Voter Guide 2022: Clyde challenges Pavliga in 72nd Ohio House race; 35th also on ballot

Welcome to the 2022 Voter Guide produced by the League of Women Voters and published by the Record-Courier.

This story focuses on Statehouse races in Portage County.

Customized ballots based on your address may be found at Vote411.org.

Responses are not edited, vetted or corrected by the League of Women Voters or Record-Courier to allow candidates to speak in their own words.

Complete election coverage can be found on Record-Courier.com.

State Representative — 72nd District

This election is for a two-year term. The 72nd House District includes most of northern and central Portage County, including Aurora, Streetsboro, Kent, Ravenna, Rootstown, Edinburg, Shalersville, Mantua and Hiram.

Pavliga vs. Clyde:First-term incumbent faces off against former state rep in 72nd District race

Kathleen Clyde

Party: Democrat

Website: http://kathleenclyde.com

Education: J.D. from Ohio State University. B.A. from Wesleyan University. Graduate of James A. Garfield High School.

Training & Experience: Attorney. Served as a member of the Ohio House representing Portage County for 8 years. 2018 Democratic Nominee for Ohio Secretary of State. Served as a Portage County Commissioner for 2 years.

How would you improve the Ohio public school funding system? We should stop diverting public money to for-profit charter schools from our public school system. We should rely less on local property taxes and more on the state funding formula to adequately fund our state's K-12 public schools. We also should provide more funding to expand access to public pre-K and post-secondary educational opportunities.

What legislation, if any, would you suggest to address gun safety? I support the recent bi-partisan legislation to prevent intimate partners convicted of domestic violence from possessing firearms, to provide expanded background checks for potential gun buyers under the age of 21, and to strengthen laws against straw purchasing and trafficking of guns. Ohio should look to pass red flag legislation to draw down federal funds for implementation of life-saving intervention programs. Ohio should repeal recent legislation that dropped training requirements as well as the obligation to notify law enforcement when carrying a concealed weapon.

Gail K. Pavliga

Party: Republican

Website: http://gailpavliga.com

Education: PhD University of Akron MA Kent State University BA Kent State Un

Training & Experience: College Professor, Entrepreneur

How would you improve the Ohio public school funding system? Candidate did not respond.

What legislation, if any, would you suggest to address gun safety? Candidate did not respond.

State Representative — 35th District

This election is for a two-year term. The 35th House District includes southeast Summit County, including Tallmadge, far southern and eastern Portage County, including Brimfield, Garrettsville and Atwater, along with southern Geauga County.

Steve Demetriou

Party: Republican

Candidate did not respond.

Lori O’Neill

Party: Democrat

Education: B.S. Communications, Boston University

Training & Experience: Licensed Real Estate Agent, Hanna Commercial Real Estate

Under what circumstances is it appropriate for the state to restrain or check local government? Only in cases in which a local governmental entity sets policy or takes actions that violate the state constitution and/or state law.

How would you improve the Ohio public school funding system? Funding of public schools in Ohio is a complicated subject that requires more effort by legislators, school districts and citizens to resolve. One of the factors that complicates public school funding is the ability of parents to take their children's education dollars to charter schools. The advent and growth of private, for-profit charter schools has diminished public districts' ability to improve, and charter schools have proven no better at providing a quality education.

Where do you stand on efforts to protect our water, air and land? It is incumbent on governmental entities, private industry and individual citizens to take steps to limit environmental hazards, and fund research that leads to cleaner energy and manufacturing technology. A commitment to improving our environment will also create the jobs of the future, thereby benefitting all.

What legislation, if any, would you suggest to address gun safety? Safe storage of firearms in the home to prevent access by children and adolescents. Red flag law to enable the removal of firearms from anyone determined to be a danger to themselves or others. Mandatory background checks on all gun purchases in the state. Required training for anyone purchasing a handgun.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: 2022 Election: 2 Portage County seats in Ohio House up for vote