The race for the Republican nomination to run for the open 47th Ohio House District seat features candidates with significantly different platforms — one running to boost public schools, one focusing on individual economic freedom, and a third aiming to end reliance on property taxes.
Derek Merrin of Monclova Township, Vicki Donovan Lyle of Sylvania, and Kevin Haddad of Sylvania Township are vying on the March 15 ballot for the GOP nomination to replace the incumbent, Rep. Barbara Sears (R., Monclova Township). Ms. Sears, who has represented the district since 2008, is prohibited by term limits from running again.
The winner will face Democrat Michael Sarantou, 38, in the Nov. 8 election. The district includes western Lucas County and most of Fulton County.
Early voting starts Wednesday at the Lucas County Board of Elections, 1301 Monroe St.
Mr. Merrin, 30, is the former mayor of Waterville, a former employee of the state auditor, and now a Realtor and property investor. His goal is to fight for lower taxes and fewer regulations.
“Our state needs pro-growth reforms to the tax code, regulatory reforms, and legislation that furthers individual freedom,” Mr. Merrin said, adding that over 25 years, Ohio ranks 46th in private sector job growth, according to the Buckeye Institute. “... We need conservative leadership.”
That means cutting taxes if possible. Mr. Merrin said he doesn’t believe the local government fund — reduced dramatically in the last five years — will fall any further, but he made no promise to try to restore local revenue that has been cut from the budget since the 2008 recession.
Mr. Merrin was 19 when he was elected as a Waterville councilman in 2006. When elected mayor two years later, he was considered the youngest in the state. He did not seek re-election in 2011, saying he accomplished 80 percent of what he had set out to do and, “thought it was time to move on.”
He is a graduate of Monclova Christian Academy and Bowling Green State University and has a masters of public administration from the University of Toledo.
Mrs. Lyle, 56, the owner of a benefits brokerage, was re-elected in November to a new term on the Sylvania Board of Education, a seat she’s held since 2005.
Mrs. Lyle recently had two tax delinquencies on the house she shares with husband, Dennis Lyle, at 4428 Tamworth Road. In 2014 and 2015, they paid their second-half taxes late and incurred 10 percent penalties both years.
Mrs. Lyle said the first delinquency was because they had paid off their mortgage and weren’t aware a tax was due. The second delinquency was attributed to inattention at a time when her father was ill and passed away.
Mr. Merrin said Mrs. Lyle’s delinquencies raise doubts about her qualifications.
“Vicki is a nice lady, but she has no business managing public funds. If you can’t handle your personal finances you shouldn’t be handling a $70 billion state budget,” Mr. Merrin said.
Mrs. Lyle denied that her two delinquencies reveal inability to handle large responsibilities, saying the Sylvania school district has an $82 million general fund and recently launched a $79 million bond issue, and that she has run her own business for the last six years.
“Denny and I paid our taxes on time for 23 years. We were fortunate to have our home paid off. The county allows for a waiver [of penalties, which she did not take] because they understand there can be a difference of opinion as to whose responsibility it was. That’s all this was. It doesn’t make me someone incapable of managing a budget,” Mrs. Lyle sai“.
She said she never personally raised taxes but gave voters the option to do that, “out of necessity.” She said voters approved tax levies after they understood the cuts in the school district that would have to follow if the levies were turned down.
“I would appreciate if Mr. Merrin would stay on why he’s a better candidate because that is not something I’ve heard from any voters I’ve spoken to,” she said. “I’ve been in the workforce longer than he’s been alive.”
Mrs. Lyle’s background — a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and 11 years on the Sylvania school board — are reflected in her major issue. She wants to improve funding for public education and reduce the number of standardized tests.
Mrs. Lyle is a graduate of Whitmer High School and Bowling Green State University.
Kevin Haddad, 60, the brother of former Sylvania Councilman Keith Haddad, was elected to the Sylvania Township Board of Trustees as a Republican in 2009, serving one term. In the middle of that term, he ran unsuccessfully for county commissioner against Tina Skeldon Wozniak as an independent. He ran for re-election as a township trustee in 2013 and lost.
A graduate of Woodward High School in Toledo, Mr. Haddad quit the University of Toledo to become a hairdresser. Still operating his Toledo salon on weekends, Mr. Haddad also has a commercial driver’s license.
If elected, he plans to reduce reliance on property taxes and local income taxes and shift the burden for schools and municipalities as much as possible to sales taxes.
He would also make it possible for people who own property in or work in a jurisdiction where they don’t have residency to vote on tax levies there.
“I’m going to definitely make it a rule that if you don’t live in a community but you own property you can vote on taxes that affect your property. Taxing without representation and letting these welfare people who don’t pay a dime on it is totally wrong,” Mr. Haddad said.
He also said he would replace school property taxes by adding the sales tax to carryout food. Both of Mr. Haddad’s opponents said they do not support his proposal.
Monclova Township Trustee Barbara Lang filed to run for the 47th but withdrew after the Jan. 5 cutoff date mandated in state law. The Lucas County Board of Elections said it could not remove her name from the ballot, and any votes cast for her will not be counted.
Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.
First Published February 14, 2016, 5:00 a.m.
