All candidates were asked to answer these questions:
Question 1: Gov. Kasich has indicated he wants a new school funding formula. What would you do to revamp school funding in Ohio?
Question 2: What state government reforms would you support to help businesses cut their costs, red tape and regulations?
Linda Borgert
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Borgert-4-Ohio-73rd/272151669511456
Bio: Paralegal Degree from Sinclair; Bachelor's from Wilberforce. Employed by Montgomery County Law Library, 11 years. Married, three children. I am running so that working families in Greene County have a voice in Columbus. Teacher at Fortis College in Centerville.
Answer 1: Ohio's school funding system has been found unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court. Governor Kasich's decision to repeal the funding formula and replace it with nothing was a reckless move, leaving Ohio's children and Ohio's employers facing a great deal of uncertainty.
First, I review the research on which educational opportunities improve student outcomes, and focus on educational opportunities that will prepare our children to compete in an increasingly global and information based economy. I would support a school funding system that provides high quality opportunities to all of Ohio’s children, and that reduces Ohio’s over-reliance on property taxes.
Answer 2: In this challenging economy, families and businesses are facing tough decisions, and need state and local government to provide efficient and quality services without too much red tape. I support efforts like the Sunset Review committee, which made recommendations to eliminate outdated and duplicative state boards and commissions. I also support reviewing agency rules and regulations to make sure that a common sense approach prevails. Adequate inspectors and regulations are necessary to protect the public health, but there has to be a responsible, common-sense approach to allow local entrepreneurs to flourish and help build a strong, local economy.
Bill Conner
Website: ConnerForOH.com
Bio: Major USAF Retired (Enlisted, NCO, Officer), BS/MS Aeronautical Engineering, Purdue. Married 44 years to Carolyn. 3 children (All OSU graduates), 6 grandchildren. Management Systems software developer. Perfect Score (800) on Graduate Record Math Reasoning Exam. Church Board Member Emeritus
Answer 1: We need to lessen the tax burden on home owners by restoring state funding for education to previous levels. State revenues should be increased by restoring the estate tax for estates over $3 million and rescinding the Taft 2004 income tax break for incomes over $100,000. The latter would generate $1.6 billion each year. Income tax exemptions should be reviewed with the potential of another $400 million annually. Currently, Ohio communities compete for new retail stores by offering property tax abatements. Banning such abatements state wide would restore those lost tax revenues to the local communities.
Answer 2: For the last 22 years, I have been associated with a company which charts government and business administrative processes and identifies ways of making them more efficient and effective. Typically, these processes are made more effective while decreasing the number of steps in the process by 85%. I did similar work in my Air Force career producing more effective management systems and making reporting easier and more effective. We should review business reporting to state agencies to identify and implement cost saving improvements for businesses and for the government while making the reporting more effective in meeting the legitimate needs of the state agency.