2024 Voter Guide

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? With a unique life story and commitment to service, Ismail is now running for Ohio House District 3. As a Representative, Ismail will fight for everyday people by: Ensuring students have access to high-quality, equitable education options in their neighborhood regardless of their socioeconomic background. Creating strong communities through the development of high-quality, affordable homes. Working tirelessly in collaboration with business leaders to ensure all citizens have access to high-quality careers. Ismail has the experience and the passion for delivering results for the people of Ohio House District 3. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Quality child care is a workforce issue because it affects parents' ability to participate in the labor market. Parents can pursue and maintain employment when reliable child care is available, boosting workforce participation and economic stability. Conversely, inadequate child care can lead to absenteeism and reduced productivity, impacting families, employers, and the economy. Additionally, quality child care supports children's development, preparing a skilled future workforce. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I support the proposed increase in state investment for publicly funded child care eligibility because it ensures that all young children, aged 0-5, have access to quality early childhood education. Research shows that early childhood experiences significantly impact a child's development, setting the foundation for lifelong learning and success. Expanding eligibility would not only alleviate financial burdens on families but also promote equity, allowing children from diverse backgrounds to thrive. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Infant and maternal mortality is a critical issue that the Ohio state legislature must address due to its significant public health implications and social equity concerns. Rising mortality rates, especially among marginalized communities, highlight systemic disparities in access to quality health care and prenatal services. To combat this crisis, the state needs comprehensive policies that improve healthcare access, enhance maternal education, and provide resources for at-risk populations. By prioritizing legislation in this area, Ohio can work towards reducing mortality rates and fostering a more equitable health care system for all families. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I support Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers, and young children by advocating for policies that ensure access to essential health care, nutrition, and early childhood education. To improve outcomes, I propose expanding funding for maternal and child health programs to provide comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care and increasing access to affordable child care. Additionally, implementing community-based initiatives that promote health education and support networks can strengthen families. By focusing on these areas, we can create a healthier and more supportive environment for Ohio's youngest residents and their families.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? My wife and I are parents to a growing flock of young children (ages 4, 3, 1 and newborn). We expect to be residents of District 4 for a long while, and as a result have a deeply vested interest in ensuring that this district is an optimal place to raise children. With the rapid changes occurring nearby (namely the growth of the New Albany Business Park, including Intel), it is a critical time to ensure that our quality of life remains intact, and that this remains a great place to raise a family. As such, the entire reason I have entered this race is centered around ensuring that small children are optimally positioned to thrive. Top issues include: 1) Public Safety: Crime is up in this district, and that in unacceptable for any geography but especially one full of young families. While this is not the BIGGEST issue in the district, it is the most fundamental, as without the ability to feel safe in one's home, everything else surrounding child-rearing becomes more difficult. Empowering public safety officials (in particular local police and school resources officers) to do their jobs well is a top priority. 2) Affordability: A confluence of local and national circumstances has made affordable living in District 4 a challenge. This is particularly acute for younger families (who haven't reached peak income yet) and single parents of young children (who have only one income) given that they typically need the MOST physical space, are the MOST sensitive to any increase reduction in public safety and frequently have to come out of pocket for EXTREMELY expensive childcare or early childhood education. We have to come up with ways to make having a family affordable for the average citizen again. 3) Protecting the Kids: Ensuring that our children are positioned to thrive in the future requires us to make difficult decisions in the present. Smart phones should be removed from schools, social media should be restricted from younger children, and every child should be afforded the opportunity to access affordable, high-quality early childhood education. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? There are many different aspects to the child care crisis but workforce quality and availability is certainly a large driver of the problem. We currently have two children in early childhood programs and they are absurdly expensive even for us, and we are relatively well-off. When our daughter was in a larger program here in New Albany there was constant churn among the teachers in her daycare. Many classes had to be reduced in size due to the inability to staff in a manner compliant with the proper student: teacher ratio regulations. And those who were willing to accept the work were often poorly qualified, or entirely inexperienced. This problem literally cannot be solved without creating a pipeline of qualified, experienced child care workers from which these institutions can reliably draw. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support This is critical not just for getting children into early childhood programs, but also for lifting families out of poverty. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support 35% readiness seems low. This obviously ties back to accessible quality early childhood programs. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support Yes. Open to suggestions as to what that might look like though I'm sure you have expertise in this area! ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Obviously it would be idea if this number was 0. I would need to learn more about the Early childhood is such a formative time in terms of getting children on a promising trajectory that this simply should be prioritized more highly. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Obviously, it would be idea if this number was 0. I would need to learn more about the underlying drivers of the issue to establish whether the legislature is the appropriate forum to resolve this, but I'm open to the idea of protecting life provided it is an effective use of funding. It would be interesting to see where Ohio has gaps v. the median and top performing states, and whether those locations are doing anything differently that could be replicated here. I am very interested to see the data behind the chart on your website that discusses the "ROI of Investing in Children" as that seems to be a compelling datapoint, albeit perhaps a tricky one to sell to legislators given that the primary beneficiaries (the kids) cannot yet vote! ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. This is simply the first thing on my mind all day, every day. Outside my personal experiences I don't pretend to be a policy expert in this realm, but I am sympathetic to the absolute priority this issue should take among competing interests. I care deeply about the future of Ohio and the country, recognize that these children ARE the future, and consider myself to be a thoughtful problem solver especially with respect to unusually complex issues such as this one. Beyond expanding childcare quality and accessibility, there also seem to be a litany of opportunities to improve both physical and social/emotional quality of life for mothers such as improvements to pre-and post-partum care. Finally, financial incentives for having children and raising families could be expanded in a variety of ways, from child tax credits to credits or grants for care, to "credit" for stay-at-home moms who otherwise would be out in the workforce generating an income but have chosen (at personal sacrifice) to forego those opportunities for the sake of their young ones and in doing so, are benefitting society by reducing reliance on the state and improving long-term health and career outcomes.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I have lived in Ohio my entire life and lived in my House District for about 25 years. I care deeply about my community and the state and I want Ohio to be a place where people choose to live and stay. My experience of over 20 years as a lawyer in state government and 8 years leading as school board president have provided me with a deep and thorough understanding of how our government works and how it can work best for all of us. The top three issues I hope to lead on if elected are (1) high quality education for all, (2) affordable and accessible healthcare for all that includes protection of freedom to make personal medical decisions without government interference, and (3) accessible and fair voting for all. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes, quality child care is a workforce issue. In order to have the workforce we need for our state to thrive, we must have enough affordable high-quality childcare in all areas of our state. Without affordable, accessible, and high-quality child care, many parents struggle with balancing their work and family responsibilities, especially lower income families. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I hope to have an active role in budget negotiations. I would publicly support and advocate for an increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit. I will raise awareness about the importance of child care, for parents, children, employers, and therefore, the state and all of us. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes, I consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature.We cannot simply say that we are pro-family, we must demonstrate those values with our choices made in our budget. These high rates of infant and maternal mortality are indicators of broader public health challenges that Ohio needs to address, including access to quality prenatal and postnatal care. Additionally, because these mortality rates vary significantly based on race and socioeconomic status, these disparities must also be addressed. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. As a mother of three, Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers, and young children are a top priority. I will always advocate for them to ensure that they are protected, seen, and that their needs are met. This means making sure they have access to quality accessible child care and healthcare.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? As a mother and a grandmother, I am running so that womens issues and family kitchen table issues are brought to the forefront of legislative priorities in the statehouse. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes, absolutely. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support I can speak to this because I was one of those individuals affected by this. Even now, as a councilwoman and candidate for state representative, workforce is challenging because I am struggling to help relatives, neices, nephews, and children because the system is failing working families and it has a stickle UP affect. When my children struggle with to take care of their children, the responsibility sometimes falls on me which takes time and flexibility for my own family and work-life. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support Education is the pathway to a productive life and it starts off young during preK ages. All people need basic literacy, math skills, and knowledge of the world around them to function and make a decent living. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support I support the above statement because I believe in high quality public education. Our children should not have to attend private school to have good quality education in Ohio. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? That is what legislatures do. I will work to have a good relationship with the governor and his office and considering the fact gov. Dewine wants to prioritize Ohio's Children, that will be a great opportunity to work with my legislative colleagues to pass more funding. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Ohio is very behind in tackling the issue of infant mortality. As a recent grandmother of a child under 1, I know this issue is not a one problem fixes all, but it is a robust all- in approach that starts with improving access to quality health care to improving socioeconomic opportunity. As a black woman, I recognize infant mortality is a racial disparity as well, so it's important to work to eliminate racial discrimination in the health care setting and beyond.

Response not yet received.

Response not yet received.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running for re-election to continue serving my constituents by focusing on the needs of our communities and representing the values of our families. I will continue to work to adequately fund Ohio’s public schools, support economic strategies that sustain working families and vibrant communities, and prioritize innovative solutions in healthcare that increase access and make it affordable for all Ohioans. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support. I have been advocating for increased state support to childcare since my first term in 2019. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support. I support universal pre-K and improved access to affordable and quality early childhood education. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support. I have consistently supported expanded eligibility for publicly funded childcare, increased capacity for programs, and higher pay for childcare workers. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I supported the Governor's proposed increase, and in fact, advocated for it to be increased to even higher at 200% FPL ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I have been a consistent and loud voice for young children during my tenure in the legislature, including serving as the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Children's Caucus and on the Health and Human Services Subcommittee of Finance. During my time as the Ohio House Minority Leader, I have ensured that mothers, infants, and early childhood are prioritized during budget negotiations, advocating for expanded postpartum Medicaid coverage for new moms, increased funding for home visits, the passage of bipartisan HB7 from the House, and expanded eligibility for publicly funded childcare.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running for re-election in a new district. My focus is on reproductive rights, health education standards in school and access to affordable health care and public education. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Absolutely. No matter how much money you make, the responsibility of child care falls on the mother. We need to support subsidized child care and pay the people who take care of our kids more. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support - It is easier to stay in the work force if you have affordable, high quality child care. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support - Programs like headstart need more funding and we shouldn’t lower our standards to help the teacher shortage. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? We can and should increase our funding in the state budget for early evaluation of developmental delays, vision, hearing and food insecurity. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Access to health care is a big issue especially in our rural and underserved communities. This loss of access to care is exacerbated by abortion bans and restrictions which lead to OB/GYNS choosing to practice in other states.

Response not yet received.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running for this office to continue to serve my community. I have always been active in the community through politics and local organizations/charities. Our biggest issue is the economy. That broad issue encompasses several issues including continued tax reform. Continued tax reform should include consideration of elimination of the state income tax. Recent reforms including reductions in the number of personal income tax brackets and rates is beneficial and should be supported. Commercial Activity Tax exemptions and decreasing business regulations to continue to enable economic development is also important for our District. Housing is also a critical aspect of the economy. Creating tax incentives and public/private partnerships to develop enough affordable housing is important. Central Ohio does not have enough affordable housing to support the growth and development of the region. Continued support of education/education choice as well as support of technical programs such as the TechCred program develop students and workers to live and work in the District and improve the local economy. Supporting local law enforcement especially as it relates to the arrest and punishment of criminals, including the increasing number of juvenile offenders, is also important for the economic stability and development of the District. In short, I want to work towards a District where families and businesses can thrive in a safe and comfortable environment. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I support such a measure. However, we need to be careful with respect to allocation of State Budget funds. Similar to the housing issues, public/private partnerships will likely be more effective in addressing these issues as opposed to the government addressing these issues on its own. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? See response to Number 6 ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. See response to Number 6. In addition, I certainly recognize families are the backbone of our society. As many government resources as reasonably can be allocated should be allocated. However, again, I believe public/private partnerships would be more effective in addressing these issues.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running to represent the people of my district and Ohio who are not being adequately represented today. The top three issues for me are 1) Helping Seniors age affordably and safely at home, 2) Protecting the public education of children, and 3) protecting women's reproductive rights. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support Many parents cannot afford to work and also pay for childcare. It's important to have a solid child development environment, while allowing their parents to work. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support The returns on this investment are significant. Early child development is critical. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support This is the key to developing strong children and allowing parents to work. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would support it wholeheartedly. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I fundamentally believe that qualified senior citizens could help in this process. We must find ways for this population to be engaged, at a minimum to help with reading, to help with role-modeling for young parents how to interact, how to foster good habits to promote early child learning at home.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I wish to continue to serve our state and be an advocate for families and children. My top three issues are the economy/workforce; access to affordable and quality childcare and healthcare. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support I have led the Childrens Caucus and a joint caucus with the Business First Caucus to continue to seek opportunities for government and employers to assist in eliminating barriers for parents to work/return to work. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support I sponsored the budget amendment to allow state programs serving 0-5 access to the SSID number so we can measure ROI on investments and ensure all children are ready for Kindergarten. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I agreed with and supported the Governor's proposal. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Absolutely. As Chair of Infant Mortality Commission, one of my top priorities is to reduce these rates and the disparity we see amongst white/black mothers and infants. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. During my first term in the State Senate I began to advocate for a way for Departments to be less siloed (Health, Medicaid, ODJFS, OHMAS) on programming offered to 0-5 population. I advocated strongly for the new Department of Children and Youth to accomplish this so we are able to measure (thanks to my amendment for SSID #) and start to improve outcomes.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running for elected office because all Ohioans need a champion who will fight for them at the Statehouse. Being involved in various activist organizations throughout my life, one theme is clear: I will fight for those who need a voice. From kids dealing with mental illness to families in need of medical benefits, I know that strong families build a stronger community. Through my advocacy work, I’ve spent years pounding down the doors of my legislators. I finally asked myself the question, "What if the door belonged to me?" After losing my race for Ohio Senate in 2020 by 116 votes, in an automatic recount, against the same opponent I face this race - I believe I have learned some valuable lessons and can show voters that they are being duped by an incumbent that does not represent their values. If elected to the Ohio House, I would bring my advocacy skills front and center, to help lower costs for Ohioans. The increase in property taxes throughout Ohio is producing pain points for many. At the state level, there are ample ways we can provide our local municipalities with increased funding to address this issue. We can fully fund our public schools, cap property taxes at 7% of income for seniors and more, cap the cost of childcare for families, and more. Secondly, as an advocate for universal pre-k programming and affordable childcare, I will continue to push legislation forward that gives all kids the opportunity to attend preschool, and ensures childcare is safe for kids and affordable for families. Making sure our children are well provided for and taken care of, not only sets them up to thrive in adulthood, it gives women peace of mind in returning to work after having a child, pursuing more demanding positions in their careers, starting a small business, and much more. In the same vein, I would champion legislation to fund public education in a way that benefits all children. Third, I would use my position to be a strong voice for reproductive choice. I trust women and their doctors to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. I will prop up the organizations that are doing the work – fighting every day to ensure that women remain decision makers over their health and bodies. While Ohioans made it very clear that abortion should be legal in Ohio by passing a constitutional amendment in 2023, Ohio Republicans took to the press, the very next day, to express that the fight was not over and that they will challenge the amendment in any and every way that they can. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Absolutely. Quality child care is a must for all families. We often refer to child care as the workforce behind the workforce. As a mother, I struggled for years to pull together child care for my three kids. Because my oldest child was born with a rare genetic disorder and is medically complex/fragile, finding affordable, quality child care when he was born proved impossible. During my tenure in community mental health, my salary exceeded the cost of child care for my son with medical complexities. Therefore, it became clear very quickly that I would have to leave my career in order to guarantee my son had access to quality care. Although we have taken steps to bolster the child care industry post-COVID, that money is just a bolster and not enough to rebuild an industry that is so crucial to the health and financial wellbeing of Ohio’s working families. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Considering Ohio ranks last nationally for child care assistance eligibility, there is much room to improve. Although Governor DeWine established a voucher program to increase PFCC eligibility to 200%, this is not sufficient enough and was raised utilizing federal money, and not state investment. In order to make a real difference in the lives of Ohio families, eligibility should be raised to 300% of FPL. Additionally, we must seek to provide access to preschool programming. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Addressing issues of infant and maternal mortality should be a top priority of the state legislature. We must ensure that parents can access high quality, affordable prenatal care. Additionally, the legislature should prioritize affordable access to quality child care by increasing state investment in the child care industry and should prioritize the passage of non-compulsory universal pre-k programming. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Partnering with Save the Children Action Network, I was honored to be able to advocate for the REACH Every Mother and Child Act at the federal level - a bill that implemented policies to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths globally. This work allowed me to see up close, the issues facing mothers, babies, toddlers and young children here at home, and abroad. These issues have always been of the utmost importance to me. If elected, I look forward to partnering with community members and organizations to advocate for the issues that affect Ohio families the most.

Response not yet received.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am a semi-retired emergency physician of many decades experience. In the ER we see everyone that falls through the cracks of our profits before people healthcare non-system. I am a strong advocate for Ohio Medicare for All. I support women's rights to make their own healthcare decisions, fully funded education from pre-school through college or trade school for everyone and the elimination of partisan gerrymandering ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Certainly ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support Childcare allows maximum participation in the workforce by our talented citizens. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support Our citizens are our natural resource. We need to educate all. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support This is a critical age for development. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Yes ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Certainly. Our stats are shameful. Our profits-first business based health care non-system is partially to blame. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Tim Walz's school breakfast and lunch program should be implemented in Ohio.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running for the Ohio House because I believe Ohio needs leaders who will fight for a more just, sustainable, and equitable future. My commitment to public service has always been rooted in the belief that government should work for everyone, not just the privileged few. I have spent years advocating for progressive policies that uplift working families, protect our environment, and ensure that every Ohioan has access to the basic necessities of life. In the Statehouse, I will bring the same passion and dedication to the fight for a better Ohio. The top three issues I hope to lead on if elected are: Economic Justice: I believe that everyone deserves a fair shot at prosperity. This means fighting for a living wage, supporting the right to organize, and ensuring that full-time work allows for a dignified life and retirement. I will advocate for policies that close the gap between the wealthy and the working class, and that make education—from trade schools to higher learning—a promise, not a debt trap. Environmental Justice: Ohio is facing an environmental crisis that demands immediate action. As the third-highest CO2 emitter in the nation, we must take decisive steps to reduce our carbon footprint and transition to clean energy. I will champion policies that prioritize sustainable development, protect our natural resources, and create green jobs that benefit all Ohioans, especially those in communities disproportionately affected by environmental degradation. Health Justice: Healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege. I will work to ensure that every Ohioan has access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare, regardless of their employment status or income. This includes fighting to lower prescription drug costs, expanding mental health services, and addressing the alarming disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates across our state. These are not just issues; they are the cornerstones of a just society. I am running to ensure that Ohio leads the way in creating a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes, I consider quality child care a critical workforce issue. Access to affordable and high-quality child care directly impacts the ability of parents to participate in the workforce, advance their careers, and provide for their families. When child care is reliable and accessible, it strengthens the economy by enabling more parents, particularly women, to work and contribute to their communities. Quality child care also lays the foundation for children’s future success, making it not only a workforce issue but also an investment in our state’s future. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would fully support an increase in state investment for publicly funded child care eligibility. Expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care is essential for working families across Ohio. This investment not only helps parents enter and stay in the workforce but also ensures that all young children, regardless of their family's income, have the opportunity to thrive in a safe, supportive, and educational environment. Specifically, I would advocate for increasing the income eligibility threshold for child care assistance, ensuring more families qualify for support. Additionally, I would push for higher state funding to improve the quality of child care programs, including better pay and training for child care providers. By investing in our youngest Ohioans, we are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more equitable future for all. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Absolutely, infant and maternal mortality is a critical issue that must be addressed by the state legislature. The fact that 6.9 babies per 1,000 in Ohio do not survive until their first birthday is unacceptable, particularly when we know that these rates are even higher among Black and brown communities. This disparity highlights deep inequities in our healthcare system that must be urgently addressed. As a state legislator, I would advocate for policies that improve access to comprehensive prenatal and maternal care, particularly in underserved communities. This includes expanding healthcare coverage, investing in maternal health programs, and addressing the social determinants of health that contribute to these tragic outcomes. We must also support initiatives that reduce racial disparities in healthcare and ensure that every mother and baby in Ohio has the resources and care they need to thrive. Addressing infant and maternal mortality is not just a health issue—it is a moral imperative. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Supporting Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers, and young children is central to my vision for a more just and equitable state. Early childhood is a critical period that shapes the future health, development, and success of our youngest citizens. As such, we must prioritize comprehensive policies that ensure all children in Ohio have the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Here are some ideas and initiatives I support to improve outcomes for these populations: Expanding Access to Affordable Child Care: Quality child care is essential for both children’s development and parents’ ability to work. I support increasing state investment in child care subsidies and expanding eligibility to cover more families. Additionally, I advocate for programs that ensure child care providers receive fair wages and proper training, leading to better care for our children. Maternal and Infant Health: The disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates in Ohio are alarming. I will champion legislation that expands access to comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care, particularly for marginalized communities. This includes increasing funding for maternal health programs, improving access to doulas and midwives, and addressing social determinants of health that contribute to these disparities. Universal Pre-K and Early Childhood Education: Early education is foundational for long-term success. I support the implementation of universal pre-kindergarten programs across Ohio, ensuring that every child, regardless of income, has access to high-quality early learning. This investment will help close achievement gaps and prepare children for success in school and beyond. Healthy Families and Safe Communities: We must create environments where children and families can thrive. This includes ensuring access to affordable healthcare, safe housing, nutritious food, and clean air and water. I support policies that address these basic needs, recognizing that healthy communities lead to better outcomes for all. Support for Working Families: Paid family leave and flexible work policies are critical to supporting parents, especially during the early years of a child’s life. I will advocate for state-level paid family leave and policies that support work-life balance, allowing parents to spend crucial time with their newborns and young children without financial stress. Addressing Racial and Economic Disparities: Racial and economic disparities in health and education outcomes are unacceptable. I am committed to addressing these inequities through targeted investments in communities that have been historically underserved. This includes expanding access to culturally competent healthcare and education services, as well as addressing systemic barriers to economic stability. By prioritizing these initiatives, we can create a more supportive and equitable environment for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers, and young children. Our state’s future depends on the well-being of its youngest citizens, and I am committed to ensuring they have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? Growing up the son of a single mother with little financial means taught me to appreciate the dignity of a hard day’s work and the importance of giving back when you are able. I care deeply about my community and have dedicated my life to public service as a public school teacher for 30 years, Parma Councilman (Ward 2 from 2004-2010 and President of City Council from 2010-2022), State Representative (2023 - Present), and in my many philanthropic and volunteer endeavors. I want to take what life has taught me and put it to use to make life better for all Ohioans, particularly those living in the 14th District. 1.) Education 2.) Consumer Protection 3.) Job Opportunities ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Absolutely. I believe affordable and quality childcare is the number one inhibitor of many joining the workforce. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support As a former public schoolteacher for three decades, I believe the state need to fully fund public schools so that they can provide wrap-around services for students. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would co-sponsor this legislation and vote for it. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Absolutely. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. My life experience, years as a teacher, and years as an elected official have informed why I serve. I want to make lives better for all Ohioans, regardless of age. From birth through the elder years, all Ohioans deserve opportunities and a good quality of life. I work hard at the Statehouse everyday to do my part to achieve this.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running because I believe that democracy works best when people have choices. I’ve experienced poverty, hunger, and homelessness—and I wouldn’t wish it on my enemies, much less my neighbors and fellow Ohioans. I’m running for state representative so I can fight to ensure that our rights are protected, that our opportunities aren’t destroyed, and that kids who grew up like me still have a chance to change their lives so much that they get to run for public office. Based on my life experience, I know how smart, thoughtful public policy can change a life and save a future—and how cruel policy can destroy both. Top 3 issues I hope to lead on if elected are as follows: EDUCATION: I will always—ALWAYS—credit my education as instrumental in my lifelong battle to conquer the poverty I was born into. Public education is continuously under attack, whether it’s reduced funding, universal vouchers, curriculum modifications, or book bans. And we’re facing teacher shortages because it’s so hard for the people who love educating our youth to build strong futures of their own. I will fight for stellar public education for all, and improving higher education access and outcomes. PROTECTING FREEDOM: Ohioans deserve to have their freedoms protected. Whether it’s the freedom to choose whether to become a parent, the freedom to join a union, the freedom to be who they are and love who they love, or the freedom to smoke a joint in their own home, Ohioans have made it known what they want for themselves and for each other. Lawmakers must listen, instead of imposing their own beliefs upon citizens via draconian legislation and sham special elections designed to limit the voters’ will. BASIC NEEDS: Basic needs—hunger, housing, healthcare, and more—must be met, and that starts with fair wages and solid social safety nets. Life below the poverty line is harder than it needs to be and extremely difficult to escape. Rather than vilify those of us with the least, we must lend a hand to our neighbors so that they might break free of poverty and help grow Ohio’s middle class. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes. Companies and those Ohioans with the most must pay our fair share to support the society we all want and deserve. Our middle class must be protected. No health crisis should bankrupt any family, and neither should a month’s rent or a single missed paycheck. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would advocate for increased state budget allocation and expanded eligibility. This includes participating in grant proposals for new early care and education centers as well as vouchers for family child care. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes. As a legislator I’d want to address disparities in infant mortality rates within communities of color which are disproportionately affected. Ohio birth workers say providers' unwillingness to listen to patients and navigate implicit racial bias is driving high numbers of infant and maternal deaths across the state that exceed the national average. In fact, the worst place in America for maternal health outcomes is in the city of Cleveland. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. After losing one parent at a very young age, I endured years of poverty, hunger, and homelessness, before entering foster care at 17. I am a survivor and a fighter who knows exactly how hard it is to change the circumstances you were born into. I also know exactly what policies made escaping poverty easier—and what policies could have. Those lived experiences inform everything I do. As an adult, I have repeatedly chased opportunities to make life better for someone, somehow. Whether it’s helping homeless teens get into and graduate from college, my fierce determination to provide affordable housing as an ethical landlord, or a relentless dedication and loyalty to my family, friends, and community, I have always managed to find chances to be a helper. I will support policies that empower people to seize opportunities. By tapping into my wide variety of experiences on both sides of the poverty line, I will be a champion in Columbus for the low-income, the middle class, and everyone in between. Once elected, I will spend time listening and educating myself to ensure any proposal introduced accomplishes what we set out to do.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running for re-election because there is so much more we have to do to invest in young people, help seniors age with the dignity they deserve, and restructure our policy priorities to focus on core quality of life issues. Public education, housing, and childcare are the three top issues that I hope to lead on. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes, unequivocally. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Ohio is dead last in supporting child care eligibility, so I would support Governor Dewine's proposal, as well as making sure we are investing in the "supply side" of childcare. It is not enough to just help more people afford childcare, we need to make sure there are high quality providers available for them to go to. That means more centers, more individuals working in the field. So we need to pay childcare providers more or provide other incentives for them. That is why I introduced legislation to make childcare free for childcare providers, something that has proven effective in other states. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Cincinnati has become a model for how to invest in these populations and make real gains on the metrics described through our Cradle Cincinnati initiative. The state should adopt and invest in more of those successful efforts.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I ran for State Representative in 2022. I'm currently serving my first term in the House, sitting on the House Public Health Committee, Health Provider Services Committee, Behavioral Health Committee, Technology & Innovation Committee, and Aviation & Aerospace Committee (ranking member). I serve on the Ohio Children's Trust Fund Board and OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board and Executive Committee. I am running for re-election because I believe that bipartisan solutions to Ohio’s biggest problems are only obtainable through electing reasonable people who approach legislation as a collaborative effort. The top three issues I plan to lead on are affordable healthcare, adoption issues, and adverse childhood experiences. I have already begun work in all of these areas, and plan to continue this work if re-elected. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Absolutely yes! It is so hard for parents to afford child care and it can be even harder to afford to stay home. As a single parent, I know deeply the difficulty child care can cause for working parents. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I support this wholeheartedly, and will support any reasonable legislation that increases publicly funded child care eligibility. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? As a PhD nurse researcher, I can tell you that 6.9 out of 1000 is way too high. We must take this issue seriously at the statehouse and stop focusing on nonsense that doesn’t help children and families. I am particularly troubled by the higher infant mortality among babies of color and feel this needs to be addressed heads on. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I have introduced HB352 to establish a statewide study commission on adverse childhood experiences in an attempt to bring statewide experts on ACES together to focus on legislative priorities to prevent ACES and mitigate the impact when ACES occur. I introduced HB5 to modernize the adoption process in Ohio to make sure we are supporting birth families, adoptive families, and most importantly to make sure children are in safe, nurturing, permanent homes. I am drafting legislation to introduce PPEC centers in Ohio - these are centers that provide childcare and early childhood education to children with severe medical needs. These centers strive to enroll children with severe medical needs and typically developing children to provide all children with inclusive, supportive socialization and early education. I sit on Ohio Children's Trust Fund board and feel it is critical that we prevent childhood abuse and neglect and will continue this role as well in my next term.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I believe that creating a healthy Ohio is a policy choice, and the current Statehouse policies driven by the supermajority party are making families sick. Ohioans should have equitable access to healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities for healthy citizens, families, and communities. I began my social work career in early childhood mental health, working with children, families, and child care staff to help children with behavioral health issues remain in the programs. I am a very strong proponent for increased funding and programming directed at our youngest citizens. The way we value and treat our infants, toddlers, and preschoolers has an enormous impact on the way they grow up. My sincere desire is to develop strong infrastructure to care for families and their young children which will lead to caring and productive adults and healthy families. I believe the way we get to healthier families is by using common sense, compromise, advocating for those in need, and fighting for democracy. The three most important issues in my district are reproductive rights, the economy, and bringing compromise and normalcy to the State House. District 28 overwhelmingly voted in favor of Ohio’s amendment to codify reproductive rights in Ohio. Abortion rights remain on voters’ minds with the fear that the Statehouse - and particularly my opponent who supports a full ban with no exceptions - will not honor the voters’ will. The economy and cost-of-living matter greatly - there is a great diversity of economic SES in this district so it is felt differently throughout. Homeowners experienced a recent steep increase in property taxes, and most voters are feeling pinched from the higher costs of basic goods and services. Lastly, I am campaigning on common sense vs. nonsense. People are tired of the chaos at the State House, and are ready for leaders who govern with intellect, compassion, and strong ethics. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes I do. As a social worker, I have seen the intense strain that child care can put on working families. It is very difficult to afford childcare, and can be just as costly to stay home from work to take care of children. From an industry perspective, the current child care system does not support early childhood staff and centers. Child care center teaching and support staff are among the lowest paid workers out there, which shows how little we value people who nurture and care for children during their most formative development. Personally, I took a break from the workforce for several years to stay home with my children after calculating that my take home pay was only a few thousand dollars a year after paying for child care costs. I loved staying home to parent my children, but the reduction in income significantly impacted our family budget and saving goals, and my own career trajectory was interrupted. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I will support this expanded eligibility of child care to make access to high quality childcare equitable. There are so many pieces to the puzzle - attracting and retaining high quality child care candidates with good pay, benefits, and working conditions; ensuring ratios between children and adults are appropriate for optimal child development; providing top notch training and supervision for child care workers; and ensuring that ALL families can access the high quality care and other social safety net programs, no matter what their zip code. My district is in a suburb of Cincinnati, which implemented the Preschool Promise, a program intended to provide high quality preschool for all families. Although it needs to be expanded and evaluated for continued improvement, I believe this is a good model for our state to adopt and build upon. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Infant and maternal mortality is a critical issue that must be addressed by the legislature. Equitable access to prenatal care is a critical step in the right direction, and ongoing supports for infants and their families are key to providing a safe and healthy environment. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Beyond the direct prentatal and post-natal care stated above, Ohio must expand its social safety net to help families feel stable financially, physically, and mentally. Without this expanded safety net, the toxic stress that parents experience will continue to impact their children. Fully funding our public schools to offer the best preschool programs, creating gun safety laws that protect children rather than the gun industry, and supporting the democratic values that underlie equitable access and opportunity for all are also foundational to my policy approach.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? Public Safety- As a former Cincinnati Police Officer, keeping people safe at all times will always be a priority of mine and the legislation I’ve introduced reflects that. Education has always been a priority of mine- reducing the amount of mandated testing, letting our teachers teach! I am a BIG fan of the Science of Reading and of the Imagination Library! I also believe in keeping Ohioans employed, workforce is important to me. I will continue to work to improve education, workforce and public safety with my colleagues in the House. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support I am a joint sponsor of HB576 with Rep. White. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I am a joint sponsor with Rep. White on HB576, which would create a business deduction to cover up to $500K and expand eligible expenses to include direct contributions to an employee to help cover child care. We have heavily funded children in our last two budgets. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes, we have invested in mothers and babies, through our state budget. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I am on the House Finance Committee and the last two budgets we have heavily invested in mothers and children. From The Imagination Library to early learning to Help Me Grow, to quality childcare to K-12 education. I am also the joint sponsor of HB576 with Rep. White, which will help parents stay in the workforce.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running to protect the best interests of the voters, families, children of the 30th. District. I just retired as a St. Xavier High School teacher after 30 years. I have never run for public office before. I am currently serving on the Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services Board. (Appointed March 2023) I am the the chair of the HCDDS program committee. I am also a licensed Ohio attorney. I served as a guardian ad litem in Hamilton County Dependency Court. I made numerous contacts and gained valuable experience representing minors who were abused or neglected. I hope to be a strong voice in the Ohio Legislature for abused and neglected children and the entire DD/ID community. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support The time for pre-k public education support is long over due. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I need to examine Governor DeWine's proposal and find a way to find the State resources to support the increase. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes! ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I have direct responsibility as a Hamilton County DDS Board Member and Program Committee Chair to support mothers, babies, toddlers and young children in the DD/ID community. We need to upgrade the Ohio information systems. We need to simplify the Ohio CMS provider application process and make delivery of Ohio CMS reimbursement more efficient and timely.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I'm running for state representative because the statehouse isn't working for all Ohioans. As a father to a 16 month old, the husband to a wife that experienced the physical and emotional pain of miscarriages, and the son of a public school teacher - I've seen firsthand struggles folks are dealing with everyday. When elected my top three areas of focus will be strengthening public education, protecting reproductive freedom in Ohio, and fighting to improve the households of working families. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? I believe that the lack of childcare availability has and does impact the workforce of any community that sees this as an issue, which unfortunately is most of Ohio. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support As the son of a Pre-K teacher, I know the importance early childhood education has on the lives of kids. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would continue to advocate for increased funding for public child care, while also focusing on providing incentives, including education assistance and increased pay, for child care workers. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes, I believe it's important that we focus on finding ways to combat infant and maternal mortality and shine light on the fact that this is worse in black and low income communities. We must have comprehensive healthcare coverage that is accessible and affordable, especially for prenatal and postnatal care. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. As mentioned, we must do more to improve our antiquated healthcare system, making it more accessible and affordable to folks. We also need to expand community-based programs that provide education, support, and resources for expectant and new mothers.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running for the Ohio House of Representatives 35th District. I am running because change is needed in the Statehouse and I feel I am capable of providing real representation on behalf of people, not politics or special interests. As a former elected School Board member, I know what service looks and feels like and I want to do this in a greater capacity. My top 3 issues are: 1) Increased funding for public schools by continuing to honor the Patterson/Cupp Fair Funding Schools model currently being phased in. 2) Stop the public funding of vouchers going to families whose children are attending private religious schools. Public tax dollars belong in public schools. This is unconstitutional and undermines public school funding. 3) End the corruption of HB6 that has plagued the Statehouse and costs taxpayers billions of dollars and increased utility bills. This can and should be done legislatively so that it never happens again. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Absolutely. Child care is one of the primary issues impacting families ability to pursue gainful employment and earning a living wage. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support. I believe the government bears a responsibility to making high quality child care accessible for all families no matter their economic status. Collaboration with child care providers in seeking incentives by way of grants or tax credits are some steps that can be taken. However more strategies that result in long term sustained impact will be necessary. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support I support more government action in this area. One of the primary reasons children are not ready for kindergarten is due to parents unable to afford to send them to pre-school or the lack of availability of head start programs. Pre school is critical in the early learning years and without it, children start off behind. This has a dramatic affect on testing and instruction. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support I support more state investment in this area as described above. I also feel the state needs to invest more in teacher preparation programs to attract more to the field since there is now a nationwide teacher shortage. Providing incentives such as loan forgiveness is something that should be explored. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Obviously it would be idea if this number was 0. I would need to learn more about the I would love to collaborate with other lawmakers and child care facilities to come up with basic standards to put in place for eligibility for increased funding. There should be yearly appropriations to ensure practices are implemented with fidelity and sustained over time. The benefits and return on this investment will be immeasurable. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes, I do. This issue is more pronounced for women of color and must be addressed immediately to ensure ALL women have access to quality prenatal care. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Our children are our future and we should be doing all that we can to ensure the grow up healthy and receive the quality education that our state constitution ensures. State lawmakers have an obligation to fully fund these systems regardless of socio-economic background. Removing barriers to quality programs and child care will increase the likelihood of success not only in education, but throughout their entire lives.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running for re-election to the Ohio House because I believe every child and adult in Ohio deserves to learn, grow and thrive to their fullest God-given potentials and I want to help bring positive, needed change by bringing people together to solve the tough problems facing our families and communities. Our children and families need access to quality early learning, safe, drug-free neighborhoods and high-performing schools to flourish. Our working-age adults need opportunities to evolve skills and compete for quality jobs. Our seniors need empowering resources as they age through their later years. I want to put my skills and experience to work for the 36th Ohio House District to bring their voice for change in Columbus. Top 3 issues: Access to quality, early learning and supports for families and kids in the birth to five space and early years of k-12 including providing comprehensive, best-practice prevention education for our children so they learn the skills they need to prevent mental health, substance use and other issues; Working to bring businesses, K-12 and higher ed schools parents, students and other community partners together to help students have the skills they need and a pathway to achieve a post-high school credential to be able to support themselves and their families, which helps our businesses and communities thrive; Mental health, substance use, violence and other public safety issues. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Quality child care is a current and a future workforce issue. As Ohio Kids First fully knows, brain development is so critical during the first three years and quality early learning at home and during child care is so essential to helping our children be ready for kindergarten and setting them up for a trajectory of future success. With only 35% of our kids showing up ready to learn, we face incredible challenges with workforce readiness. Also, our parents who need to return to work must have access to child care that is safe, high quality and affordable so they are able to fully function on the job as well as be able to entrust their child to the right care givers. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support I currently have five bills in the House designed to help address the issue of affordable, quality, accessible child care. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support An additional bill I have would help bring "cradle to career" networks throughout Ohio. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support See my bills for more info. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I support bringing Ohio up from the bottom by increasing the percentage of federal poverty level to align with leading states. I also would like to see more investment in public-private partnerships, incentives for businesses to offer child care benefits including tax credits, and tax credits for families (see my bills). ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes, which is why I introduced HB 7 as a multi-pronged approach to address multiple social determinants of health, learning and development. I worked with Groundwork, several state departments, National Conference of State Legislators and others to develop the bill's focus. It has passed the House and we will push for Senate passage this fall. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. As I mentioned, I have several bills that address infant mortality, health, learning and developmental outcomes, parent education and supports, mental health and physical health, child care and foster care.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? As a mom of three teenagers, my goal is to create an Ohio my kids will want to live in someday. I envision an Ohio that attracts and retains top graduates from our nation’s best colleges and trade schools. To do that, I will work to create a state with a top-ranked public education system, where we all have the personal freedom to have our voices heard at the ballot box and our private decisions respected in our doctor’s offices, and a state with a future-focused economy with green energy, union jobs, and fair wages. That’s the kind of Ohio I want to live in. It’s the kind of Ohio I want my kids—and all our kids—to live in, as well. The three most important issues to my district, and the highlight of my campaign, are the following: Public Education: Our public schools are not failing our kids. Republican politicians are failing our public schools by starving them of the funding and resources needed to do the job they’ve been assigned to do. Personal Freedoms: All Ohioans should have the personal freedom to have our voices heard at the ballot box and our private decisions respected in our doctors’ offices. Economic Growth: Ohio needs an economy focused on the future, with green energy, union jobs, and fair taxes. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Of course I do. When I was a classroom teacher, I made $50,000/year and childcare for my 2-year-old triplets cost $25,000/year. If I didn’t have a spouse who was also employed full-time, we would not have been able to make ends meet. I understand how difficult it is for working parents to make hard decisions about the cost and benefits of working vs staying at home. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would support such an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. I will work with colleagues of both political parties to push forward such a bill. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? This is a serious issue that is even more prevalent in communities of color. I will work with members of the legislature who have already been working on this issue, such as those in the Legislative Black Caucus. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. As a mom of triplets and a former public school teacher, I understand the immense challenges facing mothers and kids in Ohio. The care crisis is real, and it often falls on women like me—in the sandwich generation—to bear the weight of it. I’m interested in legislation that helps families like mine care for the young and old in their lives. One idea I have is creating a “Grandparent Tax Credit” that would give tax credits to families living in multi-generational households.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? To assist people who are suffering from mental health issues. To do a better job of eliminating the substance use issue crisis we are experiencing. To lower taxes and establish a well-trained workforce. Public safety and good job opportunities. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Definitely. Childcare is extremely expensive and it is keeping people out of the workforce. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support We need to look into Public-Private partnerships. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I was in support of this increase. We need to do a better job of educating our elected officials so they can see the return on this investment. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Definitely, we have been talking about this crisis for a long time, not it is time to act. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. We need to establish a system where our youth can be successful. There are tremendous barriers which need to be addressed. Early education is the key to success. We must establish affordable Child Care so parents can get back into the workforce and become productive members of society.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? Evaluate and reduce property taxes Be a voice for Agriculture Equalized parenting time for fit parents ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support As long as there isn’t a cost to the tax payer ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support As long as we are not taking away local control ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support The key word is “investment” as I think it’s important to invest early rather than pay later. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would be open minded about the details of any plan but don’t have a good answer at this time. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? I don’t have all the details but know we have voted on at least one bill if not more since I have been a State Rep. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I don’t see Fathers listed in your question which is concerning and that is often the problem. Many fathers want to be involved in their children’s lives but can’t due to the other parent/courts. It’s important for children to have access to both parents for many reasons and we have the data to support it.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the I am running for re-election to continue the work that I have started in addressing key issues for our state. I have been committed to making great strides the these areas: Workforce development, Community Safety/Criminal justice reform, and education. I have worked tirelessly to make workforce development training available to every ohioan free of charge so that we can upskill and retrain our workforce to better respond to the fast changing economy and ever increasing demand for workers in the advanced manufacturing industry. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? I do consider child care a workforce issue. I support the government taking efforts to increase the number of child care providers so that every parent has the avaliablity of affordable quality child care. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would not only support an increase in publicly funded child care eligibility I would support legislation that reallocated tax revenue from the passage of adult use marijuana to directly fund this effort. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? I do consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that need to be addressed by the state legislature and that is why I co-sponsored HB7 which was guided toward reducing infant and maternal mortality rates and I voted to pass it out of the house. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. If HB 7 does not pass through the legislature this GA I will support it again next term.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? “It is time!” Or, as many have said since I announced my intention to run for the Ohio House of Representatives, “It’s about time!!” While I understand their sentiments, I believe every step in my life journey has prepared me to assume this critical responsibility to the people of Stark County. For over twenty years, I have been a public servant. I have seen the injustices that disproportionately disadvantage marginalized populations. Bluntly, I am exhausted and saddened by how we treat each other. I have witnessed our systems fail so many people. With each passing day, month, and year, our communities have told us what they need; we must believe them. My experiences have not been coincidences, but they have all led me to this point to make a difference in my time and generation. As a wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, and community advocate, I am uniquely suited to represent my district because I will strive to impact our democracy through a kindhearted & authentic approach to solving problems and taking action to make change. If elected, I hope to lead in Education, Workforce/Economy, and Healthcare. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes. High-quality childcare is the backbone of the workforce. Employers need workers, and workers need safe and quality childcare. This allows them to leave their children in good hands, go to work, and focus on earning a living to support their families. Everyone benefits. In my capacity as co-chair of the county's early childhood coalition, Great Start for Great Futures, our primary objective is to actively cultivate awareness of early childhood within the community, as well as among businesses, families, and educational institutions. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support Access to high-quality childcare should be available to everyone and is essential for a sustainable workforce. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support It's unacceptable that only 65% of Ohio's children are kindergarten-ready. Every child in Ohio should start school prepared. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support According to Ohio Policy Matters, "Affordable childcare lets parents work." ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would support increasing state investments so that all young children 0-5 benefit by uplifting all voices (families, employers, businesses, community, local government) to ensure they are knowledgeable of the investment and can benefit. Below are a key support areas: 1. Advocating for permanent funding for public preschool childcare to support families 200% below the poverty level (the current voucher system is a temporary fix). 2. Creating a plan of action to implement equitable access for all families by developing new or expanded slots to expand eligibility. 3. Eliminating early childhood deserts by working with local resource and referral centers to identify high-quality childhood centers and home-based centers and making families, businesses, and the community aware. 4. Strategically implementing and enhancing community education grassroots hubs to spread the education on the importance of childhood education for school readiness and life-long success. 5. Increasing employer education, awareness, and support to build employers' capacity and increase employee awareness of high-quality childhood options. 6. Working to increase the pay of our early childhood educators to ensure the sustainability of high-quality education. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? The data uncovered by Groundwork Ohio unequivocally highlights Ohio's alarming standing with one of the highest infant mortality rates in the nation. This data further emphasizes the stark disparity across racial lines, with Black infants experiencing the highest rate at 13.6, followed by Hispanic (5.2), Asian/Pacific Islanders (4.1), non-Hispanic (6.8), and White (5.1). In Stark County, initiatives like Help Me Grow and, specifically, THRIVE, a collaborative effort between multiple agencies, have recognized the gravity of this situation and are acting to protect the lives of our most vulnerable citizens. I plan to strongly support this work. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Our next generation is in our hands. In addition to the ideas shared in question six above, I believe that the education and support foundation we create for them, accessed through their mothers and families, is a top priority. When mothers have access to healthcare, families have access to high-quality childcare, and babies, toddlers, and young children are given a great start for a better future. We also put our mothers, families, and children in the best possible position to be successful. By leading with humanity and balancing the needs of our children, families, and workforce, we can provide a comprehensive, wraparound, and supportive early childhood system that creates a pipeline for a strong and sustainable workforce and economy in our generation and the next.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running for the Ohio House because of my deep commitment to improving our communities' well-being, particularly in mental health, addiction, and youth substance use prevention. As a Social Worker and a Prevention Professional, I understand the importance of well-crafted legislation and adequate funding in addressing these critical issues. I am passionate about representing our district, advocating for local control, and reducing regulations that hinder business growth. My goal is to focus on legislation that positively impacts our rural district and ensures our communities receive the resources they deserve to not only meet their needs but to thrive. Top Priorities: 1. Mental Health and Addiction Crisis: I will prioritize prevention, treatment, and recovery supports, and address behavioral health workforce issues. 2. Suicide Prevention: I will work to reduce suicide rates, particularly among youth and vulnerable populations, by ensuring a commitment to prevention and access to mental health resources and support systems. 3. Economic Growth and Energy Independence: I will advocate for tax cuts, reduce burdensome regulations, support local businesses, and promote energy independence through local energy production and job creation. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes, I consider quality childcare to be a significant workforce issue. Accessible and affordable childcare is crucial for supporting working families and enhancing workforce participation. Quality childcare enables parents, particularly women, to fully engage in the workforce, contributing to greater economic stability for families and overall economic growth. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support I will support increased efforts to remove barriers for parents by expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare. This is crucial for boosting workforce participation and economic growth. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support I will support improving kindergarten readiness. Quality early education is crucial for ensuring all children are prepared for success in the K-12 system. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support I will support increased state investment in early childhood education and will advocate for a combination of private and public options, with strong local and parental control. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I will both support and advocate for increasing state investment in childcare, focusing on a mix of private and public options, ensuring cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and local control. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? I do and want to see evidence-based solutions, efficient resource use, and innovative options like the use of community health workers. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. As a prevention professional, I am committed to working upstream by investing in the early and formative years. This includes supporting investments in community health workers and enhancing the behavioral health system, all based on evidence-based or evidence-informed practices. Additionally, identifying and addressing adverse childhood experiences for both mothers and children, and providing community solutions for protective experiences, are crucial for improving outcomes for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers, and young children.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running for my final term firstly to the support and encouragement of my peers and colleagues. Secondly, I wish to continue my efforts at improving education efforts across the state and local level, especially in overlooked localities, which I have been fighting for since I have first held office. Lowering taxes, education advancement, and job creation and retention are my top three issues I will champion this upcoming term. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes, quality childcare can directly impact the ability of parents, particularly women, to participate fully in the labor market. Quality childcare can lower the burden many parents face when facing the decision of reducing working hours take care of their children. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support Parents face high costs of care, limited availability, and lack of paid family leave; these problems will remain important to myself and my future agenda. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support Here, the State can develop pre-school programs for ages 3-4 to further advance and prepare children well before they reach K12. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support This issue only finds difficulties when faced with state budget flexibility – where at times, concessions and allocations can be lost or forgotten. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Investment in younger children will lead to decreased funding efforts for those later in life (i.e. tutoring, ability to begin careers, etc. Higher enrollment in Medicaid could also increase eligibility for children to receive greater preschool opportunities and benefits for ages 3-4. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? As co-chair of the Commission on Infant Mortality, we have worked since 2014 to decrease mortality rates through legislation and budget items. Budgeting for infant vitality has steadily increased throughout past approved budgets which we hope to continue. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Legislation, with my background on the Commission on Infant Mortality, provides a strong foundation for acquiring support within the House and Senate to push for better childcare. By continuing efforts to increase funding, for example through state sponsored doulas, or by expanding collaboration through multiple health and service based departments, I believe the state can effectively tackle harmful outcomes for the afflicted groups.

Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I believe my community deserves better leadership, someone that understands modern challenges that Ohio families are facing. I want everyone to be able to afford food, housing, medicine and education. I want to make it easier for families to afford homes and harder for investors to buy houses. I will raise minimum wage and put strong consumer protections in place to prevent price gouging. I wan tot fully fund our public education system so every child in every zip code receives a high quality education. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes, absolutely. Not only quality care, but affordable care. Parents can't get back to their jobs after having a baby of the cost of child care is more than their salary. Parents need to know their children are safe and healthy while they are at work. Women in particular are expected to stay home with a sick child, or be at the school in the afternoon to pick them up, and child care is the difference between sacrificing their career or being able to advance professionally. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? We have to eliminate means-testing for families to receive benefits. Every family should have access to high quality child care. Income limits will always leave out someone who is vulnerable. We need to move away from vouchers and towards a universal program for all Ohioans. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes, and racial inequality in infant deaths must be examined. Addressing this issue will mean making all healthcare more affordable for everyone. Some infant and maternal mortality can be prevented simply by ensuring that every pregnant patient gets regular, thorough medical care without fear of massive hospital bills. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. It isn't only adults that need food, housing, medicine and education. I know that we need to support scientific, evidence-based learning systems for young children so they are prepared to enter school. One of my top priorities is creating economic security for every family so that parents can provide safe and stable housing, with excellent nutrition for their young children. I love the idea many other countries participate in of giving new parents a care package for their newborn. Diapers, formula and other essentials help them have a successful start to raising their child. I will push for paid maternity and paternity leave from every job. There are programs like SNAP and CHIP and child tax credits that are useful but should be expanded, or better yet, the legislature can address the underlying economic reasons families need financial support.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? My primary motivation for running for state representative is to serve and give back to my community, while helping to hold the conservative line, and shepherd conservative polices to address the states pressing issues. My experience with the legislature has been extensive working on health policy for the last 10 years trying to improve it. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would support increasing the funding which is one of the lowest. we can look at the funding formula and it can be improved upon. We can also incentivize employers to provide child care as well. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes. This does need to be addressed at its root cause. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. We need to look at healthcare as a whole and improve all health outcomes in this state. We are ranked 44th in terms of health value, so 43 other states have better outcomes and less expensive health care. We can do better. We need to work with our colleagues to find funding and bipartisan support for these measures immediately.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? Warren County is a growing county based on its pro-family, pro-business policies and I work to protect and promote those in the Statehouse. My top three issues are building strong families, workforce and community development, and right-sizing government to empower families and businesses to thrive. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options? Support We need to ensure investment has a good return and promotes strong families. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support We need to ensure investment has a good return and promotes strong families. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support We need to ensure investment has a good return and promotes strong families. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? We constitutionally require a balanced budget, and the state needs to promote what's in the best interest of a child and family. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes. Pregnancy resource centers and others focused on prenatal and early childhood need strong support. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. We need to build an Ohio functioning as the economic engine of the Midwest it used to be, to have good jobs where a single income can provide for a family, so those who wish to stay home with kids can.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am the current State Representative for Ohio House District 60, and I am running for reelection. My top three priorities focus on issues impacting our children, including mental health, education, school funding, access to quality healthcare, and safety. Another critical issue is the economy; families must be able to afford childcare, groceries, and other essential items. Additionally, I am committed to addressing growth and infrastructure needs within my district. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes. Quality childcare is a workforce issue because it directly affects parents' ability to participate in the workforce. When affordable, reliable, and high-quality childcare is accessible, parents—especially mothers—are more likely to remain employed, pursue career advancement, and work full-time. Lack of quality childcare options can lead to absenteeism, reduced productivity, and higher turnover rates for employers. Furthermore, when families struggle to find or afford childcare, it can create a barrier to employment, limiting workforce participation and impacting economic growth. By investing in quality childcare, we can support working parents, enhance employee retention, and create a more robust and inclusive economy. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? I Support. I supported the biennial budget that included and $85 million Child Care Access grant as well as additional monies. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? I Support. This must be done correctly, my 4 children all benefited from early intervention but the government should not put undue burden on childcare and early learning centers ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? I support. We allocated $68 million in the general fund for this. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I support Governor DeWine's proposal to increase eligibility for publicly funded childcare because it aligns with several key principles: supporting working families, encouraging self-sufficiency, and promoting economic growth. Expanding access to affordable childcare enables more parents to enter or stay in the workforce, reducing dependency on other government assistance programs. This approach strengthens families and communities by helping parents maintain employment, achieve financial independence, and contribute to the economy. Moreover, investing in childcare can be viewed as a strategic move to promote long-term economic stability. When parents have access to quality childcare, they are more productive and reliable employees, which benefits local businesses and the overall economy. By supporting this proposal, we can provide a smart, targeted solution that upholds the values of personal responsibility, economic opportunity, and community growth. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? I do consider Infant mortality an issue. This summer we passed the Strong Foundations Act, which I voted for. Every child deserves the chance to live a healthy life, and reducing infant mortality is crucial for the well-being of our communities and the future of our state. Addressing this issue aligns with my values of protecting life, supporting families, and ensuring that our healthcare system is efficient and effective. By focusing on solutions that improve access to quality prenatal and postnatal care, encourage healthy lifestyles, and strengthen support systems for new mothers and families, we can help reduce infant mortality rates. Additionally, fostering partnerships with community organizations, and private sector initiatives can provide targeted support and education to those most at risk. This approach not only helps save lives but also strengthens families and communities while promoting responsible, community-driven solutions. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. My wife has dedicated 30 years of her career to this mission. We have volunteered our time and money to many organizations and she has had a long standing career in Woman and Infant care at both OSU and Ohio Health. Supporting mothers, babies, and toddlers is essential for building strong families and healthy communities. To improve outcomes, we must focus on several key areas: 1. **Access to Quality Prenatal and Postnatal Care:** Ensuring that expectant mothers receive timely and comprehensive prenatal care can significantly reduce the risk of complications and improve birth outcomes. This includes expanding access to care in underserved areas, providing resources for at-risk pregnancies, and ensuring that new mothers receive adequate follow-up care after childbirth. Lower lights and the mobile clinic have been an essential part of my wife’s career. 2. **Maternal Health and Well-being:** Supporting maternal mental and physical health is critical. This can be achieved by expanding programs that provide mental health support, nutrition counseling, and substance abuse treatment for pregnant women. Encouraging maternal wellness through community programs and education also helps reduce risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. 3. **Access to Affordable Childcare:** Providing affordable, high-quality childcare ensures that parents, especially mothers, can return to work or continue their education, which strengthens families and promotes economic stability. Expanding eligibility for publicly funded childcare and incentivizing businesses to offer childcare benefits can help achieve this goal. 4. **Early Childhood Education and Development:** Investing in early childhood education programs, such as preschool and Head Start, can help improve cognitive, social, and emotional development in young children. Early intervention programs for at-risk infants and toddlers can identify developmental delays and provide support to address them early on, improving long-term outcomes. 5. **Support for Parenting and Family Stability:** Programs that provide parenting education, home visits from nurses or community health workers, and access to family support services can empower parents with the knowledge and resources needed to raise healthy children. Initiatives that promote stable, two-parent homes and family-centered approaches to policy also help create a nurturing environment for children. 6. **Improved Access to Nutrition and Health Services:** Ensuring mothers and young children have access to nutritious food, whether through initiatives like the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program or partnerships with local food banks and community organizations, can combat malnutrition and support overall health. 7. **Public-Private Partnerships:** Encouraging collaboration between public entities, non-profits, and the private sector can help fund innovative programs that support maternal and child health. These partnerships can create community-based solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of different populations. By focusing on these areas, we can help improve outcomes for mothers, babies, and toddlers, ensuring that every child has the best start in life while supporting family stability and economic growth.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I'm running to protect the rights of Ohioans, especially those int he 61st House District, and help make our state a safe and affordable place to live. My top 3 issues are education, the economy and safety as well as taxes (part of the economic issues). ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? It can be for the those who want or have to work. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? I need more information- what do you mean by "action"? ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support I support tax credits for businesses and parents. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would support tax credits, like question #5, to encourage businesses to provide quality childcare and/or for parents. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? I need more information on root causes to know the best way to address this. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. The best possible situation for a child is to be able to stay home with mom if at all possible. I know this isn't workable for everyone, but I think the government should consider how to encourage this as well as quality childcare.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running to represent southern Ohio as a common sense, conservative voice in the Ohio House. 1. Eliminate excessive testing in schools 2. Reduce the current state report card on schools 3. Ensure all students are safe at school ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? No ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Oppose More parental involvement in the life of their child is best for children ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Oppose I need to know more information on what you might be proposing to accomplish this. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Unsure. Depends on what you are proposing. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Unsure. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Unsure. I am willing to listen. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Strong families are the key. Parents and grandparents working together make a huge difference in the lives of young children

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? Access to affordable healthcare, strengthen public education with effective Pre-K Program and workforce development with living wages and comprehensive benefits ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? YES ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support Affordable childcare allows parents to return to the workforce and assists to identify developmental delays. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support School readiness begins at birth. I would support state childcare and Pre-K in all public schools. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support Post-Covid, the options are scare and not affordable. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I believe that public schools have the infrastructure to support this investment. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? YES ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Ohio's families are seeing the result of biased healthcare services and more recently, extreme legislation. Accessibility is an issue in rural communities and as urban hospitals close. I support the authorizing doulas and midwives for payment in private insurance and Medicaid as they can provide support to mothers pre-natal and post-natal.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? Energy Issues - Adoption - Foster/Kinship care and supports - Insurance issues ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? As a single working parent most of my life...YES! ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support The 0-5 development time frame is critical to a child's development. Strong supports/investments in this age group are priceless. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Yes ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? The disparity of this statistic among our minority population is a concerning issue. I believe we need to come up with ideas to help. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I have sponsored HB# 580 with Rep. Andrea White to provide publicly funded childcare to Foster/Kinship caregivers. I worked hard to provide funding in the operating budget for the State's Child Advocacy Centers. This is not my area of expertise - but am willing to support strongly ways the State can help.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? To serve my community. Property tax. Business climate. Insurance. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support I’m a big fan of the Imagination Library program and having books accessible to children. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I do support a proposed increase in state investment for this issue. I am an advocate of public/private solutions to address the current problem. Especially with large employers. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes, we need to do something about it. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I support them, I am willing to consider presented solutions.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I want to make a difference in lives of people who live in Ohio. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Absolutely. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? I want to see incentives for businesses to encourage them to offer child care Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? I would have to see what that would be. Getting government involved can make it worse. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Find out what the cost would be and then find a way to come up with the funds. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? We do need to look at this. And find out why this is happening. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. It should be one of the priorities. Depending on the economy the budget could be tight. We created a new department in the last budget that will focus on children. We need to be creative.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I am running to serve the people of my district and to work together with my collegues to restore trust in our government institutions. I hope to lead on: 1) Expanding defense related jobs in Ohio 2) Investing in the defense/safety of Ohio 3) Addressing human trafficking's issues our communities face ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Absolutely. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support Partnered with private sector parties to lessen the burden on the state. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support Partnered with performance metrics and pulling from existing funding streams. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? If the increase did not raise Ohioans taxes and the proposed planned is required to meet performance metrics. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Absolutely. Programs like ResultsOhio should be utilized to address issues such as infant mortality. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I believe proper childcare access is essential in providing families opportunities to create better lives for their families. It also lowers the "barrier to entry" for single mothers to be competitive in the workforce. Programs partnered with the private sector should be favored in providing increased access with state funding being monitored through performance metrics to reduce potential government risk.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? To finish the work I began int he 135 General Assembly. Protect Ohio's small businesses, agricultural community (Ohio's #1 Industry) and our rural values and way of life. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes - Childcare centers also experiencing staffing shortages and turnover. As a grandmother of four, I am often called to fill in as a back-up (which I don't mind doing). ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Parents who chose to work outside the home should feel that their child is left in a safe environment with a loving and kind caregiver. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Historic investment in HB 33 for support for mothers and children, mental health, and infrastructure to improve outcomes - opportunity. Unprecedented increase in biennium budget (122M) for Early Childhood Education on grant in 2023. HB33. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Import to have clear picture of the results of most recent increase, along with economic forecast, budget requests to know if additional investments is available. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Same as question 5. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Reports indicate IMR is higher in US than peer countries (developed countries). It is reporting, is it the food we eat, is it controllable risk factors, prenatal care, is there a correlation between number of vaccine doses, breast feeding rates? How we might bring our IMR down, more in line with other developed countries -national issues along with obesity. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. The importance of both parents shouldn't be overlooked in child development. In fact data shows infant mortality decreases when the father is involved during the pregnancy and school performance also increases. As pro family lawmakers, our policies should include tax credits for children that make it "easier to raise a child" and support families.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I wish to continue advocating for families in my district. My hope is to provide greater tax relief for young families in Ohio. I will continue advocating for the needs of the working poor. I was the author of a bipartisan bill to address the benefits cliff in Ohio known as "A HAND UP," along with Rep Dontavius Jarrells. This bill was added to the budget in the House and revised in the Senate to create a pilot program. I wish to continue advocating for early learning opportunities in Ohio. (My wife is the director of a daycare/preschool in our community. Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? It depends on the details. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Again, I would need to look at the details. Our programs ought to be adequately funded. However, throwing money at ineffective programs does not provided long-term benefits and may in fact take us backward. The details matter. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? In my other role as pastor and as a law enforcement chaplain, I've had the sad experience of being with families during such a tragic loss. My grandparents lost their only daughter in a crib death long before I came alone and I was still a witness to the heart-ache that they felt. So yes, I want to be a part of any solution to this problem. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I have introduced a bill to provide tax relief for expecting parents (HB 654). It needs some work and I am hopeful of strengthening this bill in the 136th GA in a way that will put more money in the pockets of young families. Of course, I have open ears to receive any input that you may have. Growing up in poverty and even struggling between paychecks as a young parent myself, my approach comes from experience rather than idealism. I am not a fan of big government but I do believe in removing the obstacles that prevent people from doing for themselves. Our approach ought not be to just "do for others" in a way that traps them but rather to help them do for themselves in a manner that empowers them.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? Because I would like to see young people stay in Appalachia Ohio and live, work, and grow - For next GA only: 1) Food and health safety 2) Recovery House regulation 3) Appalachia Infrastructure. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes! ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? Support childcare - state universal. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Not aware of how it could be but would like to learn more. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. Access to healthy school lunches that are local - no processed foods. Eliminate food dyes and other dangerous additives banned in Europe.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I have served 2 terms and I feel we have a lot of work yet to accomplish. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? Yes, I am the sponsor of HB-610 ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support Again I refer to HB-610 that is where I recommend we start, however we also need more done to encourage the build out of additional early learning centers and child care centers. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support We have a parenting problem and the modern make up of our families. ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support Again I refer to HB-610 ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I do not believe we need to concentrate on just low income families but rather all families. Everyone is important to me and when we concentrate on just low income families we reward employers for paying low wages. This is not the Ohio I want to live in. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? I fully support funding for pregnancy centers and their role in educating young mothers and fathers. ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. I fully support of families, see the above answers.

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Q: Why are you running as a candidate for the Ohio House or Senate and what are the top three issues that you hope to lead on if elected? I’m running for State Representative because our current legislature has lost the ability to focus on the difficulties facing Ohioans in their homes, schools, and jobs. The August and November 2023 elections prove that point. In our district, we have hungry families, underfunded schools, a lack of affordable and reliable internet and phone service, an inadequate supplies of affordable housing, and a persistent drug addiction problem. We have injection wells accepting radioactive fracking waste from out-of-state, which waste pollutes our wells. Along with the rest of the world, we have the threat of climate change. Top three issues: Infrastructure -- We must receive our fair share of government funding for Infrastructure: roads and bridges, water and sewer, broadband and phone service. We need to support our local communities, the workers who build and maintain our infrastructure, and their unions. Healthcare -- We need accessible healthcare for every person in our district, without long waits or long commutes to see medical professionals. We need to support those in the medical professions with policies that allow them to better serve the people in our district. -- Education We need a thorough and efficient public school funding system in which every child has the same educational opportunities regardless of where the child lives in Ohio. We need to support our families, our teachers and other school employees, and their unions. ––––––– Q: Do you consider quality child care a workforce issue? yes ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to eliminate barriers for parents to work, including through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care options for families with infants, toddlers and young children? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state government action to improve Ohio's kindergarten readiness scores from 65% of all children not being ready to enter the K12 system? Support ––––––– Q: Do you support more state investment for high quality learning experiences for all children ages 0-5 to address the lack of affordable and accessible options in Ohio? Support All my children benefitted from attending the Ohio University Child Development Center. I wish all children had the benefit of such a wonderful, well-funding early childhood program. ––––––– Q: During Ohio’s last Biennial Budget, Governor DeWine proposed an increase for publicly funded child care eligibility. How would you support a proposed increase in state investment so that all young children 0-5 can benefit? I would vote for such a measure. ––––––– Q: In Ohio, 6.9 babies per 1000 do not survive until their first birthday. Do you consider infant and maternal mortality an issue that needs to be addressed by the state legislature? Yes ––––––– Q: Tell us more about your support for Ohio’s mothers, babies, toddlers and young children and ideas you have for improving outcomes for these populations. We need better healthcare in our rural area, and other areas without easy and timely access to healthcare. We need more childcare options of high quality. We need our state and federal funding to be equitably distributed around the state. About funding for childcare providers: People in our district were so sad to again be lagging when it came to allocation of resources – this time, of the 31 counties represented in the Coalition for Ohio Appalachian Development's (COAD's) funding area for SDA’s 5, 10, and 11 providers received just 2.3% of the Access funding. The 17 projects funded in our area received $1,962,529 out of $86,782,394.

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