Republican Tex Fischer, who was appointed to the Ohio House on June 26 to fill a vacancy, faces the challenge of Democrat Laura Schaeffer in the Nov. 5 general election for the 59th District seat.

Fischer, a political consultant and first vice chairman of the Mahoning County Republican Party, was selected June 23 by the chairmen and secretaries of the Mahoning and Columbiana counties’ Republican parties to replace Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, on the ballot for the 59th House seat. Three days later, the Ohio House Republican Caucus appointed Fischer, R-Boardman, to also fill out the remainder of Cutrona’s unexpired term, which is the 58th House District.

Because of redistricting, the seat’s number will change in 2025 as will some of the communities in it.

Cutrona was appointed to a state Senate seat vacated by Michael Rulli, R-Salem, who won a special June 11 election for the 6th Congressional District post.

Fischer spent part of June 26 in the House session. The House is in recess until after the Nov. 5 election.

Schaeffer, a Beloit councilwoman for the past four-plus years and integrated library systems administrator for the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, won the unopposed Democratic primary.

Early voting starts Oct. 8.

Fischer and Schaeffer both said one of their top priorities is property tax relief. But they want to go about it in different ways.

Schaeffer said: “The state’s property tax code is in dire need of reform. People are rightfully upset about unfair assessments that cause huge jumps in their property taxes. The school funding system was ruled unconstitutional almost 30 years ago and our Ohio General Assembly hasn’t done anything about it.”

She added: “Instead, the state funneled $1 billion of public money into private schools last year. Amending the way Ohio assesses property value and reforming school funding would provide relief for millions of Ohioans while improving our children’s access to education.”

Fischer said, “One of the most frequent concerns I’ve heard from constituents is the massive increase in property taxes. As a Boardman homeowner, I understand their frustration. Nobody voted for a massive property tax increase last year, but that’s exactly what we got.”

Fischer said he’s encouraged by initial policy recommendations from a bipartisan legislative property tax commission.

“However, committees and commissions aren’t doing anything to help the property owners facing these tax hikes right now,” he said. “We need action. There are several bills I would absolutely support if they’re brought up for a vote.”

One bill, Fischer said, would expand the homestead exemption and phase in property valuation increases on a rolling three-year average and temporarily reimburse local governments and school districts for any revenue lost. Another would change the value assessment formula to weigh sales of similar properties in each of the preceding three years and there is a proposed constitutional amendment to put a hard cap of 4% on year-over-year property tax bills.

“Regardless of the specific bill, I hope the speaker prioritizes property tax relief during the lame duck session so we can help property owners for the 2025 tax year,” Fischer said.

Among Fischer’s other priorities is making it easier to provide affordable and reliable energy.

“The solution is simple: get more power generation online in Ohio as soon as possible,” he said. “We have an abundance of natural resources in the state that give us the ability to generate more than enough energy for a massive economic expansion in the tech and manufacturing sector, but we lack the infrastructure and regulatory climate to make it a reality.”

Fischer called for the “fundamental reform” of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, which he called corrupt, and “a massive streamlining” of Ohio Power Siting Board, a PUCO subsidiary, which he said “has absolutely failed to solve the issues we’re facing and is, in fact, one of the main driving forces of our looming energy crisis.’

Fischer also wants state government to “focus on its core responsibilities: public safety, infrastructure and education.” Fischer has said he’s a “fan of limited government” and has called for the defunding of the post office and the IRS.

“The American Dream is built on the idea that people are free to succeed and fail based on their own merits and work ethic,” Fischer said. “The state of Ohio cannot solve every problem we face in our society nor should it try. It’s our responsibility to create an environment where people can live the American Dream here in the Valley, not to force outcomes or favor one industry over another.”

Schaeffer said the state Legislature, controlled by Republicans, has “spent public money and official time trying to make it harder for Ohio voters to change policies” and have sought to make changes to a constitutional amendment making abortion legal in the state and an initiative to legalize recreational marijuana for adults. Both passed in November 2023.

“These actions clearly contradict the role of a state representative,” said Schaeffer, who added that the Legislature needs to properly represent its constituents.

Schaeffer said one of her priorities is to make state government smarter.

“No matter what the government is doing, we get the best return for our tax dollars when outcomes are analyzed and policies are adapted,” she said.

The district includes Boardman, Canfield, Struthers, Campbell, Berlin, Coitsville, Beloit, Ellsworth, Sebring, New Middletown, North Lima, Smith, Goshen, Green, Beaver, Springfield and Washingtonville in Mahoning County and Knox and Butler townships in Columbiana County.

dskolnick@vindy.com