Two are vying for the district 31st senate seat, the incumbent and a college professor.
Republican Al Landis wants to return for another four-year term. His background includes coming from the private sector in manufacturing before serving eight years in the Ohio House then as a Tuscarawas County commissioner before moving to the senate. Landis says he remains passionate about serving people.
“Carried a bill which allowed the army to sell part of its property up in north Dover for economic development and we’re going to see some businesses along with jobs. I also worked on legislation that modernized the county recorder’s office. Most recently, I carried Senate bill 219, which brings some of the oil and gas regulations up to speed and makes us competitive.”
Challenger democrat Laura Sirot is a biology professor at the College of Wooster who studies disease-carrying mosquitoes and crop pests. She also serves on the Wayne County Children Services Board and has worked with the county’s dog shelter, leading student service projects to help address shelter challenges.
Sirot’s decision to run for senate was based upon concerns over current and future Ohioans ability to thrive.
“I’m seeing a world that’s less safe and full of less opportunities than the world I grew up in. I was also sick and tired of elected officials trying to divide Ohioans with false choices rather than bring us together with share problems. It seems like there is a lot of decisiveness and I’m someone who likes to bring people together to solve problems and that’s what I do every day as a scientist.”
Sirot is concerned about issues including funding for public schools and libraries, affordability surrounding healthcare, childcare, and eldercare, along with accountability where taxes are going. Sirot says when it comes to data centers, she supports pausing approval until an analysis is conducted on the pros and cons.
“Our legislators gave a tax abatement to some of the largest companies to companies building data centers, but to me I think tax money should come in from the big companies and not be extracted from employees, and I’m really wondering how long those jobs are going to last so in terms of benefits I think they’re a bit questionable. I think we have no idea what the costs are going to be to our community. We have already seen jumps in electricity bills, concerns about water, noise pollution, and just the general impact of what land is being used to build them on.”
If reelected, Landis would like to focus on jobs, energy independence, mental health awareness, and stopping the flow of illicit drugs. On data centers, Landis says that’s a decision for the local level with some state oversight.
“We’re working on Senate Bill 646, and it deals with energy generation and mega-watts, and it deals with how much tax abatement can be given. They want to be here because of our environment so I think the locals can negotiate, and I think that’s going to benefit people like Buckeye Career Center and Kent State Tuscarawas.”
The 31st Senate District covers the counties of Wayne, Tuscarawas, Muskingum, and part of Stark and Guernsey counties.
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