Jodi Salvo is seeking reelection but faces Amanda Fontana in the race for Ohio House of Representatives District 51.
As the incumbent, republican Salvo feels she has been an accessible and effective representative, and she would like to continue to be a voice for the local area.
“For the needs that I said I would initially run on, for mental health, behavioral health. I think rural Ohio in particular need strong voices in Columbus. We have different challenges in rural Ohio and I think coming from a social services background I understand a lot of those issues pretty well.”
Democrat challenger Fontana decided to run because of what she saw coming out of Columbus negatively affecting families and the community.
“One thing I know how to do is fight against these systems that don’t work for people. I believe my skill set is needed in Columbus and work with people and collaborate with people to come up with good solutions for the problems that we have but also be able to say no and push back so we’re not creating additional problems.”
Fontana says there are several issues she is concerned about.
“We need to get real serious very quickly about providing real property tax relief. Secondly, fully funding our public schools. Our schools were defunded $2.75 billion dollars. Reimplementing the Fair School Funding Plan but reimplementing that with the cost inputs so it keeps pace with the actual cost of educating a child. Another thing is accessible and affordable childcare.”
Salvo is seeking another term to continue legislation already in the works.
“I have legislation that will really make a difference. I have quite a few pieces dealing with behavioral health, in the aging space, and then I have legislation that has been brought to me by our constituents that we’re moving forward. I have a bill to finally to deal with our vaping epidemic. To get rid of our illicit vapes. Seventy percent of them are not made in the US.”
The winner will begin the term in January. Election Day is approaching on Tuesday. Polls will open at 6:30am and after they close at 7:30pm, tune into 99.9FM for coverage as results come in. Reaction stories will be posted to WTUZ’s Facebook page.
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