Wednesday, March 1, 2000
Ohio House 2nd District (Rep.)
BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
One of the region's most heated primary races this March is for the Republican nomination for the 2nd District seat in the Ohio House.
Three Republicans will seek the party's nomination to succeed state Rep. George Terwilleger, R-Hamilton Township. Mr. Terwilleger cannot run because of term limits.
Two of the candidates, Mason Councilwoman Betty Davis and Clearcreek Township Trustee Ed Wade, are making second tries for the seat. Ms. Davis and Mr. Wade ran in 1992, finishing second and third respectively in a field of five.
The third candidate, Deerfield Township Trustee Tom Raga, is making his first attempt at becoming Warren County's state representative. Mr. Raga, 34, is in his first term as township trustee.
All three candidates agree the buzz word in this year's campaign is “growth.” With Warren County's population jumping from 113,927 in 1990 to an estimated 146,033 in 1998, residents are concerned about the rapid development's impact on traffic and schools.
“Balanced growth between residential and industrial development is critical to ensure that Ohio and Warren County maintain a sound fiscal basis, provide jobs, maintain a taxing level affordable to people and preserve the environment in the communities in which we live,” said Ms. Davis, who helps oversee the state's second-fastest growing city.
In addition to balancing growth, Ms. Davis, Mason's former mayor, said she supports establishing a quality health care system that is affordable and accessible to businesses and residents.
Mr. Raga is focusing his campaign on education and tax reform. He said he supports legislators returning control to local school districts and encourages a return to the basics of teaching reading, writing and math. He also backs an across-the-board income tax reduction.
Mr. Wade, 50, said his main issue is addressing how schools are funded in Ohio in addition to the process of annexations, which he said “needs some improvement.”
Meanwhile, Mason resident Richard Inskeep is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination. He is the only Democrat on the ballot.
THE CANDIDATES
Ed Wade
Personal: 50, 2815 W. Factory Road, Springboro. Insurance agent. Family: Wife, Brenda, and daughters Abbey and Cortney.
Experience/qualifications: Mr. Wade has served 22 years on the Clearcreek Township Board of Trustees. He is president of the Warren County Fair Board, a member of several chambers of commerce, and a member of the county Regional Planning Commission. Mr. Wade is also president of the Warren County Agricultural Society and a member of the Warren County Drug and Alcohol Coalition and Ohio Township Association.
Betty Davis
Personal: 51, 3948 Hanover Drive, Mason. An attorney and mental disabilities group home facilitor. Family: four grown children and and four grandchildren.
Experience/qualifications: Ms. Davis is Mason's former mayor and has served on Mason City Council for 19 years. She is involved with the Warren County Republican Party, Warren County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Council, Warren County Housing Authority, Mary Haven Youth Center, and various other local organizations.
Tom Raga
Personal: 34, 6325 Eagle Court, Deerfield Township. General manager for Copart Inc. in Columbus. Attended Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Family: Wife, Jean; a daughter, Colleen; and a son, Rick.
Experience/qualifications: Mr. Raga is serving in his first term as a township trustee. He is chairman of the Young Republican Club of Warren County and executive committee member of the Warren County Republican Party and a member of the Ohio Township Association.
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