Candidate for Ohio State Senate - District 6 in 2020 Ohio Primary Election.
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Get StartedNot all babies are perfect, planned, or even loved by their mother. The US Supreme Court permits states to enact reasonable restrictions upon abortion, and Ohio has been in the vanguard of these efforts nationwide, which honor the perspective that human life begins at conception. I support these efforts, and let's continue to work toward twin goals of eliminating abortion and finding a caring home for every child. Learn more
Recent data show that opioid overdoses are 85% higher in places where auto plants have closed, like Dayton. Local data also indicate that while fewer people are dying from opiate overdoses, there are tremendous collateral costs that continue to be imposed on families and society. Obtaining access to treatment when individuals show readiness is one first step, as well as seamless transition to support services as people move further along the recovery spectrum. The tragedy of opiate addiction didn’t begin in an instant, and there is no instant cure, but we have to be diligent in developing and coordinating a support system that makes entering recovery a valid option for these individuals. Learn more
Ohio is benefiting from a strong national economy, and the state has taken many steps across the past few years to improve business conditions in the state. However, local communities still struggle with the loss of manufacturing jobs across the past twenty years -- the Dayton area alone has lost some 25,000 jobs from auto plant closings. We need to market Ohio generally and Dayton especially as a place with a willing and capable workforce, and continue efforts to diversify the local economy. Strong economies have opportunity for both entry-level employees and those with years of experience and skills, so diversification across industries and workforce readiness are key components to success. Learn more
The Dayton area has historically benefited from strong local schools helping to educate graduates who are ready for a transition into the workforce or advancing their education. We have to take care to support our local schools in these efforts, and refrain from destabilizing funding, which inevitably translates into higher property or other tax burdens for municipal residents. Our citizens have shown support for local school efforts, and the best education is one where parents are involved and engaged in their child's success. The legislature should encourage local support and work to lessen regulatory burdens that don't result in better outcomes. Learn more
I took my hunter education course when I was in fourth grade, and have a life-long deep respect for hunting and the right to keep firearms. However, in society generally and in Dayton specifically, we have seen there are young people who are alienated and disengaged, and will use guns in a violent manner. Ohio can be a leader developing a framework that provides ways to identify young people at risk of acting with violence, and intervening with these people at the earliest possible point. Ready access to mental health professionals, the ability to assess individuals for violence, and taking steps to create a safe home environment are all components of this effort. Ending gun violence doesn't mean just protecting children from guns, but fostering a sense of community in schools and elsewhere. Learn more
Medicaid costs in the state of Ohio consume an ever-larger part of the budget, increasing by 35% across four years, and crowding out the ability to fund other vital initiatives as health care expenses increase. We need to be wise and develop new initiatives focused on improving health and wellness for Medicaid beneficiaries, that will also reduce the rate of increasing costs. This includes incentivizing people to make well informed decisions about their health, working with providers and health systems to move to better value for care, developing a long-term strategy to move away from traditional payment methods, aligning payment with outcomes, and introducing methods to transition beneficiaries off of the Medicaid programs. Action now is imperative, because our relatively strong economy will eventually experience a downturn, the result of which is even greater Medicaid expenditures. Learn more
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