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VOTE411 Voter Guide

Ohio State House District 55

**The information on this page reflects Ohio s new State Senate and State House districts that determine elections in 2024 and go into effect in 2025, which may be different from your current districts.

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  • Candidate picture

    Kim Lukens
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Ben McCullough
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Michelle Teska
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

What are your top priorities and how will you address them?

What changes do you support or oppose to voting and elections policy?

How should government bring economic and job opportunities to Ohio?

What are your aspirations for K-12 and higher education?

Under what circumstances should the state support or check local government?

State your position on healthcare policy.

State your position on environmental policy and natural resource management?

What role, if any, should government take to ensure no person is discriminated against?

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Twitter @iambenforohio
Training and Experience I have over 13 years of experience at the state and federal levels. Most of my background is in U.S. foreign affairs and the Intelligence Community. I am a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army and have served for over 14 years. I am also a contractor for the Department of Defense. In the past, I have worked for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the United States Marine Corps, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
Volunteer/Community Service -Team RWB (Dayton Chapter) -Wounded Warrior Project -Private support groups within the military community -Dayton Paw Patrol -Animal Friends Humane Society -Humane Association of Warren County
I am particularly concerned about three issues that threaten Ohio's long-term growth and stability:

1. Modernizing Ohio’s economy to stay competitive. 2. Our aging and declining population. 3. A lack of affordable housing.

Modernizing Ohio’s economy is pivotal for staying competitive in the 21st century, demanding innovation, technology integration, and strategic planning. Our aging and declining population poses unique challenges in workforce sustainability and healthcare needs, requiring targeted policies to encourage population growth and address the needs of an older demographic. Additionally, the lack of affordable housing compounds these challenges, impacting the overall well-being of Ohioans and hindering their economic mobility.
Fair elections are the backbone of our democracy. Voting is one of the main tools we have to communicate how we wish to be governed. Who we decide to elect reflects the issues we care about, how we want our tax dollars spent, and our commitment to developing solutions to the issues we currently face. Ohio has a first-rate election system with very rare instances of voter fraud. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to stop all voter fraud, but we can continue to identify and adopt measures to deter it. We must also focus on securing our election systems from possible cyber-attacks, as well as data retention and transparency. The goal should be to make our elections fair and transparent for all Ohioans.
Ohio has the potential, resources, infrastructure, and, most importantly, the people to be an economic powerhouse in the 21st century. For Ohio to reach its full potential, we must develop policies that: ● Encourage growth ● Empower all Ohioans to succeed ● Revitalize our manufacturing base ● Build our economic strengths ● Allow our small businesses to thrive and compete on a level playing field ● Repeal burdensome regulations ● Lower energy costs ● Upgrade our infrastructure to support future growth and challenges. Most importantly, we must get back to the basics and invest in Ohio’s people or workforce. Our people are our greatest asset, and we must create policies that allow all Ohioans to compete for the jobs of the 21st century.
I truly believe the future of our state and nation depends on the quality of the teaching and learning of our schools today. Education helps us to develop our potential as individuals by giving us a base of knowledge and the ability to learn. A good education also helps make us better citizens. Simply put, access to a good education is the gateway to the American dream. I believe it is high time to get politicians out of the classroom and focus on common-sense solutions that have been proven to work. This means investing in our teachers, creating better curriculums, empowering our educators and school districts, and introducing competition into the system.
I believe home rule is vital as it allows local governments to address unique community needs through tailored policies. By respecting local decision-making within a framework of consistent state guidance, the state government can better serve diverse regional interests while upholding broader legislative objectives. A consistent and balanced approach to home rule also benefits businesses by providing regulatory predictability across different regions within the state. Moreover, when local governments can address specific community needs, it fosters a more business-friendly environment by enabling tailored solutions that support economic growth and development.
I believe, first and foremost, that any healthcare system needs to be affordable, more accessible, and of higher quality. No Ohioan or their family should ever go bankrupt from a healthcare emergency. To this end, I support healthcare solutions that: ● Increase total price transparency ● Reduces the price of drugs at the pharmacy counter and other healthcare costs ● Incentivize innovation and increase competition between insurance companies ● Assist all Ohioans in getting the healthcare they need ● Protect people with pre-existing conditions. Ohioans also deserve a healthcare system that puts YOU and your doctor in control of your healthcare decisions, not the government.
We are blessed to live in a state with an abundance of natural resources. Unfortunately, families throughout Ohio are feeling pinched in the pocketbook as runaway inflation continues to affect just about every sector of our economy. It does not have to be this way. We have the resources right here to ensure our future growth and prosperity and make America energy-independent. It is time for our state to develop and unleash its full energy potential. To do this, we must develop an energy policy that is affordable, abundant, reliable, and secure. This means investing in modern energy solutions that protect consumers, prioritize Ohio energy jobs, and safeguard production in all forms. Let’s start relying on the Midwest, not the Middle East.
While I don't see discrimination as a threat to our domestic security, I acknowledge existing issues where fellow citizens face unequal treatment. Not only is this discouraging, it is wrong. The strength of our state and nation lies in the individual, and it is crucial to honor every person's dignity, freedom, ability, and responsibility. Recognizing disparities exist allows us to work collectively towards a society where all Ohioans and Americans enjoy equal rights and opportunities.
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