Issues

Ohio is at a critical tipping point, and the time for a decisive change in the Statehouse is now.

For too long, out-of-touch politicians have manipulated voting districts through gerrymandering, diverted your hard-earned public tax dollars into private ventures in business and education, and stripped away your fundamental right to autonomy. My campaign is a direct response to those failures—a commitment to restore transparency, fiscal accountability, and true representation to our state government.

Together, we can confront these systemic abuses, safeguard our personal freedoms, and build an Ohio where the Statehouse actually listens to the people it serves.

Fixing and Fully-Funding Public Education

As a public school teacherOhio's public schools are the foundation of our communities and the engine of our economy. But decades of underfunding, political meddling, and a growing private voucher program are leaving our kids, and our teachers, behind. Rick is committed to fixing Ohio's broken school funding system and making sure every child in Wood County gets a world-class education.

Ohio has long struggled to equitably fund its public schools, relying heavily on local property taxes: a system that creates dramatic inequality between wealthy and low-income districts. The Fair School Funding Plan, developed by Ohio educators using district spending data and best practices, has provided a path forward:

The FSFP raised the state's base cost per pupil from $6,020 in FY 2021 to $8,240 in FY 2025, and has provided approximately $1.5 billion in increased state funding since FY 2022: but it must be made permanent.

Despite this progress, the plan has not been fully implemented, and Ohio's voucher program has diverted hundreds of millions of public dollars away from public schools, and overwhelmingly not to low-income families who need them most. Data shows that nearly 90% of Ohio voucher program participants are not low-income, making it a taxpayer-funded subsidy for private schools for the wealthy.

Meanwhile, Ohio teachers are underpaid, under-resourced, and being forced to spend their own money on classroom supplies. Teacher retirements are under threat, substitute teacher quality has declined, and school mental health resources are woefully inadequate.

Support full, permanent implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan.
End Ohio's private school voucher program, which overwhelmingly subsidizes families who were already attending private school.
Secure teacher retirement and mandate Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) so educators don't outlive their savings.
Dramatically increase funding for school mental health resources.
Expand loan availability for trade schools and apprenticeship programs as a complement to four-year degrees.
Support universal pre-K so every Ohio child starts school ready to succeed.

Environment & Ohio's Agricultural Future

Wood County is farm country. Our agricultural heritage is part of who we are, and the men and women who farm our land deserve a state government that has their back: on trade, on technology, and on protecting the soil, water, and air they depend on. Jake is also committed to responsible environmental stewardship and a transition to clean energy that protects Ohio families and natural resources.

Ohio's farmers face a triple threat: tight margins, rapid technological change, and trade policy instability. Soybean farmers have been particularly hard hit by tariffs and trade wars, with market disruptions threatening the viability of family farms. Meanwhile, farmland loss continues as development pressure mounts. Locally, the rapid expansion of data centers and industrial development is creating new environmental risks for Wood County communities and farmland.

Encourage and subsidize green energy projects, including nuclear, to give Ohio farmers and homeowners access to cleaner, more affordable energy.
Oppose reckless trade policies that harm Ohio's soybean, corn, and grain farmers.
Support responsible wildlife reintroduction programs in Ohio's state forests and parks to restore ecological balance and support hunting and tourism.
Require extensive environmental impact studies before approving new data centers, with mandatory plans for energy usage offsets and end-of-lifecycle facility management.
Protect Ohio's water, soil, and air quality for future generations of farmers and families.

Utility Accountability & Ending Corruption

In 2020, Ohio became the center of the largest energy bribery scandal in American history. The HB 6 scandal - a $1.3 billion ratepayer-funded bailout of two failing nuclear and coal plants - exposed how deep the rot of special interest corruption runs in Columbus. Our families are still paying the price. I will fight to restore integrity and accountability to Ohio's energy policy.

Ohio House Bill 6 was sold to the public as clean energy legislation. In reality, it was a $1.3 billion bailout for two uncompetitive power plants, baked into ratepayer utility bills, secured through over $60 million in bribes to state officials. Former House Speaker Larry Householder and associates were convicted. The scandal's roots run deep, implicating lobbyists, dark money, and utility companies that placed their profits above Ohio families.

In August 2025, Ohio finally ended subsidies for two scandal-linked coal plants: a step forward, but one that came years late and only after sustained public pressure. The lesson is clear: without vigilant oversight and campaign finance reform, Ohio utility policy will continue to be written by the highest bidder.

Meanwhile, the rapid expansion of data centers across Ohio raises new utility concerns. These facilities consume enormous amounts of energy and water, and currently face insufficient environmental review. Massive corporations should not be able to dictate terms to Ohio communities.

Demand full accountability for the HB 6 scandal and support a Department of Justice investigation into all connected parties.
Repeal any remaining ratepayer subsidies that flow from the HB 6 era.
Require extensive environmental and community impact studies before new data centers are approved.
Mandate long-term planning for data center energy usage, water consumption, and end-of-lifecycle facility management.
Encourage and subsidize green energy projects, including nuclear power, to diversify Ohio's energy mix and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Push for campaign finance reform to get utility money out of Ohio politics.

Supporting Ohio's Families

Building a strong Ohio starts with strong families. I believe every family in Wood County deserves the tools they need to thrive: from quality early education to safe housing to a strong social safety net. A community that invests in its families invests in its future.

Establish universal pre-K so every Ohio child arrives at kindergarten ready to learn.
Restore a $1,000 annual child tax credit to put money directly back in the pockets of Ohio parents.
Dramatically expand funding for community mental health services to address the growing mental health crisis among Ohio's children and families.
Increase funding for quality public senior living facilities so Ohio's seniors can age with dignity.
Support state incentives that help local governments adopt pro-housing policies, streamline permitting, and allow more housing types: so more families can afford to live in our communities.

Issues

Fixing and Fully-Funding Public Education

The Problem

My Commitments

Environment & Ohio's Agricultural Future

The Problem

My Commitments

Utility Accountability & Ending Corruption

The Problem

My Commitments

Supporting Ohio's Families

My Commitments