Training and Experience
Samantha started her career in Dubai, as a corporate attorney. In 2017, she moved back to Ohio and now is the Chief Counsel of a nonprofit. Specializing in victimization, Samantha focuses on solving systematic issues statewide. Working on legislation, policies, and initiatives with leaders throughout Ohio, Samantha's strengths are understanding legislation, talking with local experts about their opinions on the legislation/issues, and utilizing that expertise on developing effective legislation.
Volunteer/Community Service
Samantha is on her township’s zoning commission, on Nordonia School’s Finance committee, the Board of Family Promise - Summit, the Chair of the Summit County Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, and Founder of the OH Victim Services Bar Assoc.
The first issue is the egregious gerrymandering that has occurred in our state. When the lines are so skewed in one direction or the next, it is the citizens that are impacted and their voices are continuously being redirected. This is expanding the gap between the voters and legislators causing a distrust from constituents. Legislators have continuously failed to address the gerrymandering within Ohio; therefore, I will advocate to have citizens districting commission back on the ballot. Next, people can only vote for issues they actually understand, which is why we need to have comprehensible language on the ballots themselves. Lastly, there shouldn’t be any additional barriers for any individual eligible to vote, so I will stand strong in making voting accessible for everyone.
The largest tax burden on Ohioans is property taxes. But we cannot speak on the issue of property taxes without identifying the use of those property taxes, and that is towards public education. In order to reduce the overdependence local communities, have on property taxes, we need to make sure public education is fully funded using the formula developed in the Fair School Funding Program. Once the schools are fully funded in accordance with the Fair School Funding formula, schools will not be heavily reliant on such taxes. Secondly, I feel there are other forms of taxation that can be implemented to help offset the need for schools to rely on its community’s property tax, including a potential sales tax implemented through the county and the funds go directly to the schools.
First priority would be to determine the underlying cause of Ohioans struggles with costs. Inflation and general rising costs of products have impacted everyone, but there are also considerable debt issues Ohioans are dealing with, especially for educational loans, medical expenses, and an individual' s average wage not increasing at the rate of inflation. Higher housing costs due to lack of housing options are encouraging increases in selling prices. I would help develop options to incentive contractors to continue building homes to bring down the demand. We also need to develop homeowner assistant programs, in addition to what already exists, to help people purchase and maintain the housing prices.
My first priority would be to utilize the constitutional formula developed in the Fair School Funding Act and fully fund it. This was a well-coordinated effort to develop a mechanism to fund public schools by balancing the responsibilities of the state and the local community. I would then address the voucher program and fight its reevaluation and reallocation of funds to, at the least, be equivalent to public schooling allocation. I would also encourage more schooling on the trades and making such training available to all high schoolers. Lastly, I would review the mandated requirements for public school teachers and advocate for such mandates to be required for non-public schools. Also, I would look at offering incentives for students in Ohio to attend higher education at Ohio’s schools.
My professional career has been focused around negotiations with contentious individuals. I have proven through my experience that I have and will continue to work with legislators on both sides of the aisle to negotiate a fair and equitable resolution. The key to bipartisanship is to find common ground and start there. While there is such hyperpartisanship in our legislator, we have to elect individuals that have shown they have the skill set and capacity to work with everyone and get things done. Once we stop focusing on appeasing a party and focus on making a difference to our constituents, we will be able to communicate more effectively and understand our perspective.
Training and Experience
I am an elected member of the Aurora City Schools Board of Education, a civics teacher with nearly 20 years of experience in Geauga County, and I recently completed my Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction focused on youth civic engagement. My background in education and public service has given me direct experience with policy, budgets, accountability, and representing the interests of students, families, and the broader community.
Volunteer/Community Service
My community service has focused on education, civic engagement, and local organizations, including support for civics education, advisory councils, and involvement with groups such as the Aurora Historical Society.
I would support policies that make voting in Ohio more accessible, transparent, and secure. That means protecting early voting and no-excuse absentee voting, making it easier for eligible citizens to register and update their information, and reducing unnecessary barriers that make voting harder. I also believe local boards of elections need reliable funding, clear rules, and well-trained poll workers so elections are administered fairly and efficiently. Our goal should be to strengthen public confidence while encouraging participation, because democracy works best when more eligible people are able to take part.
Ohio’s tax system should do more to support working families, protect homeowners, and fairly fund public education. I support tax reform that provides real property tax relief, especially for seniors and disabled veterans, by expanding eligibility for the Homestead Exemption so more Ohioans can qualify and remain in their homes. At the same time, we must address the overreliance on local property taxes to fund public schools. Fully and fairly funding public education at the state level would reduce pressure on local taxpayers and create a more equitable system for students and communities. Tax policy should be targeted, responsible, and focused on the people who need relief most.
I would address rising costs by focusing on the expenses families feel most every day: housing, health care, child care, groceries, utilities, and prescription drugs. That means supporting policies that lower prescription drug costs, expand access to affordable child care, protect workers’ wages, and provide real property tax relief for homeowners, especially seniors and disabled veterans. I also believe we need stronger investment in public education and other essential services so families are not forced to absorb those costs on their own. State government should focus on practical solutions that help people afford the basics, stay in their homes, and build greater financial stability.
My priorities for K-12 and higher education are strong public schools, affordable postsecondary pathways, and policies that help Ohio attract and retain talented students, educators, and faculty. In K-12, that means fully and fairly funding public education, supporting teacher retention, and ensuring students have access to strong academics, career-technical education, and civic learning. In higher education, we should keep college and workforce training affordable and make sure state policy strengthens our universities rather than creating political overreach that deters students and faculty. As a school board member, I have seen how state decisions affect local schools, and while completing my Ph.D., I also saw how higher education policy shapes opportunity and access.
I believe we can reduce hyperpartisanship by creating more opportunities for people to listen, learn, and engage with one another in good faith. As a civics teacher, I have spent nearly 20 years helping students discuss controversial political issues with respect, evidence, and an openness to different viewpoints. In my recent doctoral research on youth civic engagement, I studied how students build the confidence and skills to participate in meaningful dialogue across disagreement. That work reinforced my belief that civility is not weakness; it is a democratic strength. We need leaders who model restraint, honesty, and respect, and who focus on solving problems rather than inflaming division for political gain.
