With Democratic state Sen. Vernon Sykes unable to run for office due to term limits, his seat in the 28th District is a tug-of-war between current Democratic state Rep. Casey Weinstein and former Stow-Munroe Falls school board member Jon Leissler , a Republican.
Weinstein, who currently represents Ohio’s 34th House District, flipped the seat in 2018 and twice defended it against Republican challengers. Previously, he served as Ward 2 representative of the Hudson City Council.
Leissler was elected to the Stow-Munroe Falls School Board in 2021, defeating incumbent Gerry Bettio, but resigned from the seat in May. He currently works as Chief Financial Officer for 3B Holdings Inc.
According to his campaign website, Leissler has worked for public and private companies, including Harley Davidson Dealer Systems, Joann Fabrics and others.
The 28th District includes Akron and parts of southern Summit County, all of Portage County and part of Geauga County.
Here’s what we know about the two candidates’ positions on these issues.
Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Casey Weinstein promotes progressive ideals
On his campaign website, Weinstein expresses support for women’s right to make their own decisions about reproductive health.
After voters last year passed an amendment enshrining these rights in the state constitution and a law legalizing recreational marijuana, Weinstein released a statement saying, “Ohioans spoke loud and clear. We value privacy. We value freedom. We value freedom. Legislative leaders must answer the call and uphold the will of the voters.”
“The party in power has targeted women’s rights and I will not stand for that,” Weinstein wrote on his campaign page.
Its site also outlines its support for growing the economy by ensuring workers are equipped with the skills needed “to meet the demands of fast-growing industries such as renewable energy, manufacturing, information technology and healthcare,” and by eliminating regulations that work against the wind energy industry. jobs don’t come to the state.
He co-authored the Energy Jobs & Justice Act, which he calls “a comprehensive clean energy policy rooted in equity, economic development and responsibility. After decades of energy policies that largely favor utilities and fossil fuels, Ohio needs forward-thinking solutions. ..”
Weinstein wants to ensure access to healthcare by making it more affordable. He opposes recent efforts to eliminate the separation of church and state, saying Ohio has “wasted $1 billion of taxpayer money on unaccountable charter schools as part of a corrupt pay-to-play scheme.”
He also lists supporting military personnel, veterans and first responders and restoring local control among his top priorities.
Ohio Republican Senate hopeful Jon Leissler touts business credentials
On his campaign page, Leissler characterizes himself as a supporter of small businesses, touting the benefits of House Bill 94, which, he said, will reduce the startup costs associated with opening a new business.
He is also calling for the repeal of HB 6, the bailout plan for two nuclear power plants at the expense of utility ratepayers. The bill was also at the center of Ohio’s largest public corruption scandal involving Ohio Republican Larry Householder, former PUCO Chairman Sam Randazzo, former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and Matt Borges, the former chairman of the Ohio GOP.
Leissler’s campaign page says he will protect women by ensuring transgender women cannot compete with cisgender women in sports, and that he will vote against Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of the bill, which would ban transgender women from competing participate in women’s sports. .
Investing in renewable energy infrastructure, he said, can reduce Ohio’s dependence “on non-renewable and often polluting energy sources” and “increase job opportunities for fellow Ohioans” while protecting the environment.
He also advocates parental choice in schools, fiscal conservatism, a tough approach to crime and a responsible approach to gun ownership.
“I recognize that responsible gun ownership and public safety must be top priorities,” Leissler said. “I support common sense enforcement of existing laws to ensure responsible gun ownership. Such measures can help strike a balance between gun rights and public safety.”
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413
This article originally appeared in Akron Beacon Journal: Jon Leissler and Casey Weinstein face off in Ohio Senate’s 28th District
