League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
	Hamilton County, OH November 6, 2012 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues State Representative; District 28

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Qualifications, Implementation, Issue facing district Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What are your qualifications for office? (50 Word limit) Answer from Connie Pillich: As a veteran, I understand service, sacrifice, and duty. As an attorney, I understand how the law can help people and how it can hurt people. As a business owner, I understand making a living and treating employees fairly. As a mom, I understand the challenges families face. Answer from Mike Wilson: As a small business owner, father and husband, I understand the common sense leadership needed in Columbus. As a member of the Hamilton County Tax Levy Review Committee, I help hold government and agencies accountable. As co-founder of the Ohio Liberty Coalition, I understand where government can do better. Answer from Robert R. Ryan: I served my community in Parent Teachers Associations Legislative, Neighborhood Associations, Knights of Columbus, Citizens Police Academy, Political Central Committees, Weed and Seed Steering, Non Profit Boards, and Amnesty International Radio Host. I served my country in the U.S. Army as Squad Leader, Law Enforcement SWAT instructor and Honorable discharge. 2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit) Answer from Connie Pillich: VETERANS: Help veterans and their families obtain jobs and open businesses. Provide unemployment benefits to military spouses. Include military experience in some state licensure credits. JOBS: Target investment and tax incentives to industries that will stay long-term and create jobs. Create an educated workforce, build reliable infrastructure, and have the tax structure and policies to make Ohio the best business climate in the Midwest. Balance the budget and cut waste. EDUCATION: Make education a priority and restore lost funding to schools. Answer from Mike Wilson: In talking to families throughout my district, I understand that they feel that government is out of touch. The best place to gain insight on how to cut costs is by talking to government employees who often deal with unnecessary bureaucracy simply because state law requires it. We must address ways in which we can eliminate unnecessary paperwork, mailing and advertising. If the federal government regulates something, then state and local officials should eradicate duplicative state and local agencies and regulations that merely exist to collect fees. Ohioans are still taxed too much, and we need to address Ohio taxation. Answer from Robert R. Ryan: As an engineer I have the skills to provide sound input on improving our state's Infrastructure such as roads & bridges & energy production. I have the experience in promoting criminal justice reforms & human rights. I have testified several times and influenced current legislation. We need to focus on people we are afraid of and not people we do not like. I would support Ohio economy & jobs via improving business climate by simplifying workers compensation system to be more competitive and less of an administrative burden. Ohio system is cumbersome and virtually alone in it's current form. 3. What is the biggest issue facing the district you hope to represent? What will do you do in office to address it? Answer from Connie Pillich: Education is the biggest issue facing my district. The state has slashed funding for public schools, causing many programs to be cut and classroom sizes to increase. This spells disaster for our schools, our children, and our future. I introduced legislation to restore lost funding, and I will continue to fight for our schools. They must be solidly funded, academically rigorous, and accountable to the taxpayers. We need strong schools for our children to succeed and our state to prosper. Answer from Robert R. Ryan: One of the biggest issue facing our district is having the people with the right skill set to support our region's potential for economic growth. We need to truly support our educational system so our industries have the workers to grow and prosper. We spend far too much on incarceration rather than on education. Answer from Mike Wilson: It is common sense that the biggest issue facing my district is the economy. The answer to improving our economy is also common sense. We need to focus on creating a healthy job creation environment, eliminating duplicative and useless bureaucracy and regulation, and provide our workforce with updated training, education and technology so that they can compete in the marketplace. If we do these things, Ohio will become more attractive, and profitable, for job creators. Ohio needs leaders who will cut spending and lower taxes like their jobs depend on it. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Answers will be cut off if they exceed a word limit, if present. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.