2022 Voter Guide: Meet candidates for Ohio AG, secretary of state, auditor and treasurer

Welcome to the 2022 Voter Guide produced by the League of Women Voters of Akron and Hudson and the Akron Beacon Journal with funding from the Knight Foundation.

This file focuses on statewide races for Ohio governor, attorney general, auditor, treasurer and secretary of state.

This year's general election on Nov. 8 will see Ohioans voting for an array of local and statewide offices and local issues. Early voting began Oct. 12 and ends at 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Summit County Board of Elections Early Vote Center, 500 Grant St., Akron.

Candidate responses are not edited or vetted by the League of Women Voters or Beacon Journal to allow them to speak in their own words.

Interactive Voter Guide

If you click on the first link below, you can provide your address and see a customized ballot with your local races and issues only. If you prefer to find your own races, scroll down lower on this page.

2022 Election: Summit County Voter Guide

GOVERNOR/LT. GOVERNOR

Mike DeWine/John Husted

Party: Republican

Candidates did not respond.

Nan Whaley/Cheryl L. Stephens

Party: Democrat

Website: http://nanwhaley.com

Education: BA, University of Dayton. MPA, Wright State University

Training and Experience: Former Mayor of Dayton, Former President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors

What are the most pressing policy issues facing Ohio? What solutions will you promote? The top issue of this election is abortion access. Mike DeWine has already signed a six week abortion ban, which is before most women know they’re pregnant. We’ve already seen the results: terrible stories of 10 year old sexual assault survivors and cancers patients having to leave Ohio for necessary care. If DeWine is re-elected, abortion will be banned in Ohio. Doctors could be prosecuted and women’s health records could be searched. As governor, I will block these awful attacks on women’s rights, lead a ballot initiative to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade in the Ohio Constitution, and make Ohio a state that is actually welcoming to women and families. We also must do more to help working families. That’s why I will fight to raise wages by investing in apprenticeship readiness programs and lower costs by cracking down on price gouging by drug companies and capping insulin costs at $30 a month.

How will you address challenges in the healthcare system? My opponent made huge cuts to Medicaid even as Ohio was facing the COVID-19 pandemic. I will always stand up for health care access and protect Medicaid expansion in Ohio. We also must do more to get health care costs down - especially when it comes to prescription drugs - because no one should have to choose between keeping food on the table and paying for their medicine. I’ll fight for legislation that will impose fines on pharmaceutical companies that unfairly raise the cost of prescription drugs and I’ll work to cap the out-of-pocket monthly cost of insulin at $30. Many states, including Kentucky, have taken this step, and there is no reason Ohio cannot join them.

How would you assure free, fair and secure elections, and that every eligible voter has full access to the ballot? Ohio voters overwhelmingly passed reforms to end partisan gerrymandering to make sure that voters are picking their politicians, not the other way around. Unfortunately Gov. Mike DeWine has put politics ahead of people and bluntly ignored the will of Ohio voters, breaking his promise to support a bipartisan redistricting process. He and his extremist allies have repeatedly passed unconstitutional, unfair maps that have been struck down by the Ohio Supreme Court. He should be ashamed of himself. Ohio deserves better. As Governor, I will work with Democrats and Republicans to draw fair, constitutional Congressional and Legislative districts. I’ll always stand up for safe and secure elections and protect the bedrock principle of the right to vote.

State the role of the governor in protecting the rights of women. The fact is, Gov. DeWine and his extremist allies have stripped away a woman’s rights to control her own body and imposed a government mandate that bans abortion. Within hours of Roe v. Wade being overturned, DeWine helped implement a six week abortion ban, which would outlaw nearly all abortions in Ohio. Unfortunately, it is only going to get worse if he is reelected: DeWine has promised to go as far as possible to ban abortion in Ohio. This is an economic issue as well: are young women going to want to stay in Ohio when pregnancy complications could lead to their death? Will businesses want to move here if they can’t attract top talent? It is time that we take back our freedom in Ohio. As governor, I will lead a statewide ballot initiative to put the basic protections of Roe v. Wade into the Ohio constitution so that women and doctors are not criminalized for making their own private health care decisions

State the role of the governor in protecting the rights of LGBTQ individuals. As the mayor of Dayton, I made our city a welcoming city. In fact, I officiated the very first legal same sex marriage in Ohio after the Obgerfell decision. As governor, I will strive to make our entire state welcoming and will support our LGBTQ friends and neighbors - just as I did in Dayton. As governor, I will also advocate for passage of the Fairness Act, which will outlaw discrimination against LGBTQ individuals. Unfortunately, Gov. DeWine has spent years fighting against basic LGBTQ rights. He’s shown that he can’t be trusted on this issue. Four more years under DeWine will make Ohio a less welcoming place.

State your position on efforts to protect our water, air, land, and climate. After FirstEnergy, a huge utility company, bankrolled his campaign, Gov. DeWine gave them everything they wanted, including a billion dollar bailout for their failing energy plants paid for by new fees on every Ohioan’s electricity bill each month. The law also gutted Ohio’s renewable energy industry. Not only has the law been called the worst environmental policy of the 21st Century, but it is at the heart of the largest corruption scheme in Ohio history. As governor I’ll clean up this corruption and fully repeal this awful bill. It’s time our state finally prioritizes protecting our environment and supporting clean energy. Ohio has always been a leader in new technology and my energy and environmental plan will ensure that Ohio once again leads the nation in building the future by investing in the renewable energy industry.

State your position on government oversight of gun ownership and safety. This issue is personal for me. As mayor of Dayton, I had to lead our city through an awful mass shooting that left 9 people dead. After the shooting, Gov. DeWine committed to me that he wanted to tackle gun violence in our state. Unfortunately, he broke his word. Time and time again, he has folded to the gun lobby and signed extreme bills opposed by law enforcement like stand your ground and permitless concealed carry. Most recently he signed a law to put more guns in schools with next to no training. Educators need 180 hours of training to renew their teaching license, but only 24 hours of training to carry a gun around your kids. As governor, I will fight to repeal these dangerous laws that will lead to more gun violence. I’ll work to pass common sense laws like universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders that will actually make all of our communities safer.

What is the role of the federal government in assuring access to high-quality, equitable education (include PK - higher ed)? One of my proudest accomplishments as mayor of Dayton was passing universal, high-quality preschool for all 4-years-olds in our city. After a few short years, we are already seeing positive results: kids are coming to kindergarten more prepared and parents aren’t paying an arm and a leg for childcare. The program was so successful that we expanded it to include 3 year olds and several neighboring communities. As governor, I’ll build on this success to expand preschool programs across Ohio. I will also prioritize fully funding the Fair School Funding Plan. This plan finally fixes Ohio’s unconstitutional school funding system, but was only temporarily funded. Finally, I’ll increase support for Ohio’s college and community colleges that have seen essentially stagnant funding from prior administrations.

What is the state’s obligation to local governments? As a former mayor, I believe strongly in local government. There’s no Republican or Democratic way to fix a pothole - you just have to get things done. Unfortunately, the state of Ohio has gutted funding for local governments over the last decade in order to give tax cuts to the wealthy. This has resulted in cuts to essential services like police and firefighters, or has forced local communities to raise their own taxes. We can’t expect Ohio to thrive if our state is forcing local tax increases or cuts to public safety - it’s just that simple. As governor, I’ll work to restore funding to local communities so that middle class Ohioans can see a tax break and important local services can be fully funded.

How will you use your role to impact the criminal justice system? As mayor of Dayton, I was proud to lead our innovative public safety reform process that brought together community members, clergy, civil rights leaders, and police to make policy changes that make everyone in our community safer. As governor, I’ll take the same approach. I’ll bring people together to make sure our criminal justice system is actually doing its job: keeping us safe. I’ll create a Cabinet Coordinating Council on Justice to better coordinate these efforts across agencies. We’ll provide better support to local communities to create innovative public safety and crime prevention programs, investigate potential problems, and recruit and train the best police officers, including setting up a new college loan forgiveness program for police.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Jeff Crossman

Party: Democrat

Website: http://crossmanforohio.com

Education: JD from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law; MA from the University of Akron

Training and Experience: Two Term State Representative and Two Term Parma City Councilman

What are the most important functions of the state attorney general and why? The Attorney General is the chief legal officer for the state of Ohio. The AG’s office is vast. It represents state agencies, is looked upon as the “chief law enforcement officer” of the state and is supposed to look out for the interests of all Ohioans. I view the role of Attorney General as being the “people’s lawyer” who works to ensure Ohioans’ rights under the law.

What divisions (e.g. consumer protection, environment, civil rights, immigration) will you prioritize and why? As Ohio’s next Attorney General, my priorities will be defending the rights and freedoms of all Ohioans, helping our economy grow, protecting workers and ensuring people can retire with safety and security. My office will defend women’s reproductive freedom and focus on protecting Ohioans’ civil rights–truly guaranteeing Equal Protection under the law. We also intend to institute a section designated with the responsibility of rooting out the corruption that has plagued our state government and holding wrongdoers accountable, something that has not been done by our current AG who let the owners of ECOT and First Energy fleece Ohio taxpayers without holding anyone accountable.

When is it appropriate to bring cases on behalf of the state to federal court? Cases should be brought in Federal Court when it is necessary to protect and defend the rights of all Ohioans. Ohioans’ tax dollars should not be used to bring cases merely to support a political agenda.

As Ohio’s chief law enforcement officer, how will you remain nonpartisan while representing the diverse interests of all Ohioans? As Attorney General I will pursue cases that are in the interest of all Ohioans–not just the persons who agree with me politically. The current Attorney General joins lawsuits at the behest of RAGA (Republican Attorney Generals Association) without regard for whether all Ohioans benefit from these lawsuits. This is why Ohio has joined lawsuits to overturn the 2020 election and challenged the USDA’s anti-discrimination policy for LGBTQ youth in the school lunch programs and other blatantly political lawsuits. This diverts attention and resources away from doing the people’s work on issues such as consumer protection, public corruption, civil rights, etc.

How will you use your role to impact the criminal justice system, including inequities? As Attorney General I will use my powers to continue to pursue and prosecute malevolent actors while understanding that not every infraction of the law requires a strongest possible penalty. Too many people have been incarcerated for long periods of time for relatively minor nonviolent offenses and struggle to regain their footing in common society upon release from prison. I will also use the information available to the AG to assess differential sentencing outcomes and share this data with local prosecutors so they can be more informed while carrying out their duties. We can have a justice system in our state that continues to pursue bad actors to the full extent of the law without causing irreparable damage to the lives of decent people who may have made one mistake or committed a minor infraction.

State your position on women’s reproductive healthcare, pay equity, the ERA, and other rights. Personal reproductive decisions should not be made by the government. Women deserve the freedom to determine what happens with their own bodies without the intrusion of the state, so I do not support Ohio’s extreme bans on abortion which limit access to needed healthcare and attacks everyone’s right to privacy. Women cannot be equal members of society if the ability to make decisions about their own bodies are dictated to by the government. The government should protect everyone’s civil rights, which means supporting equality. Men and women deserve equal pay for equal work. It is incomprehensible that women in Ohio earn 21% less on average than their male counterparts and this disparity is worse for women of color. Supporting the ERA would provide additional guarantees that civil rights for women are protected by the Constitution. I support Congress passing a resolution to codify this amendment and I favor initiating litigation to adopt it as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

State your position on government oversight of gun ownership and safety. The state needs to play a positive role in creating safe, secure, and healthy communities. This includes instituting policies and programs that promote firearm safety. While the Second Amendment confers rights of firearm ownership, we can and should promote best practices that ensure safety and reduce violence in our communities at the same time. Popular initiatives such as universal background checks, safe storage laws, and modest waiting periods are worthy for consideration to ensure bad actors who should not own firearms do not easily obtain them, that firearms are safely stored to minimize risk of injury, all while continuing to support law-abiding firearm ownership.

State your position on the rights of LGBTQ individuals. LGBTQ+ individuals are entitled to the same rights and privileges as every other citizen in the state. I have always viewed LGBTQ+ advocacy as a civil rights issue and I am committed to supporting LGBTQ+ citizens as equal members of our society. I have received an “A” rating from Equality Ohio, and I have received endorsements from organizations that advocate for Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community. My opponent, however, cannot say the same. He received an “F” rating from Equality Ohio and has joined lawsuits undermining LGBTQ+ rights for Ohioans, including a lawsuit challenging anti-discrimination policies implemented by the USDA for its National School Lunch Program.

Dave Yost

Party: Republican

Candidate did not respond.

AUDITOR

Keith Faber

Party: Republican

Candidate did not respond.

Taylor Sappington

Party: Democrat

Website: http://sappingtonforohio.com

Education: Bachelor's from Ohio University

What are the most important functions of the state auditor? The State Auditor is the best defense for Ohioans and their dollars. As City Auditor for my Appalachian town of Nelsonville, I stood tall against corruption, busting up a large theft scheme just two months on the job. After the IRS and State levied over $420,000 in penalties and fines against the City due to this scheme, I took these large agencies on and earned a near 100% forgiveness of the debts. Next up, the census, which was riddled with flawed leadership and confusing guidelines from the top, attempted to downgrade Nelsonville from a city to a village. This change would have cost us funding sources and our union collective bargaining agreements. I led a community-wide effort that brought all walks of life together to recount the city door-to-door and successfully stave off village status. We saved the city. We deserve new, dedicated, young leadership in Ohio that is unafraid to take on the crooks and safeguard our money. That's exactly what I've done and exactly what I'll do.

What are your goals for improving the function of the auditor’s office? We must do anything and everything that makes the Auditor's office more effective and more efficient. In an era of unprecedented corruption in Ohio, our first priority must be to beef up the investigative wings of the department. We also sorely need to begin new examinations and task forces into the shocking amount of foul play, bribery, and unethical practices from the leadership in Ohio. As a locality who has paid significant funds for our routine audits, I also will fight to lift the burden from our stretched thin localities. Our local governments are required by the Auditor's Office to pay a large hourly rate for the required audits. I can't think of anything that makes less sense than taking from this year's pothole repair funds to check last year's pothole repair expenses. The State must fully fund the Auditor's and lift this burden of costs from our localities who already face a mountain of other unfunded mandates.

What will you do to ensure that public funds are not misused? Far too often, candidates for higher office talk about what they will do with no intention of following through. In many ways, we have seen this play out with our current leadership. Corruption scandal after scandal has come down the pipeline, exposing a deep swamp in Columbus and State Government leadership. But who has been caught and sent to jail? What has been done at all to examine our utility rates, the bribery scandals, or state contracting process? The answer is nothing. While nothing was being done on these issues, I worked hard at the local level to expose a deep culture of corruption and theft at City Hall. Next, we took on some of the strongest agencies in the world and won. I was unafraid then and now. Our Auditor must be active, aggressive, and know the difference between right and wrong. On day one, I'll begin reorganizations and examinations to ensure that Ohio is no longer a safe haven for crooked leadership.

What is the auditor’s role in investigating online and brick-and-mortar charter schools? The Auditor has a real and credible role in investigating anything and everything relating to our tax dollars. There should be nowhere our watchdog is afraid to look and that is the attitude I have in my approach. Education is the single most important bedrock of our society and country. Therefore I would have a dual role of both supporting education's advances, while going after bad actors who are trying to take advantage. As Auditor, I will work relentlessly to ensure that our money is being spent wisely and effectively in all educational settings. This includes performance and financial audits of charters to ensure that online settings are working for students as strongly as brick and mortar settings. It also involves finding out where our tax money went in the state's emergency takeovers in East Cleveland, Youngstown, and elsewhere. I will find out why these are taking so long, where our money is going, and how they are performing. We deserve at least this.

What are the essential criteria to consider when drawing legislative district lines? Voters should choose their politicians and not the other way around. Current Auditor Keith Faber and the GOP on the Redistricting Commission have time again passed anti-voter maps that only serve to benefit their own special interests and buddies. Ohio voted for fair, honest maps that do not slice and dice our power and neighborhoods. The amendment to our constitution was not confusing or complicated. These folks instead passed autocratic maps that only served to entrench their power for another generation, will of the voters be damned. After being struck down multiple times by the High Court, Mr. Faber went so far as to vote against "slightly" fairer maps because he didn't believe it helped Republicans maintain power enough. As a redistricting commission member, I will only support maps that maintain county and neighborhood integrity. I will only vote for fair and honest maps that allow the voters a say in their elections and futures.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Chelsea Clark

Party: Democrat

How do you view Ohio’s voter registration system? What changes would you make? Introduce same-day voter registration. Allow for online voter registration. Allow for online absentee ballot requests. Create opt-in for voters to automatically receive mail ballots.

What will you do to improve voter turnout? Stop voter purges. Increase voter participation by expanding automatic voter registration. Expand early voting days and hours.

What steps need to be taken to ensure the security and integrity of elections? Bolster our state’s cybersecurity and guard against foreign interference in our collections. Modernize statewide voter registration database. Remove loopholes that allow for dark money to go unreported.

What is the role of the Secretary of State in countering mis/dis information and voter intimidation? For years, state leaders have been trying to make it harder to vote. Ohio was once a leader in voting rights, but now we only make news when politicians engage in voter suppression. We need a Secretary of State who will prioritize fairness, accessibility, and efficiency at the ballot box. We need a Secretary of State who will champion a Democracy for Ohio Agenda. We need to focus on protecting a voter's rights to vote.

Will you make changes/improvements to early, absentee, and/or election day voting? What would they be? Expanding early voting days and hours. Increasing voter participation by expanding automatic voter registration. Stopping unnecessary voter purges. And modernizing our elections by allowing for things like online absentee ballot requests

How do you envision working with BOEs and voter advocates? As Secretary of State, I envision working closely with local Board’s of Elections to provide, training, policies and information that focus on making voting efficient for voters, protecting the integrity of elections and supporting their hard work with administrative efficiencies.

How will you improve campaign finance policy? Work with Election experts, advocacy groups and legislators to make campaign finance more transparent. Remove loopholes that allow for dark money to go unreported.

How will you remain nonpartisan while representing the diverse interests of all Ohioans? The position of Secretary of State is neither red or blue – it is meant to be red,white and blue. I intend to depoliticize the office by: - Fairly and evenly administering campaign finance violations not use the powers of the office to be lenient on friends and oppose enemies. - Avoid appearing at overtly partisan events whenever possible. - Protect the integrity of elections based on facts, not political expediency.

Frank LaRose

Party: Republican

Education: Copley High School, Class of 1997. The Ohio State University, BA in Consumer Affairs with a minor in Business Administration, Class of 2007. JFK Special War Center and School, 2007

Training and Experience: United States Army, Sergeant, First Class, U.S. Army, 101st Airborne, U.S. Army Special Forces, Green Beret

Website: www.FrankLaRose.com

How do you view Ohio’s voter registration system? What changes would you make? Due in part to our innovative voter registration initiatives along with Ohio’s online voter registration system which I sponsored in the Senate Ohio outpaces many other states boasting more than 8 million registered voters. Our system is different from most other states in that management of the system is from the bottom up where counties each run their own individual system. While this antiquated system may sometimes lead to inefficiencies, our office has made significant progress to strengthen list management and improve list accuracy. However, more can be done to strengthen voter registration. A statewide automated voter registration and verification system which utilizes data collected by the BMV will make Ohio’s registration system more convenient, accurate and less susceptible to fraud. It would allow experts within our office full access to data collected by the boards, BMV, and the online registration system and ensure a more efficient and effective voter registration system.

What will you do to improve voter turnout? Under my administration, Ohio saw the largest voter turnout in state history, both in raw numbers and as a percentage of total registered voters. Amid a global pandemic, Ohio’s bipartisan election officials shined as Ohio ran what is empirically the most well-run election in state history. Through these challenges, our office found creative ways to encourage Ohioans to vote. I partnered with barbershops, breweries, and a number of other organizations and small businesses to grow enthusiasm and strengthen confidence in our election system. Unfortunately, a crisis in confidence has grown to concerning levels, with Republicans and Democrats from across America having less faith in their elections. We all know the quickest way to decrease voter participation is by destroying the public’s faith in election integrity. That’s exactly why I created our new Public Integrity Division, to defend democracy by strengthening confidence, keeping fraud rare and boosting participation.

What steps need to be taken to ensure the security and integrity of elections? Ohioans deserve absolute confidence in their public institutions, and none of those institutions is more essential than the electoral process. Fair elections are the hallmark of our democracy. They serve to document and certify what Thomas Jefferson called “the consent of the governed,” and their integrity is vital to the representative government on which our states and nation have thrived. The office of the Secretary of State carries with it a unique responsibility and duty not only to administer our voting process, but also to ensure confidence in its outcome. We started the Public Integrity Division to address that need while building upon our state’s tradition of innovation. For the first time, the office’s current investigative functions, including campaign finance reporting, voting system certification, voter registration integrity, election law violations, data retention & transparency, and cybersecurity protocols will work together to be both more efficient and thorough.

What is the role of the Secretary of State in countering mis/dis information and voter intimidation? The best weapon against mis/dis information is truth. Within our office, we’ve developed an election response center designed to monitor social media to catch and correct instances of incorrect election info in real time. However, we recognize we can only have so much reach. That’s why we partner with community leaders especially in Ohio’s diverse minority communities to help educate the public and create ambassadors of truth. We’ve also increased our recruiting goals for poll workers. These poll workers not only serve their communities in a civic capacity, they also become an army of truth-tells having learned first-hand that it’s both easy to vote and hard to cheat in Ohio. Additionally, our Public Integrity Division will go a long way towards combating mis/dis information by investigating issues when they happen and providing Ohioans with the knowledge that our elections are run securely, accurately, and fairly.

Will you make changes/improvements to early, absentee, and/or election day voting? What would they be? Of the 42 states that run a traditional absentee voting system, the Brookings Institute determined no state does it better than Ohio. Voters have 4 weeks of early voting, including evenings & weekends. Ohio has become known as a national leader in voting accessibility and security because of our relentless dedication to innovate and improve. We can modernize the way we request absentee ballots by adding a secure online absentee request system which I have been publicly advocating for years. I’ve been a strong and longtime advocate for shifting away from the old dead-tree paper format because there are secure ways available to provide a fast and efficient online option for absentee ballot requests. It’s also important to recognize what must not happen. Major changes, just prior to an election, whether done administratively or in the courthouse, disrupt the integrity of our elections & hinder voter confidence. Changes to our elections should happen at the statehouse, not the courthouse.

How do you envision working with BOEs and voter advocates? I’ve made it a point to build not only a working relationship with Ohio’s bipartisan election officials, but a partnership. I regularly visit our 88 county boards to see first hand their hard work and listen to concerns. We also have a responsive and professional regional staff that attends board meetings, mitigates potential issues, and serves as a constant connection to our office. As has long been my approach with voter advocates, emphasizing an open dialogue on voting issues with unprecedented transparency leading to better outcomes for Ohio voters. The Diversity & Empowerment Council (DEC) I created is a perfect example of how well this can work. The DEC which I meet with regularly, serves as a chance for me to share the work being done at our office, update community leaders, and most importantly serves as a chance for me to answer questions and listen to concerns. We may not always agree, but an open dialogue ensures that the concerns of Ohio’s diverse communities are heard.

How will you improve campaign finance policy? As Secretary of State and as a State Senator, I have always been a strong voice for greater transparency. Since taking office, I have worked with county boards to allow campaign finance reports for local candidates and committees to be filed electronically and be readily available online for the public and journalists. Additionally, I've supported legislation that ultimately requires all entities which engage in electioneering to report campaign donations to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. Ohioans deserve to know who exactly is funding campaigns in our state.

How will you remain nonpartisan while representing the diverse interests of all Ohioans? As candidates and members of our respective political parties, we naturally have opinions and support candidates who share our values. Hiding those views is dishonest and lacks the transparency voters deserve. However, as Ohio’s chief election officer, I view my official role as a referee, and I’ve demonstrated that conduct time and again. The office demands looking to the law above all else when making decisions. I’ve kept to that as Secretary of State, even ruling against my own political party at times. Additionally, the best way to ensure diverse interests are heard is by listening to every constituency in Ohio. By holding listening sessions and an open communication with community leaders, concerns and input of all Ohioans can be better met.

Terpsehore Maras

Party: Independent

Candidate did not respond.

TREASURER

Scott Schertzer

Party: Democrat

Website: http://scottschertzerforohio.com

Education: Bachelor of Secondary Education and Social Studies, University of Toledo

Training and Experience: Mayor of Marion since 2008, Marion City Council, 2000-2007

What are the most important functions of the state treasurer and why? The Treasurer oversees billions of dollars of taxpayer investments. The Treasurer has a designated seat on all five state retirement pension boards and can influence the activity of them. The Treasurer plays a key role in state economic development through the Link Deposit programs begun by former Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow. Had the current incumbent been exercising his fiscal duties, he should have been able to catch the wasteful spending and corruption rampant today in our state government.

What are your goals for improving the function of the treasurer’s office? True accountability! The pension funds and investment funds, as well as the day to day functions of the office need a complete audit to ensure that taxpayer money is being protected and being used in the best way to help every Ohio citizen. I pledge to pinch every penny and be a true watchdog of the people's tax dollars!

How can the treasurer’s office influence state fiscal policy? The Treasurer, through the various Link Deposit programs, as well as the decisions on how to invest the taxpayer's money, can have significant influence on the state's fiscal policies. Helping farmers and small businesses and minority businesses with access to low interest loans spurs growth and development throughout every corner of Ohio.

How will you ensure transparency and accountability in state finances? I will order an outside, independent audit of every investment fund, as well as the day to day functions of Treasurer's office itself. I will also call for independent audits of each of the state's five pension funds and make the results of all of these audits available to the public! I will also, while Treasurer, travel across the state to hear from everyday Ohioans on how state government can better help them succeed! As Treasurer, I will call for an independent inspector general to be created to monitor all investments of taxpayer money to ensure true accountability and transparency!

How will you use your position to improve fiscal literacy among Ohioans? I will work with school districts across the state to help set up voluntary programs within high schools to teach students what they will need to know about finances and everyday fiscal policy before they have to experience it after graduation. I will also encourage and work with the State Board of Education to require curriculum that prepares students in the basics of financial decisions they will need to know as adults! My office will be available to answer questions of all taxpayers in order for them to make the best financial decisions for improvements in their daily lives.

Robert Sprague

Party: Republican

Candidate did not respond.

U.S. SENATOR

Tim Ryan

Party: Democrat

Candidate did not respond.

J.D. Vance

Party: Republican

Candidate did not respond.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2022 Election: Who wants to be Ohio AG, secretary of state and more?