Volunteer/Community Service
Serves as a member of the St Marys City Tree Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals
Key changes I'd advocate:
- Restore a limited postmark grace period for absentee ballots (or add reliable safeguards against postal delays), as the 2026 elimination risks discarding valid votes from those who mail timely but face delays.
- Implement automatic voter registration via trusted agencies like BMV, with strong verification to prevent errors/fraud.
- Increase rural early voting sites, boards of elections funding, and voter education to boost turnout.
- Oppose barriers like overly restrictive ID rules; support transparent audits and fair redistricting per Ohio's constitution.
I support:
- Enhancing targeted relief: Expand homestead exemptions, owner-occupancy credits, and protections for seniors/fixed-income residents to ease property tax burdens from rising values—without slashing local services.
- Fairer revenue: Restore progressive elements to income tax (e.g., higher rates on very high earners) to reduce reliance on regressive sales/property taxes; close corporate loopholes to fund education/workforce training.
- Long-term stability: Oppose eliminating property taxes without a viable replacement, as it risks massive cuts to schools or hikes in other taxes hurting everyday Ohioans.
- Economic growth: Invest savings in rural broadband, agriculture support, and job creation.
- Strengthen property tax protections: Build on 2026 caps/credits (HB 186/335) with expanded homestead exemptions and owner-occupancy relief for seniors, fixed-income, and working families to ease rising values without cutting schools/services.
- Boost wages & family support: Support gradual minimum wage increases beyond inflation indexing (currently $11/hour non-tipped in 2026) and expand earned income tax credits; enhance Child Care Choice vouchers and access to affordable care to help parents work.
- Housing & energy: Incentivize rural affordable housing development to increase supply; advocate energy cost reviews and local ag/food programs to stabilize prices.
- Fair revenue: Restore progressive income tax elements to fund relief without regressive shifts to middle-class families.
K-12:
- Advocate the Fair School Funding Plan or similar formula to deliver predictable state aid. The FY26-27 budget underfunds public schools by billions, harming rural/higher-poverty districts and forcing local levy reliance.
- Strengthen public education: Ensure dedicated resources for special ed, mental health, early literacy; oppose unaccountable resource diversion (e.g., expanded vouchers).
- Support rural needs: Boost broadband, teacher incentives, and career-technical programs for ag/manufacturing jobs.
Higher Education:
-Enhance affordability: Expand need-based aid like Ohio College Opportunity Grant.
- Workforce alignment: Increase funding for short-term credentials and community colleges in high-demand fields (healthcare, trades, agriculture).
- Lead by example: Reach across the aisle for bipartisan solutions on shared priorities. Good policy comes from compromise, not demonization—I'm committed to fair, well-intentioned dialogue with Republicans.
- Support structural reforms: Advocate for fair redistricting per Ohio's constitution to create more competitive districts, reducing extreme incentives and encouraging moderation.
- Foster community dialogue: Promote town halls, listening sessions, and nonpartisan forums (like those from the League of Women Voters) to bring constituents together beyond party lines, focusing on common ground and respect.
- Reject divisive rhetoric: Call out attacks on individuals or groups that fuel division; build trust by treating opponents with dignity while firmly defending principles.
