MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD BY OELSLAGER, SCHURING, STOLTZFUS & WEST ON PROPOSED GASOLINE TAX INCREASE

VOTE ON PROPOSED 18 CENT GASOLINE TAX INCREASE AT END OF THIS BLOG.

Results so far included.

UPDATE: 02/26/2019  JLEC (as reported by Capitol Letter) Financial Disclosure of Rep. Thomas West for 2017.

(EXTRACT)

LINK TO FULL REPORT

1. West reported earning from $0 to $999 from his position on the Canton City Council (he left in January 2017 to become a state representative) and from $3,000 to $30,996 spread out between four rental properties. West earned $60,584 in legislative pay.

2. He reported investments with the Public Employee Retirement System and the State Teachers Retirement System.

3. At some point in 2017, he owed more than $1,000 to Navient, CSE Credit Union and the law firm Roderick Linton Belfance.

4. At some point in 2017, Gloria Norris, LeErika Lawson, Cantonian LLC and ABLE Inc. owed West at least $1,000.

5. West received $6427.77 in travel reimbursement, including $4596.80 from the state of Ohio, $833.15 from SIX Legislative Conference, $425.40 from the Public Leadership Institute's Strategy Forum, $296.40 from the Blue Green Alliance and $276.02 from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. 
 
UPDATE:  02/25/2019 So far most poll takers support 18 cent gasoline tax increase!

TAKE SCPR POLL
(AT END OF BLOG)

FIRST RESULTS:

BY CITY/VILLAGE & TOWNSHIP

ORIGINAL BLOG

LET YOUR STATE REP/STATE SENATOR

KNOW HOW YOU VIEW GOV. DEWINE'S 
PROPOSED 18 CENT GASOLINE TAX INCREASE

It appears to The Stark County Political Report (SCPR, The Report) that newly elected Republican Reggie Stoltzfus as state Representative for the 50th Ohio House District (see above) is going to be the most interested in and responsive to the wishes of Stark Countians as a member of the Ohio General Assembly (OGA).

Undoubtedly, Ohioans and Stark Countians know that the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has run out of money to do new road construction work across the state.  ODOT will only be able to maintain the roadways it is responsible for and that's it if the OGA does not agree to new revenues in the form of additional taxes on gasoline going forward.

Governor DeWine has the unhappy job of convincing Ohioans that Republicans are again at the forefront of raising our taxes.  On the other side of the tax issue is a history whereby Republicans have decreased (though mostly benefiting the well-off) Ohio's income taxes.

Of course, Stark Countians want to hear the viewpoints of members of the Stark County delegation to the Assembly.

Moreover, the state representatives and the state senator (Kirk Schuring; R-the 29th) should want to hear the viewpoint of their constituents here in

The SCPR has contacted Stoltzfus and Democrat Thomas West (the 49th House District) but not Oelslager and Schuring.

Oelslager and Schuring have demonstrated to this blogger is that both have taken on an arrogance likely by virtue of been members of the OGA for a combined 60 years (either as a state representative or senator as they switch back and forth in order to overcome Ohioans desire for a term limit of eight (8) consecutive years in either the House or Senate.

The "organized" Stark County Democratic Party has not put up viable candidates of either over those 60 years.

Hence Stark County has two OGA members who only .listen to and engage "the movers and shakers" in Stark County politics.  Certainly not everyday Stark Countians especially if like SCPR they ask pointed, put them on the spot, and/or difficult to answer questions.

But Stoltzfus is showing that he does care.

Here is the complete exchange between the SCPR and Representative Stoltzfus.

On Feb 22, 2019, at 11:54 AM, Martin Olson <tramols@att.net> wrote:

Representative Stoltzfus,

What is your position on Governor DeWine's proposed increase on gasoline taxes at 18 cents per gallon?

Thank you,

Martin/SCPR

Hi Martin,

 I am never in favor of more taxes, I believe we pay enough taxes already.

 I will be open to listening to the Governor, and ODOT Director Marchbanks state their case as to why Ohio needs to raise the gas tax. 

I will be more interested in hearing how the residents of the 50th District feel about this proposal, these are the people I represent.

Thanks. -Reggie 

The jury is still out on Representative West.

In order for Stark Countians to have an avenue to speak to members of the Stark County delegation on controversial issues that come to the fore, The Report will be publishing polls for everyday Stark Countians to respond to and be heard.

Hopefully, enough Stark Countians will participate so that our county's legislature will have to listen.

THE POLL