Cara on the Issues

Ohio’s public schools are being systematically defunded through the state budget, while increasing amounts of taxpayer dollars are diverted to private schools through an unconstitutional voucher program. These private institutions are not held to the same academic standards or financial oversight as public schools, leaving families and taxpayers with little accountability for how public funds are spent. This lack of transparency is unacceptable.

Once a national leader in public education, Ohio has seen its standing rapidly decline. To reverse this trend, I strongly support the full implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan, which would finally provide an equitable and predictable funding system for every public school student in Ohio regardless of their zip code. Properly funding education through the state budget would also reduce the unconstitutional overreliance on local property taxes, easing the burden on districts and homeowners who are repeatedly forced to pass levies just to keep schools afloat.

I also strongly oppose the majority party’s decision to eliminate elected members of the State Board of Education. Decisions about curriculum and learning standards should be guided by teachers, not politicians. Our educators are the true experts in the classroom, and they must be empowered to shape the future of public education in Ohio.

As a physician, I have seen firsthand how rising healthcare costs place enormous strain on patients and their families. No one should ever have to choose between filling a prescription, putting food on the table, or keeping a roof over their head. That’s why I am committed to advancing bipartisan solutions that make healthcare more affordable and accessible for every Ohioan.

Recent cuts to Medicaid in the U.S. budget, coupled with threats to Medicaid expansion here in Ohio, as well as rising private health insurance premiums and high deductibles put our entire healthcare system at risk especially in rural communities where hospitals and clinics already operate on thin margins. When facilities close or lay off staff, access to care is diminished, and the costs are shifted back onto everyone in the form of higher insurance premiums. Rather than limiting healthcare coverage, we need to expand access and build an environment where physicians, nurses, and other providers are supported and retained to address the growing workforce shortage across our state.

When it comes to prescription drugs, I strongly support regulatory oversight of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to end practices like “spread pricing” and “copay clawbacks” that inflate costs for patients while driving independent pharmacies out of business. 

Healthcare should work for patients not corporations. That means ensuring coverage is stable, affordable, and centered on people, not profit margins. I believe Ohio can lead the way in adopting patient-centered reforms now, while ultimately moving toward a single-payer, universal healthcare system because access to quality healthcare must be a right, not a privilege.

Ohioans across the state are facing steep and unsustainable increases in property taxes. I support meaningful property tax reform that protects homeowners from being taxed out of their homes while ensuring that essential local services remain fully funded. Two commonsense solutions I strongly support are implementing a property tax circuit breaker, which ties relief to a household’s ability to pay, and expanding the homestead exemption to give seniors and vulnerable Ohioans greater protection.

At the same time, I will fight to ensure our public schools and local services are appropriately funded through the state budget, reducing the overreliance on property taxes to keep these vital services running. By shifting funding responsibility back to the state, we can provide real property tax relief while safeguarding the stability of Ohio’s communities.

Working families across Ohio are being squeezed harder than ever. The costs of housing, groceries, utilities, and childcare keep climbing, while wages for many have remained stagnant. Too many Ohioans are working harder but falling further behind. 

I strongly support state legislation that expands access to affordable childcare, paid family leave and universal pre-K, because no parent should have to choose between keeping their job and caring for their child. At the same time, we must support a living wage and ensure families can build stability and opportunity.

I am also a strong supporter of unions, which have always been at the forefront of securing labor rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions. Protecting the right to organize is essential to rebuilding Ohio’s middle class.

Lastly, I believe homes should be for families, not Wall Street investors. Across Ohio, corporate buyers backed by private equity are scooping up thousands of homes, driving up prices and rents, and pushing families out of their communities. I support limiting these bulk purchases and keeping housing in community hands. Every Ohio family deserves the chance to put down roots, build stability, and create lasting wealth through homeownership.

By tackling these issues head-on—affordable childcare, housing, and wages—we can relieve the pressure on working families, rebuild trust in our institutions, and create a fairer, stronger Ohio for everyone.

I am committed to protecting voting rights and ensuring that every eligible Ohioan has a fair voice in our democracy. Unfortunately, politicians in Columbus continue to force voters to cast ballots under unconstitutional, gerrymandered maps designed to protect their own power. These maps silence communities across the political spectrum impacting Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike by creating districts where lawmakers face little accountability to the people they represent.

I will fight for fair, transparent maps that put voters first because in a true democracy, it is the people who choose their representatives, not the other way around. Ohioans already made the voices heard when they rejected attempts to make it harder to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives. That vote was a clear message: the power belongs with the people of Ohio, and I will work to ensure it stays that way.

Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children ages 1–19 in Ohio, a heartbreaking reality that demands urgent action. Yet, instead of addressing this crisis, our statehouse continues to pass lax gun laws like permitless concealed carry and arming teachers with less than 24 hours of training. These radical policies only serve to make our communities less safe. These policies do not reflect the will of the people. Over 90% of Ohioans support common-sense gun safety measures but a gerrymandered legislature refuses to act, putting politics ahead of the safety of our kids and neighborhoods. I believe Ohio can do better. We need data-driven, evidence-based policies to reduce gun violence. Protecting our children and our communities must be a top priority. I will fight for common sense reforms while still protecting the rights of responsible gun owners. The people of Ohio are demanding action and it’s time our leaders listened.

Utility costs have continued to rise in Ohio, driven by increased demand from data centers, aging power plants, and corruption exposed in the FirstEnergy scandal. Instead of forcing Ohioans to foot the bill for corporate greed and outdated infrastructure, I support investing in renewable energy, modernizing our grid, and holding utility companies accountable to ratepayers. That means investing in renewable energy that lowers costs and creates good-paying jobs, modernizing our grid so it’s reliable and resilient, and ensuring utility companies answer to the people they serve—not the other way around. With transparency, accountability, and forward-looking energy policies, we can lower bills, strengthen our economy, and build a cleaner, fairer energy future for every Ohioan.

I will always fight for the right of Ohioans to have bodily autonomy when it comes to their reproductive health. Healthcare decisions should be made by patients and their doctors not politicians. In 2023 Ohioans made their voices heard loud and clear, voting overwhelmingly to enshrine protections for abortion, contraception, and IVF in our state constitution. That victory was a powerful statement that the people of Ohio believe in protecting reproductive freedom.

Yet, despite this clear mandate from voters, lawmakers in our statehouse continue to introduce legislation designed to chip away at these rights. These ongoing attacks not only undermine our constitution, but they also create fear and confusion for patients, families, and healthcare providers. 

I will fight any legislation that threatens access to reproductive healthcare in Ohio. I will also champion policies that expand access to contraception, protect fertility treatments like IVF, and ensure women have the medical freedom to make the decisions that are right for them and their families. Protecting reproductive rights is about more than healthcare, it is about dignity, equality, and freedom. Ohioans have spoken, and I will make sure their voices are respected in our statehouse.