13 years on Canton City Council and 6 years in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he held leadership roles as Assistant Minority Leader, President of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and Ranking Member of the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee. He also served on the Joint Legislative Ethics Commission, Finance Committee and Rules & Reference.
Volunteer/Community Service
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Stark County Minority Business, Chairman of the African American Arts Festival, Stark County Minority Health Coalition
I believe Ohio should make voting more accessible, more secure, and more trusted. That means protecting early voting, maintaining no-excuse absentee voting, and making sure working people, seniors, and voters with disabilities can cast a ballot without unnecessary barriers. I also support clear election rules, strong ballot security, accurate voter rolls, and transparency so the public has confidence in the outcome. We should be focused on participation and trust, not policies that make it harder for eligible Ohioans to vote.
Ohio’s tax system should reward work, protect homeowners, and help families keep more of what they earn. I believe the best tax reform starts with meaningful property tax relief for seniors, working families, and middle-class homeowners who are being squeezed by rising valuations. We should also review utility and hidden fee structures that hit people like a second tax. Any tax policy should be measured by one question: does it help ordinary Ohioans afford to live, work, and retire here? I support targeted relief that strengthens families, supports small businesses, and keeps communities stable.
The rising cost of living is one of the biggest issues families talk about every day. People are paying more for groceries, housing, utilities, health care, and property taxes, while wages often do not keep up. My focus would be on practical steps: lowering health care costs, fighting excessive utility fees, expanding affordable housing, supporting workforce development that leads to better-paying jobs, and providing real property tax relief. Ohio families do not need more political talking points. They need leaders who understand that every extra bill affects whether a family can stay afloat.
My priorities are simple: strong public schools, safe learning environments, fair funding, workforce pathways, and affordable higher education. For K-12, we need to better support teachers, address learning loss, strengthen career technical education, and make sure schools have the resources to meet students’ academic, mental health, and social needs. For higher education, we must make college, technical training, apprenticeships, and credential programs more affordable and better connected to real careers. Every student should have a pathway to success, whether that means college, the trades, military service, or entrepreneurship.
We reduce hyperpartisanship by getting back to servant leadership and focusing on real issues instead of constant division. I believe people are tired of political games and want leaders who will listen, respect different viewpoints, and work across party lines when it benefits their community. Civility starts with tone, but it also requires action. That means being honest, showing up, listening to people who disagree with you, and building coalitions around common-sense solutions. I have always believed that progress happens when Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are willing to put people before politics.
