Richardson, Luke square off in 86th Ohio House District election

Rep. Tracy Richardson, R-Marysville, is facing a challenge from Marysville attorney Barbara Luke, a Democrat, in the race for the 86th District seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 8.

The 86th District includes all of Union County as well as the City of Marion, the Village of Prospect, and Marion, Pleasant, and Prospect townships in Marion County.

Richardson, a former Marysville City Council member, is in her second term in the Ohio House. She is married with three children. Richardson won the 2022 Republican Party primary election in August, defeating challenger Michael R. Bohland of Dublin after securing 79% of the vote. Luke ran without opposition in the Democratic Party primary.

Luke, who has 25 years experience as a trial lawyer, is the founder of her own law firm in Marysville, Luke Lawyers, which "focuses on family law and working for everyday people," according to her campaign website. She is married with three children.

Richardson said constituents she's talked to during the course of the campaign have told her that the economy is their chief concern. Education and government overreach are also concerns, she said.

"It's my top concern because I'm listening to constituents who tell me that they're concerned about the increase in gas prices, the increase in grocery costs, the increase in all goods and services," Richardson said. "People are concerned about how they're going to make ends meet. And that resonates with me. People are also very concerned about crime. There's an increase in crime and some of that is due to the economic situation that we're facing and some of it is linked to the drug challenges that we have.

"People are also concerned about what they're children may or may not be learning in schools. And they're concerned that government is very involved in their lives and they don't want government invading their lives. And I agree with them."

Richardson said her goal is to "restore economic prosperity" in Ohio in order to keep the state "moving forward."

"We're going to have spend less at the state level and reduce taxes because we need to assist residents and families as they're juggling to make ends meet in this inflation situation," she said. "We need to look at ways that we can insulate Ohioans from inflation. In this General Assembly, we reduced taxes by 3% across the board. We are looking at ways to get people into the workforce to support our livelihoods and our businesses so that we can thrive in our communities. We're looking at ways to provide job skills training."

Luke said people she's met during the course of her campaign "are very concerned about democracy" due in part to the United States Supreme Court decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case in June of this year. The high court ruled that the Constitution of the United States does not confer the right to abortion. The decision overruled both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey and returned the authority to regulate abortion to the states.

"When I ask them how they're feeling about (democracy) these days, they indicate that there's not enough of it or that they're concerned about their future," Luke said, noting that she's receiving feedback from Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters. "They're concerned about the way that the Republicans are taking away their rights. Women are essentially being relegated to second-class citizens status because we don't have the ability to choose what happens to our own bodies. That's the main issue that's motivating people right now, that I'm seeing. Before Roe was overturned, that was not the case."

Luke said most people she's met with during the campaign have not expressed concerns about the economy or inflation.

"They're really not bringing it up," Luke said. "I do think that people seem to understand that it's a global problem right now, that all across the world people are having trouble with inflation. It's certainly not something that is (President Joe) Biden's fault or just a U.S. thing or just a Democrat thing, it's certainly not. I think all over the world people are trying to address it as best as they can. I think it's gotten better. Gas prices have come down a bit."

For information about the Nov. 8 general election, go to the Marion County Board of Elections website www.boe.ohio.gov/marion.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Richardson, Luke square off in 86th Ohio House District election