Three-term Republican Derek Merrin faces a challenge from union leader and Democrat Erika White in Lucas County's new 42nd District in the Ohio House of Representatives.
The district covers South Toledo and much of the county directly west and south of the city — including Maumee, Waterville, Whitehouse, Holland, and part of Swanton.
Mr. Merrin, 36, of Monclova Township, now serves the 47th District, which covers Republican-heavy western Lucas County into Fulton County, so representing a chunk of Toledo would be new for him. The real estate investor leads the powerful Ways and Means Committee and is eyeing a bid for speaker of the Ohio House if he wins Nov. 8.
"It would be great for our region to have a greater voice," he said of a speaker bid. "Toledo and Lucas County get left out of a lot of statewide discussions, a lot of the focus is on the three Cs — Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. I would like to see more focus and funding brought back to northwest Ohio and other parts of the state that kind of get looked over."
Ms. White, 49, of Springfield Township, hasn't run for public office before but brings relevant experience serving as president of the 800-member Communications Workers of America Local 4319. An outside plant engineer for AT&T, she pledged to be a constant presence in the district if she wins, noting "everyone can't get to Columbus" to advocate for their issue.
"I just wanted to take the work I do [for the union] and serve people on a larger level, with a larger platform," Ms. White said of her decision to run.
The race is likely to be competitive, though Democrats have an edge based on recent past results: In the 2018 contest for governor, Democrat Richard Cordray outpaced Republican Mike DeWine for the area that became the newly drawn 42nd. Joe Biden narrowly edged Donald Trump, 51 percent to 49 percent, in 2020 in the district.
Mr. Merrin and Ms. White have raised and spent significant cash for a statehouse race. In the most recent period, Mr. Merrin brought in $137,000 and reported $109,000 in cash on hand, with Ms. White reporting $74,000 raised and $118,000 in funds available for the final stretch.
Merrin
In an interview, Mr. Merrin touted his experience. As chairman of Ways and Means, he noted he has the ability to shape the tax code — "anything dealing with income tax, sales tax, property tax issues, credits and deductions."
Mr. Merrin said he's especially proud of having helped usher through last year's big income tax cut, successfully pushing through an eight-year driver's license renewal period, rather than four, several years ago, and producing legislation to save people on prescription eyewear.
He said he's passionate about transparency legislation, including a bill that he wrote earlier this year to help voters better understand levy issues on their ballot, and another requiring stickers that explain the fuel tax to go on pumps.
Mr. Merrin said he wants more resources for public safety.
"I want to see more police officers on the streets, especially in Toledo," he said. "Safety is a high priority, and at the state level we need to adjust the local government funding formula, to try and find more financial assistance to get more officers on the streets."
The Republican declined to directly answer a question about the specifics of his stance on abortion, other than to say he's "a pro-life legislator, but my focus in the legislature has been on economic issues." He has advocated in the past for strict anti-abortion legislation.
"I have an opportunity to be in leadership and be one of the leaders of the chamber — maybe the speaker," Mr. Merrin said.
White
In her day job, Ms. White designs broadband facilities. In her union gig, she represents workers from several fields — from University of Toledo employees, to library workers, and AT&T employees.
"It's a very diverse local, from people doing maintenance and custodial work, to pretty technical jobs," she said. "But everyone in our local takes care of the people or public in some form or fashion."
Skills she's learned as union president would translate well into being an effective lawmaker, she said, including transparency, accountability, and keeping in close contacts with membership.
"It's not about me agreeing with you 100 percent, or you agreeing with me," she said. "It's about us having a conversation about how we can take care of our communities."
Ms. White said she would advocate for better worker safety training programs, a fairer tax code, and stronger protections for worker pensions. She also said she would push for state support for childcare in the form of tax credits, so middle class workers can more easily afford sending their child to daycare before heading to their job.
Ms. White's husband is a firefighter, and she said she is concerned about safety and health problems that often plague firefighters and police officers, both while on the job and after they retire.
"It's important that we look at, what is going to keep them safe on the job?" she said. "And allowing them to work with dignity and retire with dignity."
Ms. White said abortion is "a right" and believes there should never be legislation that hampers women and their physicians from making right decision together for a woman's health.
"I'm looking forward to winning, but I'm most excited about being able to make the word ‘politician’ something that is respected," she said.
First Published October 31, 2022, 10:03 p.m.
