PREBLE COUNTY — Voters will have the opportunity to elect one of Preble County’s own to Ohio House District 43 in the Nov. 3 general election as Democrat Amy Cox will face off against Republican Rodney Creech.
Ohio House District 43 covers all of Preble County as well as parts of Montgomery County including Brookville, Clayton, Trotwood, Vandalia and parts of Dayton.
Creech, a current Preble County Commissioner, defeated incumbent J. Todd Smith 3,708-1,607 in the March primary. Cox, a former science teacher, ran unopposed.
Candidates in contested races were mailed questionnaires by The Register-Herald to allow constituents to learn about the candidates before heading to the polls. Responses from candidates have been lightly edited for grammar and style.
Amy Cox
Occupation: Licensed Science Teacher
Past Political Positions Held: No governmental positions. Previously, I was elected to be Union Representative for Richmond Education Association and Legislative Representative for Dayton Education Association.
Education:
High School: Preble Shawnee Local Schools, 1996 Graduate.
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Wright State University, 2001.
Graduate: Master of Science Education, Indiana University East, 2011.
Community Involvement:
Advisor for: Photography Club, Mentoring Club, and Gardening Club at Richmond High School.
Advisor for: Urban Agricultural Science Club and Girls’ Club at Dunbar High School.
Greater Edgemont Community Coalition Member
Preble County Farm Bureau Member
NAACP, Member
Matriots, Member
Why are you the most qualified candidate for this position?
I am the most qualified candidate for this position because I know the struggles of the workers in this district through my service as a public school teacher. I have always been working-middle class and can be that voice for the people of this district in Columbus. I have used my past positions to advocate for the needs of students and their families as well as my fellow teachers. I have advocated for our needs at the capitols in both Indiana and Ohio. Additionally, I have spent over a decade teaching in public schools, working with and building diverse teams and coalitions. In Richmond Community Schools, I was part of a team of teachers and students that elevated our school from a grade of F to a grade of A, and I will bring that same energy to Columbus.
What are the most crucial issues facing the office you are seeking, and how would you address it?
Corruption in Columbus is the last thing that the citizens of this district need to deal with. After HB-6, it’s apparent that we need to restore trust in Columbus.
School funding is a big issue in this district, and the issues surrounding that come directly from an unconstitutional funding formula that has yet to be fixed by Columbus. We can begin to address this issue that affects all property owners and workers by cutting wasteful spending in the education budget, reclaiming our sin tax dollars, and not relying on property tax as the primary way to fund schools.
Healthcare access is also a problem in our district. We can increase it by removing the Standard Care Agreement, which would allow Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to assist family and general practice doctors with providing primary healthcare.
If elected, what would be your chief priorities?
Healthcare – Right now, too many people struggle to pay their medical bills, or fear going to a doctor for chronic conditions because of their inability to pay. I will fight to protect the Medicaid expansion which has been so helpful to the poorest Ohioans, and expand it if possible to cover more people. Seniors and the ill should not be splitting pills to afford groceries, or rationing medicine while living on a fixed income.
Education – Education policies need to be based on best practices, and trusted and valid research. The education budget should prioritize the needs of students and families, not tests and data which are currently used to determine state and local funding.
Living wage jobs – Wages have remained fairly stagnant since I graduated from college nearly 20 years ago, but the cost of living has continued to go up. Recent college graduates are leaving college with the largest amount of personal debt in history and struggle to find a job that pays well enough to allow them to move out of their parents’ houses. We need to promote trade schools in addition to college for our upcoming generations. We also need to make sure that the jobs we bring into the district pay a living wage that can support our Main Streets and small businesses.
Additional comments:
I would like to thank everyone for their support over this campaign cycle. I have met so many hard-working people across the district who have shared their thoughts, concerns, and ideas for how to move our communities forward, and I hope that you will bubble in Amy Cox to be OH-43’s next state representative. Head over to voteamycox.com to learn more about me. We only have a little bit left before election day, so please make a plan and cast your vote.
Rodney Creech
Occupation: Business Owner/Farmer
Past Political Positions Held: Twin Township Trustee — 2008 to 2014; County Commissioner — 2015 to present.
Education: Twin Valley South High School — 1995; Morehead State University — 1995-1999, BS in Agronomy.
Community Involvement: Preble County Council on Aging Board, Eaton Rotary, Preble County Development Partnership, Preble County Chamber of Commerce, Lewisburg Chamber of Commerce, New Paris Chamber of Commerce, New Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, Brookville Chamber of Commerce, Farm Bureau Member, Downtown Eaton Inc (1808 Cafe).
Why are you the most qualified candidate for this position?
Being raised on the family farm taught me sound work ethic at a young age. My work, business and local political experience has given me a strong base of knowledge and has allowed me to learn the inner workings of our community. I have worked with our local leaders and businesses and have been able to build strong relationships. Over the last 18 months I have worked hard to build the same kind of relationships across the 43rd District and statewide.
What are the most crucial issues facing the office you are seeking, and how would you address it?
There are several key issues that are facing our state and I look forward to hitting them head on. First and foremost is opening Ohio safely due to COVID-19 and working to bring balance back to our state government. The state is making decisions that I believe should be made locally. I also want to focus on workforce development and preparing our young workforce for success. Of course, we want to bring more jobs into our district and state but we currently have jobs available that we can’t fill. I would like to see a focus put on our employers needs and prepare our youth accordingly.
If elected, what would be your chief priorities?
My chief priorities will be to listen, learn and bring trust back to the statehouse. I plan on working for and with the people of the 43rd District and will be their solid voice in Columbus.
