Nancy Garland is standing for reelection to her seat as the 20th District's Representative. She's in her first term after being elected in 2008.
Some key votes over the past couple years can be found here, courtesy of Project Vote Smart. I find it interesting the only "Nay" vote they list is against the transition fund amendments the senate tried to tack on to a campaign finance bill.
Garland lives in New Albany, and has a son at Ohio State studying political science while participating in Air Force ROTC and a daughter who is a practicing attorney after graduating from Miami University over in Oxford. Before serving in the House of Representatives, Garland spent 7 years as the CEO of the Ohio Physical Therapy Association. She also spent several years in Washington, DC in several positions, from legislative assistant to Director of Government Affairs for the American Physical Therapy Association. Garland is also a clinical assistant professor at Ohio State.
Garland has three main issues listed on her website: Job Growth, Economic Development, and Health Care. She emphasizes partnering with businesses small and large as well as the unemployed workforce to build new jobs, attract new industry, and help keep current organizations healthy and growing. As for healthcare, it's the common line regarding the unacceptable numbers of unemployed Ohioans, and how we need to solve the problem in order to keep the state competitive nation wide.
Many groups have endorsed Garland, including the AFL-CIO, Ohio Association of Public School Employees and the Ohio Education Association, and more.
Tuesday
My Take, Ohio Senate 3rd District
The past few years, I haven't been happy with much the Ohio Legislature has been doing. When it does anything. I've watched them rant and rave about the upcoming budget deficit, form a special committee to deal with the issue...and then wait ten months to hold a pointless first meeting. I didn't like the increased restrictions (unnecessary government regulation...ironic coming from a pretty conservative body) on the adult entertainment industry. The squabbling with the governor's office over gambling. I really can't think of anything positive coming from the legislature in the past term.
Which means Kevin Bacon won't be getting my vote. He IS part of that mess. While I don't disagree with many of his stances, I really have no interest in sending him to the Senate to represent me. And even if I weren't unhappy with the Legislature's performance in this century, Bacon is a little too conservative for me.
I think one of the biggest problems with our political system is how it's evolved into a two party system. So many subsets of thought on both sides have to be painted with a wide brush, evolving into terms like "Blue Dog Democrat" and "Compassionate Conservative." It's silly, if you ask me, and clouds any real debate on issues. Lately you can't even count on party lines, because the parties themselves have become so fractious in so many ways.
But that doesn't mean I plan on voting for "3rd parties" on principle. In fact, I find that many candidates fielded by the other parties are just as out of touch--if not more so--with reality than career politicians. Political activists are necessary, and I love the passion that surrounds Libertarian, Green, Constitution, and Socialist Party causes. But that doesn't mean I'd feel represented by these people.
Bill Yarbrough has some excellent positions, and one of the better approaches I've seen from a "3rd Party" candidate. I really can't argue with any of his positions (in fact, I think most of them are spot-on), and they're MUCH more thoroughly presented than either of the other two candidates. I'd feel well represented by Yarbrough, and my only hesitation is the traditional poor performance of the 3rd party candidate. I don't want to "waste" my vote anymore than anyone else.
I agree with the interpretation that members of the legislature were intended by the framers of the Constitution to be well respected, contributing members of their communities who leave for a short time to help govern and then return to their business or trade. This is partly why political activists turned legislator doesn't ring true with me, and why I am skeptical of career politicians.
The fact Mark Pfeifer owns and operates a family business in Reynoldsburg indicates to me he is aware of the struggles and complications facing the backbone of our economy first hand. When he says things like simplify regulation in order to improve ease of business, I'm confident he knows what he's talking about. I also like his lack of party affiliation (before running in the primary, anyhow), which tells me he's less likely to get caught up in partisan concerns and focus more on representing constituents.
Which means Kevin Bacon won't be getting my vote. He IS part of that mess. While I don't disagree with many of his stances, I really have no interest in sending him to the Senate to represent me. And even if I weren't unhappy with the Legislature's performance in this century, Bacon is a little too conservative for me.
I think one of the biggest problems with our political system is how it's evolved into a two party system. So many subsets of thought on both sides have to be painted with a wide brush, evolving into terms like "Blue Dog Democrat" and "Compassionate Conservative." It's silly, if you ask me, and clouds any real debate on issues. Lately you can't even count on party lines, because the parties themselves have become so fractious in so many ways.
But that doesn't mean I plan on voting for "3rd parties" on principle. In fact, I find that many candidates fielded by the other parties are just as out of touch--if not more so--with reality than career politicians. Political activists are necessary, and I love the passion that surrounds Libertarian, Green, Constitution, and Socialist Party causes. But that doesn't mean I'd feel represented by these people.
Bill Yarbrough has some excellent positions, and one of the better approaches I've seen from a "3rd Party" candidate. I really can't argue with any of his positions (in fact, I think most of them are spot-on), and they're MUCH more thoroughly presented than either of the other two candidates. I'd feel well represented by Yarbrough, and my only hesitation is the traditional poor performance of the 3rd party candidate. I don't want to "waste" my vote anymore than anyone else.
I agree with the interpretation that members of the legislature were intended by the framers of the Constitution to be well respected, contributing members of their communities who leave for a short time to help govern and then return to their business or trade. This is partly why political activists turned legislator doesn't ring true with me, and why I am skeptical of career politicians.
The fact Mark Pfeifer owns and operates a family business in Reynoldsburg indicates to me he is aware of the struggles and complications facing the backbone of our economy first hand. When he says things like simplify regulation in order to improve ease of business, I'm confident he knows what he's talking about. I also like his lack of party affiliation (before running in the primary, anyhow), which tells me he's less likely to get caught up in partisan concerns and focus more on representing constituents.
The Bottom Line:
- Kevin Bacon is right out. I don't agree with his overall message, and I really don't approve of the work he's done in the House of Representatives.
- Bill Yarbrough strikes me as a solid answer to career politicians mucking things up. He also has given a lot of thought on how to help Ohio, and is able to communicate this well. But his "third party" status is still a huge drawback.
- Mark Pfeifer has already achieved success in life, and sees himself in a position to give back through public office. He lacks strong party affiliation, owns and operates a small business, and is interested in representing the people instead of himself.
- I'm torn between Yarbrough and Pfeifer, and will prolly be making this decision much closer to election day.
Friday
Ohio Senate 3rd District: William Yarbrough
The Libertarian candidate for the Ohio Senate's 3rd district is Bill Yarbrough. A life long Ohioan, Yarbrough lives in New Albany working as an organization development consultant. He graduated with his Bachelors degree from Otterbein and received his Masters from OSU. He's a member of the American Society of Training and Development, and member of the Franklin County Libertarian Party executive council.
Yarbrough has some very detailed position statements on his website. If you're familiar at all with the Libertarian philosophy, you'll see he's a believer in simplifying the government in order to make things run efficiently--which will then allow for reduced taxes. His message is more detailed, and more focused on reform first than the others.
Yarbrough has some very detailed position statements on his website. If you're familiar at all with the Libertarian philosophy, you'll see he's a believer in simplifying the government in order to make things run efficiently--which will then allow for reduced taxes. His message is more detailed, and more focused on reform first than the others.
Tuesday
Ohio Senate 3rd District: Mark Pfeifer
Mark Pfeifer is the Democratic nominee for the 3rd District Senate seat. With little prior experience in politics (Ward Committeeman on the Franklin County Central Committee 1988-1992) Pfeifer is running to put the average person back into government.
Pfeifer was raised primarily on a farm in Canal Winchester, and graduated from OSU. He worked for Tiger Construction, along the way earning an MBA from Cleveland State, and went on to become president of CHBI Inc. In 2004, he opened Pfeifer Funeral Home in Reynoldsburg. (Taken from Vote Smart and Pfeifer for Senate).
Some of the issues Pfeifer is campaigning on: creating living-wage jobs by seeking to increase tax incentives for hiring and reduce regulatory red tape; linking state agency and department funding to their performance to cut down wasteful spending; addressing the school funding issues with new approaches such as evidence-based funding.
Pfeifer was raised primarily on a farm in Canal Winchester, and graduated from OSU. He worked for Tiger Construction, along the way earning an MBA from Cleveland State, and went on to become president of CHBI Inc. In 2004, he opened Pfeifer Funeral Home in Reynoldsburg. (Taken from Vote Smart and Pfeifer for Senate).
Some of the issues Pfeifer is campaigning on: creating living-wage jobs by seeking to increase tax incentives for hiring and reduce regulatory red tape; linking state agency and department funding to their performance to cut down wasteful spending; addressing the school funding issues with new approaches such as evidence-based funding.
Friday
Ohio Senate 3rd District: Kevin Bacon
Kevin Bacon is a sitting Representative in the Ohio House for the 21st District. His party affiliation is Republican, and lives in Minerva Park. His career began as a prosecutor in Lancaster and later with Ohio Dept of Commerce enforcement division. He has been a Blendon Township trustee, and as a State Representative serves or has served on the "Finance and Appropriations Committee – and the Higher Education Subcommittee; Public Utilities; Judiciary; Financial Institutions, Real Estate & Securities (FIRES); Consumer Protection and Criminal Justice" committees.
His platform is fairly simple, and I'll just pull it from the campaign site: "Kevin’s platform for State Senate is about change. He is especially focused on job creation, economic development, affordability of health insurance, cutting government spending and education. Moreover, he is also diligently working to help those with disabilities."
Some key voting records can be found here, courtesy of "Vote Smart."
Bacon has endorsements from The Ohio State Medical Association, the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge, Ohio Right to Life PAC and others you can read here.
His platform is fairly simple, and I'll just pull it from the campaign site: "Kevin’s platform for State Senate is about change. He is especially focused on job creation, economic development, affordability of health insurance, cutting government spending and education. Moreover, he is also diligently working to help those with disabilities."
Some key voting records can be found here, courtesy of "Vote Smart."
Bacon has endorsements from The Ohio State Medical Association, the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge, Ohio Right to Life PAC and others you can read here.
Tuesday
Governor's Race: My Take
I had no real intentions of swapping horses it mid stream, as it were. We're facing the worst economic climate in a generation or two (or three, or four...) and on the whole, I feel Ted Strickland has done an exemplary job with the cards he'd been dealt. I remember the first State of the State address, and how lofty his vision was. I've listened to the local news about just how much he's had to adjust that aim in the face of budget restrictions and looming unemployment. Is Ohio in tip-top shape? Nope. But then again, the economic crisis didn't really peak until two years ago, maybe less. You can't step on board an airplane about to crash, live through the crash, and then take off again all in the same day. I plan on giving Ted my vote for another term to continue working on the foundation he's started to lay for Ohio's recovery.
And if this was my opinion before looking at John Kasich's website...I saw nothing there to make me change my mind. If anything, I felt repulsed by the man's positions on several issues, including:
The Ohio Budget. Kasich webpage:
"The Problem:
By any measure, Ted Strickland has been a disaster for Ohio’s budget. Because of his incompetence, mismanagement and wasteful spending, next year Ohio’s governor will face an estimated $8 billion deficit."
And if this was my opinion before looking at John Kasich's website...I saw nothing there to make me change my mind. If anything, I felt repulsed by the man's positions on several issues, including:
The Ohio Budget. Kasich webpage:
"The Problem:
By any measure, Ted Strickland has been a disaster for Ohio’s budget. Because of his incompetence, mismanagement and wasteful spending, next year Ohio’s governor will face an estimated $8 billion deficit."
...and the drop in revenue, and increase in unemployment benefits has nothing to do with that deficit, I'm assuming. Silly me.
"Take the politics out of budgeting. Every program and agency must go under the microscope. Special interests must stop saying how Ohio taxpayers’ money is spent."
I sat in horror on the edge of my seat to hear whether or not the Columbus Metro Library was going to have to start shutting branches and laying off vital staff because of state funding going away. I listen to my recently-graduated friends with education majors who can't get an interview in their field because of "Budget reasons." I'm not sure what agencies and programs are getting the gravy here, since some of the most popular ones sure aren't.
On Taxes:
"According to the non-partisan Tax Foundation, under Ted Strickland, Ohio ranks 7th in the nation in total tax burden."
As one expects from every candidate from office, only part of the complex picture is presented here. This tax burden is also based on local taxes, which in many cases are raised in response to falling state and federal aid. Cut the state budget, but the money still needs to come from somewhere...
The over-arching message:
"Reduce spending so we can start reducing taxes."
I found this to be a fairly inappropriate bullet point to see under "Education Reform." In the Columbus area alone, continued under-funding means school districts are having to levy their own property taxes just to keep enough teachers on payroll, or to replace aging buildings. I don't like paying taxes any more than you do, but I also recognize that if we cut taxes willy-nilly we're going to wake up one of these days without public education, without roads, without the services we've come to associate with the developed world.
There's a couple other points that I took issue with, but you get the idea. It's a philosophical difference for the most part...this is why I identify on the left side of the spectrum. I firmly believe the government HAS a place in our lives, because history has proven time and time again laissez faire does not work. But I suppose this is what free and fair elections are for, eh?
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