Press Office February 16th, 2008
By Reuben Mees
Republican voters will have a choice in the March 4 primary between two experienced lawmakers to represent them in Ohio Senate District 26, but the race will not be decided until the Nov. 4 general election.
Karen Gillmor, a two-term former senator for the district whose public life has revolved around political involvement, faces Steve Reinhard, the current House District 83 representative who has served in that post for the past eight years.
The winner will square off against Democrat Thomas L. Kruse, the immediate past mayor of Marysville, in the general election.
The successful candidate will replace Sen. Larry Mumper, a two-term senator who cannot run again because of Ohio’s recently enacted term limit legislation.
Mrs. Gillmor, 60, of Tiffin, has a strong background in education and labor issues, but says making Ohio more attractive to economic growth is her main priority.
“Jobs and the economy, everything comes from that,” Mrs. Gillmor said, noting that lack of job opportunities puts strains on the state’s social service agencies, healthcare system and increases crime.
“Providing high-wage jobs is key, especially for women, because you never know if you’ll be the sole supporter of your children,” the mother of five and widow of U.S. Congressman Paul Gillmor said.
Mr. Reinhard, 40, of Bucyrus, a farmer and teacher, said education followed closely by developing alternative energy sources top his agenda.
On the education issue, he said he believes the state has made significant strides in addressing inadequate education funding between wealthy and poor areas of the state.
“Every cycle we go through, we continually make advances in that arena,” Mr. Reinhard said.
“We need to put in building blocks that support low-wealth and low-performing school districts even beyond what we have now.”
He also said improving courses that prepare non-college bound high school students for today’s workforce is critical.
“We need to construct educational opportunities for all segments of the population and all segments of the workforce, including things such as online courses,” Mr. Reinhard said.
But Mr. Reinhard doesn’t appreciate the seriousness of the state’s education problem, Mrs. Gillmor said.
“It has improved, but it isn’t where it needs to be to have the educated workforce necessary to attract new jobs,” she said. “Right now we have a $1.7 billion shortfall. I think that’s a problem. We have to take a serious look at how state money is being spent.”
Mrs. Gillmor said she believes the current system of career and technical centers and community colleges is nimble enough to prepare students for the workforce but said she believes the state’s over-burdensome tax structure is hindering the state in its efforts to draw quality jobs to Ohio.
“When I left the Senate (in 1997), Ohio’s aggregate tax burden was 20th in the country. Now it’s fifth,” she said.
Recent studies place Ohio at 46th in attractiveness to business, largely because of the heavy tax load.
Mr. Reinhard said he supports efforts to reduce or eliminate estate taxes and continuing to find ways to lower property taxes.
“The biggest thing is to control government growth,” he said. “Some agencies are very good at helping with that, but others still need help.”
Mrs. Gillmor pointed to her record, in which she sponsored a bill to eliminate two unnecessary state agencies.
“In the Senate, I voted to cut taxes 46 times,” she said. “I would have to come back and look at all the issues and work with Senate budget director Brian Perera to determine where we can make cuts.”
On the alternative energy issue, Mr. Reinhard said he is a strong proponent of ethanol, or corn-derived fuel, as well as biodiesel fuel.
“I have been very active in biofuels with a lot of the legislation I have sponsored,” he said, noting that he supports Ohio Department of Transportation’s efforts to increase the agency’s use of biodiesel fuel blends.
Mrs. Gillmor said she discussed the issue extensively with her late husband and believes a combination of traditional and alternative energy sources are the best option.
“We will still have to drill for oil and use clean coal, but we do have to reduce our reliance on foreign oil,” she said. “The research universities are looking at alternative energy sources but they have to be as affordable and nonpolluting as possible.”
Among other issues, Mrs. Gillmor said the state needs to do a better job making sure residents have access to affordable healthcare, find a way to combat the mushrooming Medicaid budget and stem illegal immigration into the state.
Mr. Reinhard said he would like to address farmland preservation and combat urban sprawl by offering tax incentives to business and housing developers that are willing to redevelop older metropolitan areas of Ohio’s cities.
26th Senate
Name: Karen Gillmor
Age: 60
Hometown: Tiffin
Occupation: Strategic planner
Political experience: Elected twice to Ohio Senate District 26, served 1993-1997; appointed to State Employee Relations Board, 1997-2007
Education: Bachelor’s in elementary education and French, Michigan State University, 1969; master’s counseling, doctorate finance, The Ohio State University, 1970, 1981
Family: Husband, the late U.S. Congressman Paul Gillmor; children, Linda (Tom) Gable, Julie (Kevin) Horne, Paul Michael, 15, twins Connor and Adam, 11; three grandchildren
Priorities: Economic development, healthcare, education
Name: Steve Reinhard
Age: 40
Hometown: Bucyrus
Occupation: Farmer and teacher
Political experience: Ohio House District 82, 2001- 2008 Education: Graduated Wynford High School 1986; bachelor’s in agricultural economics and agricultural education, The Ohio State University, 1991
Family: Unmarried
Priorities: Education, alternative fuels, economic development
Harris noted that Gillmor, who previously served in the Ohio Senate from 1993 through 1997, has demonstrated not only that she can win an election, but that she will be an effective voice for her region as the Senate works to make Ohio an even better place to live, learn and work.
