Licking County residents to choose two Ohio House representatives
NEWARK − Two Licking County Republicans are making plans to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives next year, while their opponents are hoping to pull off major upsets.
Area voters will choose their state representatives for two newly-configured Ohio House districts in the Nov. 8 general election.
Thad Claggett, R-Newark, defeated incumbent Mark Fraizer Aug. 2 in a delayed Republican primary for the new 68th Ohio House District. Claggett, president of Claggett & Sons commercial contracting company, faces Daniel Crawford, an independent from Newark running as a write-in.
The new 68th District covers much of the same area as its predecessor, the 71st District. The new district is located mostly in the northwest, central and western parts of the county, including Newark, Heath, Granville, almost all of Pataskala, Alexandria, Johnstown, Hartford and St. Louisville.
“We are not doing a lot of campaigning," Claggett said. "We are doing a lot of work for the office, meeting with city, county, and township people and various people around the (area). We’re focused entirely on the job ahead. We’re working very hard to get the stuff done so we’re not going in in January to learn the job.”
Kevin Miller, R-Franklin Township, received the Republican Party appointment in June 2021 to replace expelled Larry Householder in representing the 72nd Ohio House District. Miller, employed 22 years with the Ohio Highway Patrol, was unopposed in the primary and faces Charlotte Owens, D-Lithopolis, in the redrawn 69th Ohio House District.
The 69th District is mostly in the southern and eastern parts of Licking County, including Etna Township, Reynoldsburg in Licking County, a sliver of Pataskala, Kirkersville, Hebron, Buckeye Lake, Gratiot, Hanover and extends up to Utica. It also includes parts of Perry and Fairfield counties.
“It’s been extremely rewarding," Miller said of the experience in the state legislature. I’m proud of being the voice for first responders at the Statehouse, being someone other legislators can ask questions about policy and practice of law enforcement.”
Miller said there are two bills he hopes get passed. One would make swatting a felony. Swatting is making a prank call to emergency services to bring a response to a specific address. The other bill would allow K9s injured on duty to be transported in an emergency squad instead of an officer's vehicle.
Crawford and Owens have tasted election defeat before and may be underdogs, but are running to provide alternatives and make their case on some key issues.
Crawford, running in his fifth campaign in eight years, lost all three races for Newark City Council and one for Newark School Board. He may not have jumped into the race if Fraizer had won the primary.
“I saw the attacks on Mark Fraizer and that (Claggett) was too extreme to leave unopposed," Crawford said. "I was shocked to see no Democrat or independent on the ballot to run against him.
“Mark Fraizer is a lot more mainstream on some issues and more likely to listen to you if he disagrees with you, and I don’t get that impression from Mr. Claggett. I felt I at least needed to offer people a choice.”
Owens, an adjunct instructor at Central Ohio Technical College in Newark and Pataskala, lost her 2020 bid for the Statehouse, winning just 24% of the vote in the 78th Ohio House District race against Republican Brian Stewart. That district did not include Licking County.
“I keep emphasizing I’m for democracy and fair districts with rights, strong public education and strong communities in Ohio and the people I’m talking to like those things," Owens said. “When you consider the redistricting process drawn by Republican control and rejected by Ohio Supreme Court multiple times, it’s really important to stand up for fair districts.”
The candidates are all well aware of one of the biggest issues in Licking County -- the $20 billion Intel computer chip manufacturing development under construction just south of Johnstown. Production is scheduled to begin in 2025.
Claggett said his background as a builder helps him know how to address the growth concerns.
“Issues in our own county related to development issues on the west side, those issues are right down my alley – development, water and sewer," Claggett said. "I want the (Evans Foundation) Framework plan to succeed. I want that to be in place before development overrides the will of the people.
“One of the concerns I have is getting this Thornwood Drive issue put to bed. That is a gold mine as far as development opportunities. That piece is more important now than it’s ever been. This is a perfect time to further emphasize getting that route done.”
Crawford said he is concerned about the impact on Licking Countians, especially those closest to the development.
“We need to respect the concerns and needs of the citizens in the area," Crawford said. "We need to make sure this is a smooth transition. We need to not just blindly celebrate but protect people living in the area and make sure they are not forgotten.”
“Make sure the pain is as minimal as possible. Make sure we don’t leave anybody behind. I don’t want to grow so fast we forget people and their needs. Let’s grow together.”
Miller said he is focused on employment, infrastructure and housing needs that affect his district outside of the immediate Intel area.
"My district essentially surrounds that area, with Utica, along the eastern edge and the I-70 corridor," Miller said. "It will be affected by Intel, most notably by jobs. The opportunity for jobs is significant. It’s something that’s going to be a significant change for the entire area, for the entire state.”
Owens said she has concerns about housing availability, the impacts on small communities and school districts' building capacity for additional students.
“Money needs to be coming back to communities," Owens said. "Utica needs $4 million to update its sewer system. They need grants or other resources. Too much money is gone from local communities. A lot of communities feel stripped and left behind.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County residents choose two Ohio House representatives
