I am running because it is imperative that we revitalize Ohio's economy.
Our region traditionally had a primary concentration in manufacturing especially in automobile assembly and parts production.
We have been hit hard with layoffs and plant closings. In Northwest Ohio we are attempting to reinvent our area as an emerging market for solar energy. Our area includes First Solar which is the world's largest producer of thin film solar panels and the University of Toledo's Clean and Alternative Energy Incubator. This is a start but I will work to bring jobs to our area by promoting wind power, specifically by manufacturing wind turbines in our area. The auto industry has left us a skilled workforce who with some retraining are able and wanting to work. We also have many closed plants and facilities ripe to reopen as "clean energy" plants.

People talk about a "brain drain" here as a result of so many of our young people leaving this area to search for better economic opportunities. We not only need to revitalize this area to keep people from leaving but we need to bring back the people who left by providing better economic opportunities.

Along with working on restoring and creating good paying jobs for our citizens, it is critical that we work on funding quality public education. We must strive for an educational system which gives marketable skills to our youth and retrains our workforce who have lost automobile related manufacturing jobs. We need to invest in education that provides the skills necessary for high tech jobs.

As your state representative I will work to get Governor Strickland's proposed energy plan passed. It breezed through the Senate in October of 2007 but has been stuck in the House since. Indeed with the current crop of Republican officeholders too many good ideas are stuck in committees.

I am tired of the Republican controlled Assembly lacking leadership and insight in solving the many problems we should be addressing. Are you?
If so, then join me in my campaign to seek and implement new solutions to the challenges we face.