Last year I was heavily involved in the effort to prevent the passage of SB5 and in the subsequent campaign to defeat Issue 2 after SB5 became law. I had the opportunity to present testimony to both the Senate and House committees as SB 5 moved through the legislature. As much as I was impressed by the massive displays of support for public employees at statehouse rallies and in talking to citizens throughout the state, I was also disturbed by the deep divisions within our legislature and the failure of the majority party to consider compromise. I believe we need legislators who will faithfully represent the wishes of Ohioans and will protect the interests of our working families. As a state representative, I will work on your behalf to provide:

• A high quality system of pre K-12 public schools and affordable college to insure that our children are prepared for the challenges of our global economy.
• A robust economic climate that will create good jobs, encourage investment, and help small businesses thrive.
• Opportunity for all Ohioans to have access to quality health care at a reasonable cost.

I believe my experience as a career public school teacher, a labor leader and negotiator and as a former council member and mayor position me well to achieve these goals. I hope you agree, and that you will consider giving me your support in my campaign to win election next November 6th.

The majority in the House has taken Ohio and local communities down the wrong track. They sought to take away individual voter rights, workers’ rights, and undermine public education. Ohio can do better. We need elected officials who will take a fair and balanced approach to governing and not move an over-reaching partisan agenda.

I hope you agree and will support my candidacy.

Major Issues:

On Jobs and The Economy:
• We must find ways to offer incentives for small businesses to grow and create good middle-class jobs.
• Tax policy must be fair and not favor corporate profits and the wealthy at the expense of the rest of Ohio’s working families.
• The rights of all worker (in both private and public sectors) to organize and collectively bargain must be protected against further attacks by outside special interests with anti-worker agendas.
• Our state must encourage and develop job training programs that will meet the demands of the changing workplace and will encourage businesses to invest in Ohio.

On Health Care:
• Health care is a fundamental right for all citizens, not a privilege for those who can pay. We need to support reforms that guarantee that all Ohioans will have affordable and quality health care. Expanding coverage for wellness programs and preventative care is one way to help keep costs under control.
• Ohio’s Medicaid program must remain solid and solvent.

On the Environment:
• Ohio’s leaders must develop a strategy to provide renewable and affordable energy while at the same time preserving and protecting our natural resources.
• As proposed in HB 345, Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” should be put on hold until the studies on its environmental impact are complete and safeguards are put into place including the disposal of fracking wastewater.
• The authority to permit and regulate oil and gas drilling needs to be restored to our local communities as opposed to this power resting with the state.

Tom Schmida is the Democratic candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives in District 37 which is comprised of the communities of the northern part of Summit County (Twinsburg, Twinsburg Township, Reminderville, Macedonia, Northfield, Northfield Center, Hudson, Stow, Munroe Falls, Silver Lake, and the northern portion of Cuyahoga Falls). He is seeking election to the General Assembly so that he can more actively participate in work that directly impacts the quality of life of residents in northeast Ohio.

Tom grew up in Akron, Ohio and graduated from Archbishop Hoban High School. Tom earned his B.A degree from the University of Akron in 1972 and his M.Ed from John Carroll University in 1978.

Tom has dedicated his teaching career to students in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District. He started teaching in 1972 and currently teaches Government at Cleveland Heights High School. Tom’s role as a union leader began in 1978 and in 1990 he was elected President of the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union and continues to serve in that capacity. Tom advocates for strong professional development to assist teachers in improving and expanding their skills and provide the resources students need to succeed. His duties include all CEO responsibilities attendant to the operations of the union, maintaining a collaborative working relationship with district officials, contract administration and, representation of members in employment matters. Tom is a member of the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) Executive Committee, chairs the OFT Constitutional Amendments Committee, and is the OFT Parliamentarian.

Tom brings to his candidacy a vast knowledge of local and state politics, as well as a deep commitment to meeting the needs of the local community in order to make our neighborhoods strong. He served in municipal government as a member of council of the Village of Reminderville in northern Summit County for seven years and subsequently as mayor of the village for ten years (1988-1998).

In addition, Tom was a member of the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2000, sponsored by the Greater Cleveland Growth Association.

Tom and his wife Audrey live in Twinsburg, and together they have four children, Lara 30, Michael 28, Jenna 21, and Samantha 20.