This article is part of the Voters Guide produced in partnership with the League of Women Voters of the Akron Area.
The information on this page reflects Ohio's new State Senate and State House districts that determine elections in 2024 and go into effect in 2025, which may be different from your current districts.
Adam Bozic
Republican
Candidate Email: Adam@bozicforoffice.com
Campaign Email: Press@bozicforoffice.com
Volunteer / Community Service: Past Tallmadge United Methodist Men – President, Youth Soccer Coach
Training / Experience: United States Marine Corps Veteran, Past Tallmadge Parks & Recreation Assistant Superintendent
Website: www.bozicforoffice.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BozicforOffice?mibextid=Z
Campaign phone: 330-414-9310
Education: B.S. – Sport Management / M.S. – Sport Administration
What are your top priorities and how will you address them?
My top priorities are economic recovery, public safety and tax reform. To boost economic recovery, I will promote policies that support small businesses, invest in infrastructure projects, and create job training programs to equip our workforce for the future. Help relieve the public safety officer shortage by lowering the minimum age requirement for public safety officers. A comprehensive review of our property tax system, focusing on providing relief to low- and middle-income homeowners while maintaining essential services. Collaborating with local governments and community stakeholders, we can improve safety and fiscal responsibility, ensuring a thriving, secure community for all residents.
What changes do you support or oppose to voting and elections policy?
As a political conservative, I support measures that enhance the integrity and security of our voting processes. This includes advocating for strict voter ID laws to ensure that only eligible citizens cast ballots, maintaining transparent and accountable voting systems, and opposing efforts that may lead to voter fraud or undermine election integrity. I also believe in streamlining the election process while respecting states’ rights to determine their own voting rules, ultimately prioritizing a robust and secure electoral system that reflects the will of the people.
How should government bring economic and job opportunities to Ohio?
The government can bring economic and job opportunities to Ohio by fostering a pro-business environment that encourages entrepreneurship and attracts investments. This can be achieved through tax incentives for small businesses, reducing regulatory burdens, and investing in infrastructure improvements. Additionally, enhancing workforce development programs to align skills training with market needs, collaborating with local universities and industries, and promoting innovation in sectors like manufacturing and technology can create sustainable job growth. Furthermore, supporting local agriculture and energy initiatives can diversify the economy and provide a solid foundation for long-term prosperity.
What are your aspirations for K-12 and higher education?
My aspirations for K-12 and higher education center around ensuring that all students receive a quality education that prepares them for the future while respecting parental rights and local control. I oppose over-testing, as it often detracts from real learning and puts undue pressure on students and teachers. Instead, I advocate for a balanced approach that prioritizes critical thinking, vocational training, and life skills alongside a rigorous academic curriculum. For higher education, I support measures that make college more affordable and accessible, including promoting alternative pathways like trade schools and apprenticeships, which can provide valuable skills without the burdensome debt often associated with traditional degrees.
Under what circumstances should the state support or check local government?
The state should support local government when it fosters policies that align with the values and needs of the community, particularly in areas of public safety, infrastructure, and education. However, the state must also intervene when local governments enact measures that overstep constitutional boundaries, infringe on individual liberties, or impose excessive regulations that hinder economic growth. Additionally, in instances where local policies lead to significant budgetary mismanagement or fiscal irresponsibility, the state has a responsibility to step in and ensure accountability. The goal should be to strike a balance that promotes local autonomy while safeguarding the principles of good governance and fiscal responsibility.
State your position on healthcare policy.
Healthcare policy should emphasize the importance of free-market principles, individual choice, and personal responsibility. Healthcare should primarily be managed between patients and providers without excessive government intervention. Promoting competition among insurance providers can lead to more affordable options and improved quality of care. While it’s crucial to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to care, I advocate for reforms that focus on reducing costs, improving efficiency, and boosting innovation, rather than expanding government run programs that can lead to increased taxes and bureaucratic inefficiencies. Goal is to create a healthcare system that prioritizes patient autonomy and encourages healthy lifestyles.
State your position on environmental policy and natural resource management?
My approach to environmental policy and natural resource management emphasizes the balance between responsible stewardship and economic growth. I believe that we have a duty to protect our natural resources for future generations, promoting conservation efforts that are practical and rooted in sound science. Local and state initiatives can effectively address environmental challenges without imposing heavy-handed regulations that stifle innovation and job creation. Embracing a free-market approach can lead to advances in technology that enhance energy efficiency and promote cleaner energy solutions, like natural gas and nuclear power, while still supporting traditional energy industries such as coal and oil.
What role, if any, should government take to ensure no person is discriminated against?
I believe that the government has a fundamental role in protecting individuals from discrimination through the enforcement of existing laws that uphold civil rights. It is essential for the government to ensure that everyone is treated equally under the law, regardless of race, gender, or religion.
Derrick Hall
Democrat
Candidate Email: Derrick@DerrickHallforOhio.com
Volunteer / Community Service: Akron Public Schools Board of Education, Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Ohio Board of Advisors, Stan Hywet Board of Directors, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio Board of Directors, Scouts BSA Board of Directors
Training / Experience: Assistant Vice President, Accountable Care & Payment Innovation, Integra Connect; Captain, U.S Army Reserve, JAG officer, System Director, Bundled Care & Episode Based Payment, Summa Health,
Campaign address: 844 Merriman Rd, Akron, Ohio, 44303
Website: DerrickHallForOhio.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DerrickHall2019/
Campaign phone: 330-958-8059
Education: Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, University of Akron; Doctor of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Juris Doctor, The Ohio State University, MBA, The Ohio State University, Master’s Clinical Service Operations (MCSO), Harvard Medical School
What are your top priorities and how will you address them?
Our top priorities include working to protect reproductive freedom, stronger & safer schools, improving healthcare access, environmental sustainability, growing small businesses, and enhancing services for our seniors. If elected our first step would be to establish a District 34 Leadership Council composed of elected officials and engaged residents that would serve as partners in determining the order in which we tackle our districts problems and areas of opportunity.
What changes do you support or oppose to voting and elections policy?
Simply put, we must end gerrymandering. It does not just lead to super majorities, it also leads to more extreme politics. We must support initiatives such as Citizens Not Politicians and consider others as they arise to tackle this problem.
It is also important that we continue the work to broaden voter participation in elections. State supported voter registration, automatic registration, same day voter registration, expanded days/times for early voting are all changes that should be supported to broaden access to our democracy.
How should government bring economic and job opportunities to Ohio?
State funding and support for small business and technology incubators are the key to creating homegrown jobs that can stay in Ohio. The jobs of the future will arise from the creation of these fertile, creative, and collaborative environments.
Additionally, the attraction of new employers will require greater alignment and cooperation between our schools, universities, trade schools, and businesses. This alignment is critical to creating a workforce that will support current employers and attract new employers.
Finally, it is important that we also focus on growing our existing small businesses. These small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. This can be done in part by revisiting our taxation scheme for small businesses.
What are your aspirations for K-12 and higher education?
K-12 education: our aspirations include ensuring and supporting stronger and safer schools. This can be accomplished in part by continuing and expanding state funded school safety grants. We must also let our teachers teach again. We must reduce the excessive standardized testing currently required.
It is also critical that we keep working to ensure fair school funding, adequate state support for capital expenditures, and reforming the state voucher program.
Higher Education: it is critical that the state facilitate greater communication and connection between state funded universities and our business community. Ohio’s best jobs should be filled by graduates of Ohio’s universities. We must also work to revitalize our trade community.
Under what circumstances should the state support or check local government?
The Ohio State Constitution is the governing document. The state should check local government if/when local governments engage in activities that violate the state and/or US Constitution.
State your position on healthcare policy.
We must continue to protect reproductive freedom. The Issue 1 victory in November must be upheld. Work is already underway to overturn the Issue 1 win.
We also confuse healthcare coverage and healthcare access. We must improve healthcare access. This can be achieved in part by setting Medicaid reimbursement equal to Medicare reimbursement. This type of payment reform will help our struggling health systems to provide healthcare to our working poor.
We must also work to update the Medicaid Fee Schedule which also serves as a barrier to access.
State your position on environmental policy and natural resource management?
Our position can be stated in four parts.
1) Protect the integrity of our public lands/parks
2) Ensure clean water from source to tap
3) Proactively support the expansion of solar/wind power initiatives
4) The expansion of incentives for homeowners and business owners to invest in environmental sustainability measures.
What role, if any, should government take to ensure no person is discriminated against?
The government has always had the primary responsibility to ensure no person is discriminated against. The government must continue to protect against and not support the tyranny of the majority.
