ELECTIONS
OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 1
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ELECTIONS
2 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026
Acton brings public health background to Ohio governor’s race CASEY SWINARSKI cswinarski@cjn.org
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r. Amy Acton, a Youngstown native, is running as the 2026 Democratic nominee for Governor of Ohio. Former director of the Ohio Department of Health under Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration, Acton is running on a liberal, affordability-based agenda. Her campaign seeks to “fight for every Ohio family that’s struggling today,” according to her campaign website, actonforgovernor. com. As governor, Acton’s “number one priority” will be to secure a tax cut for Ohio’s working families through the Acton | actonforgovernor.com Working Families Tax Cut, designed to help parents shoulder the burden of raising a family. It includes an Earned Income Credit that will support up to 775,000 working families and would aim to implement a child tax credit of $1,000 a year for children aged 0-6 and $500 for children aged 7-18 for families making up to $85,000 in annual income. On energy, Acton wants to lower energy bills for Ohioans by enhancing production, incorporating the lowest-cost and cleanest sources of energy, and expanding access to cost-saving
programs like Ohio’s Home Energy Assistance Program, the Percentage of Income Payment Plan and Home Weatherization Assistance Program. As a doctor, Acton has spoken out about increasing access to affordable and accessible healthcare in the state during her campaign. To do this, Acton said that as governor she would aim to protect against attacks on Medicaid and Medicare, reduce prescription drug prices, forgive medical debt, lower healthcare premiums and “crack down” on surprise billing and aggressive collections. The wife of a public school teacher, Acton has also been outspoken about education and improving access to a free, high-quality education in public schools. As governor, Acton said she would restore public school funding to a constitutional level and implement the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan, bringing reform to what she called a “corrupt” school voucher system. Acton received her master’s degree in public health from The Ohio State University and her medical degree from Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine. On data centers, Acton said that the fact that they are moving into Ohio’s communities in secrecy and raising costs is “unacceptable.” “I support a conditional moratorium on data centers to ensure they cover one hundred percent of their utility costs, exclusively build with union labor, operate with full
transparency, support the needs of local communities, live by Ohio’s environmental standards, and bring jobs to former industrial areas that have been left behind,” she wrote on her campaign website. As governor, Acton said she would support robust state guardrails for data centers, including all costs covered by the data centers themselves, any development completed by union labor, ensuring that all centers are built on data centers or industrial areas where jobs have been lost, and environmental protections. “Ohio won’t loosen our air quality and groundwater standards for data centers,” she said. Acton is running alongside former Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper. They are endorsed by the Ohio Education Association, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Dayton Building and Construction Trades Council, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, National Security Leaders for America, Ohio Nurses Association, Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund, The Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors, Ohio Postal Workers Union and more. Personally, Acton lives in Bexley, with her husband, Eric, a teacher and coach in Bexley Public Schools. Together, they have six children. Acton will face off against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Libertarian Don Kissick.
Ramaswamy focuses on taxes, energy and education CASEY SWINARSKI cswinarski@cjn.org
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ivek Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati native, is running as the 2026 Republican nominee for Governor of Ohio. Founder of Roivant Sciences and author of “Woke, Inc.,” Ramaswamy is running on a conservative, businessgrounded agenda. His campaign seeks to expand economic opportunity, empower Ramaswamy parents in education | vivekforohio.com and strengthen local communities across all 88 Ohio counties, according to his campaign website, vivekforohio.com. Striving to make Ohio the “most affordable state in America,” as governor, Ramaswamy hopes to eliminate property taxes to “protect families, seniors, and homeowners from being priced out of their communities” and phase out the state
income tax, starting with eliminating capital gains taxes. On energy, he strives to reduce electric bills, expand natural gas and deploy innovative energy technologies, streamline energy project permits and remove unnecessary regulations so that projects get built “on time and on budget.” Throughout his campaign, Ramaswamy has appealed to trade workers, union groups, farmers, sheriffs and more across Ohio by promising to create an economy “built on opportunity.” To carry out this promise, Ramaswamy said he would strive to cut government “bloat,” slash red tape that drives up costs and stalls business growth, attract industries of the future with low-cost energy and create more paths to business ownership. A father of three, he has also expressed interest in improving education standards, with a focus on 3rd grade literacy, 8th grade numeracy and 12th grade civics, as well as promoting physical education and expanding career-technical education, he said.. Ramaswamy himself graduated as
valedictorian from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati and holds a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Harvard University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Yale University. In the news of late, Ramaswamy has commented on the position he would take when approaching the subject of data centers in Ohio. “After traveling all 88 counties and listening to workers, farmers, union leaders, building trades, small business owners, environmental groups, and grassroots activists, I am convinced that the best path forward is neither unrestrained data center growth nor a permanent categorical ban,” Ramaswamy wrote in an Aug. 16 op-ed published in The Columbus Dispatch. “The right answer is a policy framework that allows Ohio families to prosper economically while protecting local communities.” He has pledged that if a data center is built in an Ohio community, then residents will no longer have to pay for their home’s electricity and will pay lower property taxes, and the data center will be required to
abide by all air and water quality standards without exception to protect the state’s farmland. “If any one of these three conditions is not met, the data center won’t be built,” he said. Ramaswamy’s running mate is state Senate President Rob McColley. They are endorsed by President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance, outgoing Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio State Medical Association PAC, Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association and more. Personally, he and his wife, Dr. Apoorva Ramaswamy, a throat surgeon at The Ohio State University, are raising their family in greater Columbus. Ramaswamy will be facing off with Democrat Dr. Amy Acton and Libertarian Don Kissick.
ELECTIONS
OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 3
Miller, Poindexter face off in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District race
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hio’s 7th congressional district is up for grabs in the 2026 general election with an incumbent that has a history in Washington D.C. looking to fend off a challenge from a union organizer and ironworker. Republican Max Miller, who has served in the U.S. House of Representative since 2023, is facing Democrat Brain Poindexter, an at-large member of Brook Park City Council who works as an apprenticeship instructor at Ironworkers Local 17 in Cleveland. Voters will cast their ballots on Nov. 3 with early voting already underway. Miller “We’re just focused on what we can control, which is giving our message out there, showing the good work that we’ve done for the district and coming back after November without questions,” Miller said during a Sept. 28 appearance on The Jake Underwood Show, a Cleveland-based conservative radio show. Miller was born and raised in Shaker Heights, and he graduated from Cleveland State University in 2013 with his bachelor’s Poindexter in history. He joined the Marine Reserve, where he was a corporal, and served from 2013-2019. He served four years in the White House as Director of Presidential Advance and as a Senior Advisor to President Donald J. Trump. In 2022, Miller was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio’s seventh district, which encompasses southern and western Cuyahoga County, all of Medina and Wayne Counties and a sliver of northern Holmes County. In May 2026, Miller’s ex-wife Emily Moreno, the daughter of Ohio Republican senator Bernie Moreno, accused Miller in court filings and police reports of throwing boiling water at her, holding a gun to her head and other physical abuse. She also alleged that their daughter’s collarbone was broken in Miller’s care. Miller has denied all allegations and has not been charged. “I categorically deny abusing my former wife,” Miller said in an Aug. 2 livestream on X. “Family court disputes are often emotional, painful and deeply personal. And unfortunately for anyone who has lived through a contested custody case, it is not uncommon for exaggerated, even entirely baseless allegations of abuse, to surface in exactly this setting as leverage. Unfortunately, those private disputes have been turned into public spectacle, and now I have to address them.” In 1998, Poindexter was arrested under suspicion of possessing crack cocaine, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. According to an ad produced by Miller’s campaign, “Poindexter tried to hide the evidence by swallowing rocks of crack cocaine.” Poindexter was never charged and he denied the allegation, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. “I was arrested, but I can tell you right now, I was never charged with hard drugs because I’ve never done hard drugs,” he told Spectrum News. “It’s just another distraction Max Miller is going to do, to try to take away from the fact that he’s credibly accused by not only women, but Republican women who have accused him of these things.” Miller’s campaign responded in a statement to Spectrum
News, “Of course he is going to say his arrest being highlighted is a distraction, instead of negating it. He knows it happened, he knows the police report is out there, and he knows it is very indicative of his character. Voters deserve to know who they are considering to advocate for them in Congress.” According to his campaign site, Miller “takes vigorous action and pushes for commonsense policies that put Ohio and America First. He proudly fights for the 7th District, is their voice in Congress, and is laser-focused on the issues that matter to its citizens the most – high taxation, workforce development, fentanyl overdoses caused by an unfettered southern border, supporting law enforcement, and bolstering American energy security.” Miller said he has voted to support making tax cuts permanent, no tax on tips and no tax on overtime; made it his mission to expand workforce development and career and technical education opportunities that create prosperity for individuals and build a stronger future for America; fight for increased funding and support for law enforcement; continue to fight to maintain a secure southern border; continue to support the policies of the Trump administration to develop American energy independence and reduce the costs of gas and electricity; work to improve the economy by working to make America the best place to create a job; and rebuild and modernize infrastructure to strengthen supply chains, reduce dependence on foreign competitors and keep America secure, according to his website. Raised in Cleveland, Poindexter began working in a machine shop at 15, according to his campaign site. After high school, he worked in kitchens and factories, driving tow motors, plating and
powder coating. He later joined the moving industry, obtaining his Class A CDL and traveling the country. Poindexter became an Ironworker in 2007, working his way through the apprenticeship program while simultaneously earning an Associate Degree in Applied Industrial Technology from Cuyahoga Community College. After graduating, he spent two years as a union organizer before returning to the field in 2014 and today serves as an apprenticeship instructor. In 2017, he was elected as an At-Large member of Brook Park City Council. “I’m tired from 31 years of hard labor, and I’m still a blown engine away from financial despair,” Poindexter said at an Oct. 7 campaign rally in Parma. “I’m tired of working my (butt) off, just like everybody else in this district, and seeing our tax dollars squandered on useless wars. I’m tired of watching people be buried in medical debt or avoid going to the doctor altogether. And, I am tired of seeing politicians dangle our Social Security in front of us, saying, ‘Oh, just work a little longer.’ That’s why I’m tired. And that’s why I got in this race.” Poindexter said his primary focus is the cost of living, saying on his campaign site that working families are getting “squeezed” and that he has a plan to bring down the prices of gas, groceries and health care. “Working families are paying whileGraduate corporations Cleveland Heights Highmore School post record profits,” Poindexter said on his campaign site. “An Received Bachelor’s in Child economy that works should work for theDevelopment people who power it.” Other Poindexter lists on his website include: andpriorities Psychology workers’ rights and unions, saying every worker Received Master’s in Education fromdeserves the
KEEP JudgeKEEP Pamela A.
Judge Pamela A.
HAWKINS HAWKINS Domestic Relations Court
Domestic Relations Court
EDUCATED KEEP Judge Pamela A.
HAWKINS
Cleveland State CONGRESS University | CONTINUED ON PAGE 34 Received Master of Science in Social Domestic Relations Court Administration from Case As a born and raised Clevelander, Judge Hawkins has dedicated Received JuristoDoctorate Cleveland her entire legal career the people from of Cuyahoga County. Her experience her of to Law know and understand the issues Marshallallows College that our county is facing. Pamela prides herself on her integrity and knowledge, striving to ensure the law is applied equally and fairly to all.Vote to Keep Pamela Hawkins for the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court.
EXPERIENCED
EDUCATED Appointed May 2026 Judge for Domestic • • • • •
Cleveland Heights High School Graduate Relations Court Received Bachelor’s in Child Development and Psychology Received from Cleveland State University 22 Master’s years asin aEducation Licensed Attorney Received Master of Science in Social Administration from Case 12 years as a Social Worker and remains an Received Juris Doctorate from Cleveland Marshall College of Law
As aIndependently born and raised Clevelander, Judge Hawkins Licensed Social Worker EXPERIENCED her entire legal career to the has 16dedicated years as aJudge Solofor Practitioner representing • Appointed May 2026 Domestic Relations Court people of Cuyahoga County. Her experience • 22 years as a Licensed Children and Attorney Parents in Cuyahoga County to Worker know and andremains understand the issues • 12allows years asher a Social an Independently Licensed Juvenile Court Social As a born and raised Clevelander, Judge Hawkins thatWorker our county is facing. Pamela prides herself 4 years as Practitioner an Assistant Prosecuting • 16years as representing Children hasa Solo dedicated her entire legal career to Attorney theand Parents on her integrity and knowledge, striving to in Cuyahoga County Court of Juvenile Cuyahoga County. HerFamily experience forpeople Division of Children and Services the lawtoisknow applied equally fairly of to all. • 4ensure years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and for allows her and understand theDivision issues Children and Family Services Vote to Keep Pamela Hawkins the Cuyahoga that our county is facing. Pamela for prides herself on her integrity and knowledge, striving to County Domestic Relations Court. ensure the law is applied equally and fairly to all. Keep Judge Pamela Hawkins Vote to Keep Pamela Hawkins for the A. Cuyahoga for Domestic Relations County Domestic Relations Court. Court VOTE
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ELECTIONS
4 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026
Husted, Brown vie for Ohio Senate seat in special election JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org
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he special U.S. Senate race to decide who will serve the remaining two years of the term that now Vice President J.D. Vance was elected to in 2022 is a battle between the current incumbent and a former three-term senator. Republican Jon Husted, who was appointed to fill Vance’s vacancy in January 2025 by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, is attempting to hold onto the seat against Democrat Sherrod Brown, who served as a U.S. Senator from 2007 to 2025, losing to Republican Bernie Moreno in the 2024 general election. Voters head to the polls Nov. 3 to cast their ballots with early voting already underway. Brown has run on a platform geared toward targeting what he has called an imbalance between the economic classes that is disproportionately targeting lower-income Americans and benefiting wealthy individuals and big business. “In small towns and in farm country, we see people showing up like never before,” Brown said at a campaign rally in Toledo on Aug. 20. “They’re angry for a good reason. They’re frustrated. They’re demanding change. They know the system is rigged more than ever. Corporate profits have soared. Executive salaries have exploded.” Husted said on his campaign website that he has prioritized keeping Ohio communities safe, citing his work of securing funding for law enforcement and working in the U.S. Senate to secure the border as just a few of his initiatives
Brown
Husted
that have helped Ohioans. “What do you believe in? And are you willing to fight for it?” Husted said at a campaign rally held with President Donald Trump in Vandalia on Oct. 3. “I’ll tell you what I believe in. I believe in hard work, personal responsibility, family, faith, freedom and patriotism. …I believe in this state, and I love Ohio.” Brown was born and raised in Mansfield before earning a bachelor’s in Russia studies from Yale University and his master’s in education and public administration at The Ohio State University. He was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in November 1974, serving the 61st district until 1983, was the Secretary of State of Ohio from 1983 to 1991 and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio’s 13th district from 1993 to January 2007. According to Brown’s campaign site, if elected he would fight to “ban health insurance companies from denying the care your doctor says you need. And if they try to deny your claims, we’ll fine them. ...make it illegal for drug companies to charge Americans more than
they do in other countries, because the same pill should be the same price. ...require data centers to pay the full cost of their utilities so your bills don’t go up. ....(and) cap how much utility companies can raise your rates, to make sure your bills are affordable and predictable.” Husted, who was raised in Montpeiler, earned a bachelor’s in education and a master’s in communications from the University of Dayton. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 41st district, holding the seat from 2001 to 2009, a tenure that saw him serve as the Speaker of the House for the final four years. He was a member of the Ohio Senate from the sixth district from 2009 to 2011 and was the Secretary of State of Ohio from 2011 to 2019. He was the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio from 2019 to 2025, when he was appointed by DeWine to fill Vance’s seat. According to Husted’s campaign site, “in the Senate, he has voted to protect women, girls, and their sports and to give law enforcement more tools to convict criminals who have helped flood Ohio communities with the fentanyl that is stealing lives. He has also worked to protect children from online predators. Sen. Husted’s track record of defending the rights of women, children, and the unborn began in his own family. His adoption has made him a faithful pro-family leader and advocate for parents and their children.” While speaking to reporters after casting his ballot in Columbus on Oct. 6, Brown said that “Husted has contributed” to the “rigged system.” “He’s voted to keep this war (against Iran)
going,” Brown said. “14 times he’s voted for this war, pushing up diesel prices, pushing up gas prices, up fertilizer prices, causing inflation, and people didn’t vote for this.” During a speech at the Republican National midterm convention in Dallas on Sept. 9, Husted said that when Brown was elected to office over 50 years ago, “he got to work leaving families like mine behind.” “But Ohioans are on to his game,” Husted said. “Remember when Democrats were in charge less than two years ago? Well this is what was going on then. Under Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Sherrod Brown, Democrats gave us open borders and sanctuary cities and voted to give our tax dollars to illegal immigrants.” Both candidates stressed the importance of Ohioans flocking to the polls to make their voices heard. “I’m not asking you to winter at Valley Forge,” Husted said at the Oct. 3 rally. “I’m not asking you to serve at Gettysburg. I am not asking you to storm the beaches of Normandy. I’m asking you to get out and vote. ...Your freedom and your future are on the ballot. Are you going to fight for it?” Brown said the answer to inequality is to “fight back against a rigged system so everyone – not just the wealthy – has a fair shot.” “That’s the fight we’re in,” he said in a post to his substack on Oct. 6. “And now that early voting has started, it’s a fight happening in real time. In a toss-up race like Ohio, what matters is if our campaign can act quickly enough, organize well enough, and reach enough people before the other side’s billionaire donors drown us out.”
Mailers promoting a socialist candidate in Ohio’s US Senate race have links to MAGA super PAC vendor JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press COLUMBUS – Campaign mailers urging Ohio voters to support a socialist U.S. Senate candidate over Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown are being underwritten by a newly incorporated PAC with ties to President Donald Trump’s MAGA Inc., public filings show. The mailers are sponsored by Enough Promises Ohio PAC and began arriving in voters’ mailboxes in recent days. They promote independent candidate Greg Levy over Brown with messages such as “Join the Revolution” and “Send a Worker to the Senate.” Levy describes himself as “Socialist running for the
CONGRESS | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33
freedom to organize without intimidation; fighting to bring down the cost of insurance and prescription drugs while protecting rural hospitals; ensuring companies invest in American
U.S. Senate to represent Ohio in 2026” on his X account. Levy condemned the fliers for falsely impersonating his campaign and engaging in “dirty tricks” designed to mislead voters. He said he is considering legal action. “This is a highly undemocratic practice and does a disservice to voters in Ohio and throughout the country,” he wrote on X. According to Federal Election Commission filings, Enough Promises Ohio was founded on Sept. 29. It has not yet had to disclose its contributors, but additional federal filings lay out a trail of associations linked to Republicans. Enough Promises paid the firm Seven Farms more than $397,000 on two dates last week for printing, postage and mail services either supporting Levy or opposing Brown. Seven Farms,
also a new entity, lists as its address the same South Carolina business suite as the one used by Whistlestop Strategies LLC. Whistlestop is a direct mail outfit operated by Big Dog Strategies LLC, the strategy firm that advises Trump’s MAGA Inc. super PAC and that managed Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno’s successful campaign against Brown in 2024. Messages seeking comment were left with Enough Promises Ohio and Big Dog. MAGA Inc. and affiliated groups began pouring huge sums of cash into midterm races in September, after party officials had been urging Trump to begin spending some of the fortune he had amassed to help embattled Republicans before it was too late.
workers and communities; fighting to end corruption; working to protect Medicare and strengthen Social Security; giving control to communities over whether data centers are built and fighting to make sure utilities aren’t raised to subsidize them; and supporting law enforcement.
The winner will oversee a district that includes Solon, Bentleyville, Glenwillow, Independence, Parma, Brecksville, Broadview Heights and North Royalton. Also running are Thahbia Asad and Andrey Martinichin as independents.
ELECTIONS
OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 5
CH-UH schools seek levy amid projected state funding cuts MARTHA SOROHAN msorohan@cjn.org
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leveland Heights-University Heights City Schools Board of Education President Gabe Crenshaw believes that if Ohio’s legislators had implemented the Fair School Funding Plan they passed in 2021, the school district might not be asking voters on Nov. 3 to pass Issue 4, a continuing 6.5-mill levy that would bring in $11.1 million annually. Failing to implement the original FSFP means the state is not paying its fair share toward public education, Crenshaw believes. Cleveland Heights-University Heights CFO and treasurer Angele Latham reported to the school board in July that the Crenshaw district received $9.2 million of the $16.5 million originally allotted for 2026-27 under the original FSFP. It is forecast to lose $7 million in state funding over the next two years, its website says. “There is a budget shortage, we are in deficit spending, and we are forced to go back to the community,” Crenshaw said. Crenshaw defined “deficit spending” as expenses exceeding revenues, sending the district to dig into its reserves – “not Lynn savings,” she said – to pay its bills. “It will run out,” she said. “And by law, we cannot have that happen.” If approved, Issue 4 will increase by $228 annual property tax bills per $100,000 property valuation, or $19 per month, starting with the first half of 2027, the website shows. School officials say that without a levy, the district’s declining general fund balance will be in the red by $3.7 million at the start of Fiscal Year 2030, despite $5 million in recent cuts eliminating 32 positions and laying off 21 employees. The CH-UH district serves 5,000 students from pre-K to 12th grade in seven elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a career and technical education consortium, an alternative options school and early childhood learning program. Crenshaw noted that while the district must transport all private and parochial school students within its boundaries, it does not transport to Cleveland Heights High School. “I think we’ve been very good fiscal stewards,” Crenshaw said, confirming the Ohio Auditor of State Recognition for financial reporting and accountability available on the website. “Usually, levy cycles are every two to three years and we’ve been able to
“We want our schools to succeed. The community has been generous to our schools, and the district wants more and more. Does it go to students or administrators?” Maureen Lynn TigerNation4LowerTaxes
“We are focusing on getting the message out, letting people know the facts, how we are all stakeholders and that we all – Cleveland Heights and University Heights – benefit from the levy.” Gabe Crenshaw Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools Board of Education push it out farther.” Crenshaw was referring to Cleveland Heights-University Heights’ continuing operating levy in 2020 that passed on its second attempt in 2021 by 70 votes after millage was reduced from 7.6 to 4.8. But Maureen Lynn, treasurer of the seven-year-old political action committee TigerNation4LowerTaxes, told the CJN that the issue is not lack of funding, but poor funding allocation. She said the district’s tax rate is among the top of Ohio’s 611 public school districts, and that the Ohio Department of Education website shows its $4,411 per student in administrative costs is twice that of similar-sized districts. “Why aren’t they reducing administrators?” she said. The PAC says that the district spends $27,600 per student annually, compared to $17,000 in similar-sized districts, and that its taxpayers pay $10 million annually to maintain underutilized and vacant district buildings. TigerNation4LowerTaxes is pushing via an online petition for a $75,000 school district Performance Audit from the Ohio Department of Education. It says the district’s last such audit in 1996 found $6 to $7 million in annual savings from faculty and staffing levels, employee benefits and student transportation costs. Despite 2,000 signatures for a Performance Audit in 2020, the district refused, Lynn said. She said she believes it played into the 2020 levy defeat. “We want our schools to succeed,” Lynn, a 15-year Cleveland Heights resident, said. “The community has been generous to our schools, and the district wants more and more. Does it go to students or administrators?” Regarding the district’s annual per-pupil expenditure, Crenshaw stated individual students needs differ, and that “per pupil” costs are not evenly divided among students enrolled. Crenshaw also said that while the school board has not determined the path forward should the levy be defeated, Latham told the school board in July that delaying a levy would require a larger levy in the future. “We are focusing on getting the message out, letting people know the facts, how we are all stakeholders and that we all – Cleveland Heights and University Heights – benefit from the levy,” she said. “I’m an alumna, and my husband as well, and our daughters are graduates. I just want people to know that you can’t have a great community without great public schools.”
COURTNEY
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ELECTIONS
6 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026
Futures are too important for anything less.
Sunny Simon
Lifelong Democrat. 35 years protecting
parents and children in family law.
DEMOCRAT
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Orange schools put 5-mill operating levy before voters MARTHA SOROHAN msorohan@cjn.org
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f voters in the Orange City Schools District approve Issue 8, a 5-mill continuing levy, on Nov. 3, the school district will receive an additional $7,755,983 in annual revenue starting in 2027. This will add $175 per year, or $14.58 per month, to property taxes for each $100,000 of property valuation. It has been 15 years since Orange schools, with 2,209 students in five buildings pre-K through high school, put an operating levy on the ballot. The 5-mill continuous levy passed in 2011 has been bringing in around $5 million annually. Due to Ohio House Bill 920, it cannot be adjusted for inflation. Now, the district’s Five-Year Forecast – mandated biannually by the Ohio Department of Education – shows the district is in “deficit spending,” which means that its cash balance is declining, said Orange City Schools Superintendent Dr. Lynn Campbell. “It’s not really a ‘negative’ cash, just a decline in cash that is eating up our cash reserves,” he told the Cleveland Jewish News. “The way our schools are funded, our forecasts show the need for a levy.” The forecast shows the district will begin the next fiscal year July 1 with a nearminimum general fund cash balance before cash reserves decline. This violates the Orange Board of Education’s 2005 policy, which is posted on its website, that “tax levies shall be pursued as needed to ensure a general fund cash balance equivalent of at least three months of general fund expenses.” While the district will be solvent through the end of fiscal year 2029, according to Orange Schools treasurer/CFO Gary Platko, deficit spending will continue through fiscal year 2031 without new money. While Orange voters approved by 70% the school district’s 1.5-mill continuing permanent improvement levy in 2023, he said PI revenue may fund only items with minimum five-year lifespans such as books, buses, buildings and technology. It cannot be spent on operating costs and is excluded from school district financial forecasts. Platko further clarified that while the Orange Schools district is the fiscal agent for the non-profit Orange Community Education & Recreation, its funds are not commingled. OCER is funded by program fees and a separate .95-mill operating levy that voters in the district’s communities of
Campbell
Platko
Orange Village, Pepper Pike, Moreland Hills, Woodmere and Hunting Valley have renewed every five years since OCER’s founding in the 1970s. According to the school district’s website, passage of the new operating levy will maintain one of eastern Cuyahoga County’s lowest tax rates. Orange City Schools District’s tax rate is now 34.37. But the district’s $34,000 annual per-pupil spending, and average classroom teacher salary of $103,987, were among the state’s highest in 2025, according to the Auditor of State’s Longitudinal School Finance Study. Like the district’s 2023 PI levy and the 2011 operating levy, the Issue 8 5-mill operating levy is a continuous levy, which Campbell said is becoming standard for school districts. “As school leaders, it’s the way to go because it helps reinforce planning,” he said. “You have a continuous revenue source. If you have to guess every three, five or seven years, you can’t confidently plan and budget.” Only if the levy is defeated, Campbell said, will the school board discuss next steps. “We didn’t want to be seen as running scare tactics or threats,” he said. “But we would ask the board to approve a resolution to put the levy back on the ballot in May. The problem is with collections. If it goes on the ballot in 2027, we won’t collect anything until 2028, and we’d have to ask for a higher levy.” Apart from a small group in Hunting Valley questioning district expenditures, Campbell said he is unaware of active levy opposition. “Instead of talking about what might happen if the levy does not pass, we’re taking the opposite approach, that families and the community like what we’re doing, what we’re producing,” Campbell said. “We’ve said here’s what we offer, here’s what you’re getting, and that’s what we’re maintaining.”
ELECTIONS
OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 7
Who’s on your Nov. 3 ballot? A look at all the midterm races
T
he Cleveland Jewish News sent questionnaires to candidates, each of whom were asked the same set of questions. Responses appear in the candidates’ own words, but may have been edited for brevity and clarity to meet alloted word count and style. Not all candidates returned questionnaires, or chose to respond to all of the prompts. Any responses received after deadline will appear online at cjn.org/elections. A complete list of candidates and ballot issues is available at boe.cuyahogacounty.gov for Cuyahoga County residents or through other county boards of elections websites. Absentee voting by mail and early in-person voting began Oct. 6, with early voters able to
U.S. House – Ohio’s 7th District Vote for Not More Than 1
Max Miller (incumbent) Age: 37 Current occupation: U.S. Representative Campaign website: votemaxmiller.com Why are you the best candidate for the office? I have been successfully representing the Ohio 7th District for almost four years now. I am a born and raised Ohioan. I know our communities, serving them in this capacity has allowed me to only further understand the needs and values of our state. Since I have been in Congress, I have helped keep more money in your paychecks, secured our nation’s border and assisted our large Ukrainian population. I look forward to continuing to represent this district.
Brian Poindexter Age: 47 Current occupation: Union ironworker City of residence: Brook Park Campaign website: poindexterforcongress. com Why are you the best candidate for the office? I am the best candidate because I will put workers first. I started working when I was 15, lived paycheck to paycheck,
Vote Early In-Person When to Vote | November 3, 2026 General Election
vote at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections at 1803 Superior Ave. in Cleveland All absentee ballot applications must be received by the board of elections by 8:30 p.m. Oct. 27. All regular voteby-mail, absentee ballots that are returned in person to the board of elections must be received by 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3. Polls will be open on Election Day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. To find your polling place, visit boe.cuyahogacounty.gov. All voters need to bring an acceptable form of ID to vote. Follow these and all other local and statewide General Election races at cjn.org/elections. Download the CJN News app on the Apple Store and Google Play for push notifications on election night.
and spent the past 20 years as a union Ironworker, so I know how much working people are getting screwed in Washington. My opponent has voted over and over for policies that are raising prices on working people, like blanket tariffs and huge cuts to healthcare funding. I will work to undo those policies, while ending the war in Iran to bring down gas prices. We cannot afford Max Miller’s policies anymore. I will also fight to end the corruption in Washington, because it is drowning out the voice of working families. Unlike my opponent, I do not take Corporate PAC money and I will not trade stocks as a member of Congress. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? The most important issue is helping working families keep up with rising prices. To bring down prices, I support reversing the healthcare cuts, undoing the blanket tariffs and ending the war in Iran. I also support raising wages and improving benefits so people can support their family on one job. My union changed my life, and I would support the PRO Act so more people can start or join a union and bargain for better wages – benefiting everyone. Finally, I will fight to make sure everyone who works hard can retire with dignity. I will fight to protect Social Security and Medicare, and strengthen collective bargaining for pension plans. What are your thoughts on the Middle East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? I believe we must end the war. It has destabilized the region, making everyone less safe – including American service members and Israeli civilians. It has spent
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down US munitions. And it has driven up gas prices here at home, which is hurting families at the pump and raising the price of everything shipped on trucks. Unlike Max Miller, I will be a vote to end this war.
U.S. Senate Vote for Not More Than 1
Sherrod Brown Age: 73 Current occupation: Former U.S. Senator City of residence: Bexley Campaign website and campaign Facebook page: sherrodbrown. com and facebook.com/ sherrod Brown Why are you the best candidate for the office? Ohioans know I will work with anyone when it’s right for Ohio and stand up to anyone who gets in the way. That’s why I fought to restore Social Security benefits for nearly 250,000 Ohio workers, capped Ohio seniors’ insulin costs at $35 and expanded healthcare coverage for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. Ohio’s families know they can trust me to take on the cost-of-living crisis and to lower costs. Husted has surrounded himself with extremists. Husted hired a Nazi enthusiast as his political director, and only fired him after reporting revealed that he posted Nazi imagery on social media. From leading the charge to bring data centers to Ohio, voting against releasing the Epstein files and being at the center of the largest
Source: Cuyahoga County Board of Elections
bribery scandal in Ohio history, Senator Husted has proven that he does not care about hardworking Ohioans. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? My first priority will be to lower costs for Ohioans and ensure that our leaders are working for working families – not lining their own pockets and doing the bidding of special interests. In the Senate, I’ll fight to ensure data centers pay the full cost of their electricity so that Ohioans aren’t footing the bill. I’ll also fight to lower health insurance costs by making it illegal for drug companies to charge more for the same pill in America than in other countries and by banning health insurance companies from denying care that your doctor approved – and we’ll fine them if they do. I’ll also fight to ban members of Congress and their spouses from trading stocks or becoming lobbyists after they leave office. What are your thoughts on the Middle East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? Ohioans still haven’t gotten a clear answer about why we’re in an endless war with Iran, or why we’re sending our money and resources overseas while diesel costs have hit an all-time high and grocery and gas prices are soaring. Jon Husted has voted 14 times in support of this war – families across Ohio are already struggling and food prices are going up as a result of Husted’s votes. We have to end this war now.
Republican candidate Jon Husted (incumbent) did not return a questionnaire. CANDIDATES | CONTINUED ON PAGE 38
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8 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026 CANDIDATES | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37
U.S. House – Ohio’s 11th District Vote for Not More Than 1
Shontel Brown (incumbent)
Davida Russell is proudly endorsed by
EARLY VOTE BEGINS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 3 Paid for by Friends of Davida Russell
VOTE NOV. 3RD Experience:
Former Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor (Over 15 years)
The Endorsed Democrat!
- Director of Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (Ohio ICAC) - Major Trial Unit Magistrate (Part-Time) in Rocky River Municipal Court
Criminal Defense Attorney in private practice
Endorsed By:
ussell
rsed by
Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association
Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council
The North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor AFSCME Ohio Council 8 AFSCME Retiree Chapter 1184 Laborers 310 The Pipefitters BEGINS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 Local 120 Paid for by Friends of Fallon Marie Radigan
N DAY IS NOVEMBER 3 Paid for by Friends of Davida Russell
Paid for by Shontel Brown for Congress
Age: 51 Current occupation: Member of Congress City of residence: Warrensville Heights Campaign website: shontelbrown.com Why are you the best candidate for the office? Since 2021, I’ve fought to deliver real results for this district, and we’ve made progress. We brought home major infrastructure investments to rebuild our lakefront, modernize Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and remove lead pipes. We lowered costs by capping insulin, empowering Medicare to negotiate drug prices and advancing the largest climate investment in history. We expanded VA benefits, passed long-overdue gun safety legislation and restored Social Security fairness for public workers. But as chaos and harmful policies of the Trump administration have threatened our community, I’ve stepped up and fought back. That includes by protecting school funding, defending Social Security, restoring civil rights protections and leading efforts to protect SNAP and hold this administration accountable. This job is about results. I have the experience, relationships and record to deliver when it matters. I show up, stand up and don’t back down. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? Two biggest concerns I hear every day are affordability and accountability. Costs are still too high for working families. I’m focused on lowering them in real ways: extending the child tax credit and tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, continuing to bring down prescription drug prices, tackling housing costs by increasing supply, reducing energy bills through efficiency and clean energy investments and protecting programs like Social Security, Medicare and SNAP that people rely on to make ends meet. At the same time, people want accountability because they see a system that too often works best for the well-connected. I’ve taken that on by holding this administration accountable through oversight, fighting corruption by pushing to ban Congressional stock trading and fighting back when policies or funding cuts hurt our community. My approach is simple: lower costs for families, hold leaders accountable, and make sure government is working for the people. What are your thoughts on the Middle East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? I don’t trust this president’s leadership and temperament. I’ve been opposed to his war of choice in Iran. He took us into this conflict without Congressional authorization, without an imminent threat, without a clear explanation to the American people and without a defined objective. In the weeks since, the president has offered competing and contradictory rationales for this war and failed to articulate a way out of it. That’s dangerous, and it makes us less safe. We cannot allow an open-ended, costly and aimless war to escalate without accountability or strategy. That’s why I’ve repeatedly supported War Powers
Resolutions to rein this president in. Make no mistake: the Iranian regime is repressive, destabilizing to our allies and the region and a sponsor of terrorism. Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and confronting its support for terror are legitimate U.S. priorities. That’s why we have diplomatic and economic tools.
Mike Kirchner Age: 63 Current occupation: Retired City of residence: Highland Heights Campaign website: mikekirchner.com Why are you the best candidate for the office? I succeed. I problem solve. I have significantly researched our Social Security old age and survivor system, and we should have a game plan. We do not. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? Social Security – read my paper on my website. Improving personal responsibility is my lesser initiative. What are your thoughts on the Middle East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? No position. Focusing on domestic decisions is more important to me. I’m sorry war and conflict are occurring. I would listen to those that have a stronger view.
Ohio Attorney General Vote for Not More Than 1
Keith Faber Age: 60 Current occupation: Ohio Auditor of State City of residence: Celina Campaign website and/or campaign Facebook page: KeithFaber.org | Facebook.com/keithfaber Why are you the best candidate for the office? I am running for Attorney General because experience matters, and Ohio needs a proven leader who will protect families, defend the Constitution and support the police and prosecutors who keep our communities safe. I have spent my career fighting for efficient, honest, accountable government. As Attorney General, I will take that same approach to public safety, the drug epidemic, consumer protection, human trafficking and defending Ohioans’ constitutional rights. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? Our team will work to ensure that the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) serves law enforcement well – from testing rape kits to providing investigatory support to local agencies. We will build on my record in the Auditor’s office holding elected officials accountable for waste, fraud or abuse. As AG, I’ll stand up for Constitutional rights and protect religious liberty. Defending Ohioans against federal overreach by unelected bureaucrats whose decisions hurt families and businesses. We’ll take on Ohio’s drug epidemic by reducing demand through addiction CANDIDATES | CONTINUED ON PAGE 39
ELECTIONS CANDIDATES | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38
treatment services, prosecuting suppliers, cutting off supply chains at the border and supporting recovery efforts for victims. To protect consumers, my team will increase enforcement against predatory companies, especially those who exploit seniors. Finally, I’ve released a plan to represent Ohio consumers whose medical claims are denied despite having paid their premiums. What are your thoughts on the Middle East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? Israel was attacked on Oct. 7, 2023 by Hamas, an Iranian proxy. That attack was funded and supported either directly or indirectly by Iran and killed not only Israelis but Americans as well. Israel is a vital U.S. ally, and blocking Iran’s nuclear program, missiles and proxies is a shared interest. I believe our goals are just and Iran continues to act as a rogue agent in the region. Washington should define success in measurable terms and a real timeline: enrichment and weaponization capacity; missile production and launchers; Hormuz transit; proxy reach against U.S. forces and allies. It should then let the military seek to achieve those objectives without political interference. Democratic candidate John J. Kulewicz did not complete a questionnaire.
Ohio Auditor of State Vote for Not More Than 1
Annette Blackwell Age: 64 Current occupation: Mayor of Maple Heights City of residence: Maple Heights Campaign website and/ or campaign Facebook page: blackwellforohio. com/ and facebook. com/AnnetteForOhio/ Why are you the best candidate for the office? I’ve spent 25 years in finance and audit work, including guiding Maple Heights out of a state fiscal emergency as mayor. I wrote the recovery plan myself and earned four State of Ohio Clean Audit Awards along the way. I’m running for Auditor because I know this job firsthand, and I believe the office should be a partner to local governments, helping them catch problems early instead of just reporting on them after the money’s gone. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? As Ohio’s Auditor, my top priority is to transform the office from a purely punitive watchdog into a proactive partner for
OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 9 Ohio’s communities. Too many local governments, school districts and small public entities lack access to the financial expertise they need to manage their systems well. My office will close that resource gap. I will expand the Auditor’s role as a trusted consultant and coach to provide hands-on technical assistance, training and fiscal guidance so communities can build stronger financial systems before a crisis occurs. That said, accountability is non-negotiable. I will investigate all cases of corruption and fiscal mismanagement and hold bad actors accountable, regardless of political affiliation. What are your thoughts on the Middle East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? The war is deeply concerning to me. I have prayed for the innocent civilians who are suffering and dying and believe that we must focus on ensuring that all governments protect the most vulnerable among them. Here in Ohio, I want to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, government is held accountable, and our resources are being used to serve Ohioans. Republican candidate Frank LaRose did not complete a questionnaire.
MAX
MILLER
for OH-07
for OH-07
Ohio Secretary of State Vote for Not More Than 1
Robert Sprague Age: 53 Current occupation: Ohio Treasurer of State City of residence: Findlay Campaign website and/ or campaign Facebook page: SpragueForOhio. com, @RobertCSprague Why are you the best candidate for the office? Having served eight years as a State Representative, and prior to that as both Auditor and Treasurer of the City of Findlay, I have vast experience in both state and local government. However, having spent the past eight years as State Treasurer, I can say that nothing can prepare you more for the office of Secretary of State than having already served as an executive in a statewide elected office where you have a direct impact on the lives of people across Ohio. As Treasurer, I serve as the chief investment officer for the state’s investment and debt portfolios, oversee the daily cash flows of state monies and manage a $23 billion bond portfolio. It is a massive responsibility, and over my term, CANDIDATES | CONTINUED ON PAGE 40
PAID FOR BY CARUSO FOR JUDGE
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the office has been professional, stable and responsible – the very qualities one should expect from an institution that manages Ohioans’ hard-earned tax dollars. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? I have pledged to run the most secure elections in Ohio history and believe photo identification is the most important and foundational tool Ohio election officials have to safeguard against voter fraud and noncitizens voting in Ohio elections. That is why I strongly support State Issue 3, which will be on the ballot in November. Issue 3 will enshrine photo ID into the Ohio Constitution, which is critical, given the fact that my opponent would gut Ohio election security protections, as she has voted against virtually all of them at every opportunity during her time as a legislator. I will also implement a front-end citizenship check to ensure that only eligible, U.S. citizens are entered into the state’s voter registration database. The Ohio Constitution clearly states that elections are for U.S. citizens only, so we must make sure that the voter rolls remain free from unqualified electors. What are your thoughts on the Middle East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? I am a strong supporter of Israel as one of America’s strongest allies on the planet and its right to defend itself against terrorism. As we (just passed) the 3rd anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, the date serves as a reminder of the imminent and existential threats facing Israel and its people. Accordingly, I support the U.S. and Israel’s efforts to ensure Iran never has a nuclear weapon but pray that a lasting peace that secures the future security of Israel can be attained quickly. I
EL EC T Democrat Daryl
D EN N IE
E N o le c t v e io n m D be ay r 3 is rd
for J U D G E
C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L EA S Fa ir n e ss Th r o u g h Ex p e r ie n ce
Applying the law with fairness, integrity, and an even hand
Efficie n cy a n d R e sp e ctt
Committed to a courtroom that runs effeciently with respect for all who enter.
Tr a n sp a r e n cy a n d C la a r ity
Clear communication and transparency so everyone understands the process.
D e d ica te d to Ju stice
Bringing a rare and valuable perspective,focused on justice and the community.
EXPERIENCE INTEGRITY JUSTICE D A R Y LD EN N IE4 JU D GE.U S
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should also note that under my watch as Treasurer, Ohio has maintained its longstanding and significant investment in Israeli bonds, primarily because they have long served as a sound investment, with a record of competitive rates and reliable repayments. The fact that these investments help keep Israel strong is an added benefit. Democratic candidate Allison Russo did not complete a questionnaire. In addition to Russo and Sprague, Libertarian candidate Tom Pruss is also competing for the seat.
Ohio Supreme Court Vote for Not More Than 1
Marilyn Zayas Age: 61 Current occupation: Judge at Ohio’s First District Court of Appeals City of residence: Cincinnati Campaign website and/or campaign Facebook page: judgemarilynzayas.com Why are you the best candidate for the office? My professional and personal experiences have prepared me to bring a practical, balanced and principled perspective to the Ohio Supreme Court. Voters can count on me to decide every case based on the Constitution, the law and the facts – not politics. For nearly a decade, I have performed the same fundamental appellate work conducted by the Supreme Court, deciding more than 2,000 appeals. In 2025, I was selected three times within 40 days by a Chief Justice from a different political party to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court in place of recused justices. Those assignments reflect confidence in my independence and impartiality. I have earned the highest bar rating, “Excellent,” and bring nearly 20 years as an attorney representing individuals, families and businesses and building lawenforcement partnerships to help victims of violent crime. I have accepted zero corporate contributions from energy, banking or insurance interests because judicial independence matters. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? 1. Restore public trust in our courts I will continue to follow the Constitution, the law and precedent. My record of more than 2,000 appellate decisions and support from attorneys across the political spectrum reflect that commitment. I will promote transparency and access to justice. 2. Protect judicial independence I will remain independent of political pressure and outside influence. Although the Ohio Supreme Court recently held that judges may publicly endorse political candidates, I believe judicial impartiality is essential to public trust. I will never endorse a political candidate. Everyone entering an Ohio courtroom deserves a fair hearing. 3. Strengthen public safety Ohio faces serious challenges from drug overdoses and violent crime. I support effective specialized dockets, including Veterans, Mental Health and Drug Courts, where appropriate. These courts combine accountability with treatment and can address
underlying causes, but they are not available in every county. What are your thoughts on the Middle East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? The conflict in the Middle East is deeply troubling, particularly because of the human cost to civilians and the broader risks to regional and global security. The United States has an important responsibility to protect its people and national security while acting within the Constitution and the rule of law. As a judge, my role is not to make foreign policy or military decisions. My responsibility is to uphold the law, protect constitutional rights, and ensure that government action remains accountable to those principles. I hope for an end to the violence and a lasting peace that protects innocent lives and respects the security and sovereignty of nations. I also believe difficult international questions should be approached with prudence, respect for human life, and a commitment to the rule of law. Republican candidate Dan Hawkins (incumbent) did not complete a questionnaire.
Ohio House – 18th District Vote for Not More Than 1
Davida Russell Age: 68 Current occupation: Labor Executive, Substitute Public School Teacher and Transportation employee City of residence: Cleveland Heights Campaign website and/or Campaign Facebook page: russell4staterep.com and Facebook: russell4staterep Why are you the best candidate for the office? I am a proven leader, labor advocate, and community champion with a record of service. As a former Cleveland Heights City Councilwoman and Vice President, active executive labor union leader, wife, mother, grandmother, and community activist, I understand the challenges facing working families. I am the endorsed Cuyahoga County Democratic Party candidate, supported by elected officials, labor, and community organizations. I will fight for affordability, quality education, good jobs, healthcare and safe, thriving communities for every resident. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? Families are struggling with housing costs, utility bills, healthcare expenses, and limited access to goodpaying jobs. Education, public safety, and neighborhood investment are also critical. I will fight for affordable housing, rent stabilization, lower utility costs, accessible healthcare, and strong public schools. I will support workforce training, fair wages, small businesses and neighborhood revitalization while promoting public safety strategies built on trust, transparency, and community partnership. What are your thoughts on the Middle East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? I support diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, prevent further escalation, secure the release of hostages, and deliver humanitarian assistance. We should stand firmly CANDIDATES | CONTINUED ON PAGE 41
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against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate while supporting lasting peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, Iranians and people throughout the region. Republican candidate Maureen Lynn did not complete a questionnaire.
Ohio House – 19th District Vote for Not More Than 1
Nicole Sigurdson Age: 32 Current occupation: Currently, full-time candidate. Previously, Administrative Organizer, SEIU 1199. City of residence: Cleveland Campaign website and/ or campaign Facebook page: nicolefor19.com, Facebook.com/ nicolefor19 Why are you the best candidate for the office? My background in labor and community organizing has centered on advocating for everyday Ohioans and delivering results. I have represented healthcare and social service workers in disputes and negotiations with employers, often bringing together people with very different interests. That experience has taught me when to stand firm, when compromise can move us forward, and how to stay focused on results rather than getting sidetracked by distractions. I know how to build coalitions, navigate difficult conversations and get things done. These are skills I will bring to the Statehouse. As State
Representative, I will fight for policies that strengthen middle- and working-class families, protect workers, support strong public schools and ensure that Ohio’s resources are invested in our communities. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? Northeast Ohio has always been a place of opportunity, but rising costs are making it harder for families to build a secure future here. As first-time homeowners, my husband, Lucas, and I understand the pressure of higher housing and everyday costs. At the same time, Ohio spent more than $1 billion in 2025 on school voucher programs, while the state has committed $600 million to billionaires to build a football stadium. As State Representative, I will work to pass responsible property tax reform, grow our economy while putting working people and retirees first, fund our public schools, and invest state resources in our communities, not in the hands of billionaires and special interest groups. What are your thoughts on the Middle East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? While a State Representative does not set U.S. foreign policy, conflicts overseas have very real consequences here at home. Jewish, Muslim, and other communities deserve to feel safe from antisemitism, Islamophobia, hate and political violence. I will work to ensure that all Ohioans, and especially those in District 19, can live, worship, speak, and participate in civic life safely and freely, as well as have access to a good-paying job, own an affordable home, send their kids to strong public schools and live in a safe, thriving community. Republican candidate Ed Hargate did not complete a questionnaire.
Ohio House – 21st District Vote for Not More Than 1
Eric Synenberg (incumbent) Age: 47 Current occupation: Attorney and State Representative City of residence: Beachwood Campaign website and campaign Facebook page: ericsynenberg. com and Eric Synenberg for State Representative on Facebook Why are you the best candidate for the office? I am the best candidate for this office because of my experience and record. I have experience as an Attorney in the public sector as well as in a number of practice areas in the private sector. I also have local government legislative experience, having served on Beachwood City Council for seven years. And, most relevant, I am now completing my first term as the State Representative for the 21st District. In my first term, I have served as the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, as well as on the General Government Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. I have also sponsored numerous important pieces of
legislation. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? There are many issues of concern and importance facing all Ohioans and the constituents of the 21st District. The affordability crisis is a top concern and is a concern for so many Ohioans. Although prices have increased on so many goods and commodities, some of us are less able to bear these additional costs. I am most concerned about those constituents. There are many ways to help those individuals, from a more fair state income tax system, to targeted property tax relief, to job and workforce development so that more people can be paid higher wages. Another issue of concern is our school funding formula. The state share of public school funding has significantly decreased and we need to restore it to help our local school districts. We also need to do more to fund our cities. And, especially of concern to the Jewish community, is security and dealing with the rise in antisemitism in Ohio. What are your thoughts on the Middle East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? The war in Iran has become a very complicated issue. There is no doubt that Iran has supported terrorist regimes and CANDIDATES | CONTINUED ON PAGE 42
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activities throughout the Middle East for the last 30-40 years and is a threat to Israel’s security as well as to America’s. Iran must be stopped and contained. And the Iranian people want and deserve to live in a pro-western society like they did before the revolution in 1979. Having said that, I do not believe that we can objectively consider the ongoing conflict between the US and Israel against Iran to have been a success. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has wreaked havoc on the American economy at a time when we already had an affordability crisis. Public opinion for the War is only at about 33%. So, while I agree that we do need a strategy to contain Iran and that Iran is a threat and a danger, I think that this War has been mismanaged and has not been a success. Republican candidate Tina Barhams did not complete a questionnaire.
Ohio Senate – 21st District Vote for Not More Than 1
Mikhail Alterman Age: 51 Current occupation: Information technology developer City of residence: Beachwood Campaign website and/ or campaign Facebook page: altermanprojects. com and facebook.com/ groups/CitizensWithMikhailAlterman Why are you the best candidate for the office? The Democrats are now welcoming Hamas and other Jihadist supporters. Jews, including myself, have an obligation to vote against the Democrats. The Democrats are now hostile to the only working system in human history, to capitalism. I’m the candidate for Lower Cost of Living and School Choice. The state government needs to reign in water and sewer costs in Northeast Ohio by restructuring unhinged government water and sewer monopolies and control them with the utilities commission as it’s done with electricity and gas. Also, I’m pushing dramatic expansion of school choice. Parents everywhere
should get to choose the best schools for their kids. Arizona and other states passed much wider school choice than Ohio and are doing better than Ohio. Per student spending on the east side is high and the results are dismal. The Jewish families, schools, and the whole community will benefit with expanded school choice. What are the key issues of concern and how do you intend to resolve them? The Democrats drove the cost of living on the east side much higher than in other areas for years. This is entirely due to high taxes, fees, and water-sewer bills. The state government can and should impose maximum possible taxation rates on local governments. Decades of gradual tax increases did not result in better roads, better services, or better schools. The state government should limit how often and when tax increases can be put on the ballot. A long history of tax levies shows that the opposition never has enough time to organize. They never have enough time to explain the true costs to voters either, such as explaining to voters that rents will go up if property tax increase, or to advise them on better alternatives to tax increases. I intend to have the state government override local governments and force lower costs. What are your thoughts on the Middle
East war that the U.S. and Israel are fighting against Iran and its proxies? The Democrats are now embracing antiJewish candidates everywhere. It’s not just El Saed in Michigan. They nominated a guy in Maine who got an SS unit tattoo knowing what it was. In New Jersey, they nominated a supporter of the 1993 Wall Trade Center Al Qaeda bomber. Everywhere, including Ohio, hostility to Israel is now a requirement to be nominated as a Democrat. The Democrats claim they criticize the democratically elected government of Israel. It implies Jews are too stupid or too evil to elect someone better. The two-state solution is outside of the mainstream Israeli politics. The Iran regime has been at war with much of the civilized world for 47 years. The Trump administration finally squeezed Iran so they can’t nuke or attack much. The USA and Israel are the forces for good; and these days the Republican Party is the only party for people who believe that. Democratic candidate Kent Smith (incumbent) did not complete a questionnaire.
- Complied by Staff Reporters Kateryna Kopylchak, Jimmy Oswald, Martha Sorohan and Casey Swinarski
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ELECTIONS
OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 13
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