Both of the candidates running in the March 19, 2024, Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 10 — Sarah Pomeroy (D) and Mark Sigrist (D) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Here are the candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
Pomeroy:
- “Central Ohio is experiencing rapid growth–exciting, but challenging us to make sure folks are prepared to fill these jobs, able to live, work, and play here in our District, and not fall behind. Equitable growth achievable if we focus on how education and training, and on policies that also support women and families. To this end, I support a) tax incentives for local hiring and supporting Ohio-based businesses; b) partnership of corporations and unions for both physical and human development, including housing, transportation, job training, and education; c) supporting marginalized groups in small business development; and d) providing programs like paid family leave, universal pre-K, and incentives for providing a living wage.
- I support building more housing of every kind: locally owned/managed, with public-private cooperation for affordability and to preserve existing housing, and adequate tenant education. Central Ohio faces a housing crisis with shortages, unaffordability, and a need to help folks age in place in detriorating homes. Housing succeeds most when it’s built, owned, and/or managed by local folks, where the community is part of development and can engage new residents, and when tenants know their rights and responsibilities. I support funding all housing types; prioritizing local management; combating wholesale LLCs buying up homes; further funding nonprofit housing and homelessness partners; and encouraging occupancy of vacant properties.
- Education is crucial in preparing Ohioans for jobs and fostering a well-rounded community. I am committed to addressing disparities, supporting teachers, and investing in early childhood education. We must recognize the diverse career paths for students by promoting vocational training and partnership with business. I support protecting arts education because it is vital for creativity. Education must boost critical thinking and communicating with folks of differing opinions. Book bans limit potential, undermine free society, and deny students a chance to engage with complex issues constructively and with empathy. I support access to low-cost or free community college–in partnership with local school districts and corporations.”
Sigrist:
- “Advocate for Seniors to affordably and safely age in their homes. Seniors are our fastest growing population. The number of Americans reaching age 65 and older will more than double over the next 40 years, reaching 80 million by 2040. The number of adults ages 85 and older, the group most often needing help with basic personal care, will nearly quadruple between in the same period. We need to also find real estate tax relief so that seniors do not get priced out of their own homes. I want to support local first responders in their various Senior Fall Prevention and other activities to help seniors age safely at home.
- Women’s Reproductive Rights. One of the highest priority health-care issues is women’s reproductive rights. These decisions should be left to women and their doctors. The government, courts, politicians and other outsiders have no business intruding into these health-care decisions. We must protect women’s right to choose. The recent IVF Alabama Supreme Court ruling must not make it’s way toward Ohio. It’s repugnant to see our state supreme court justices and state legislators trampling on women’s reproductive freedom.
- Strengthen Public Education Forever Public Education is unquestionably the most important industry in US Society. If we do not make it a priority in 2024, the constant attacks and attempts to roll back funding by radical groups and legislators will see the next few generations experience such a great disadvantage. If our future generations are not set up for success, our society will find itself a shell of what it could have been. It is the key to a prosperous nation, and every child in America deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and be inspired. We need to be supporting all the factors that go into a quality education system, and also paying appropriate salaries to attract and retain top talented educators.”
Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
Additional reading:
