DARKE COUNTY – Keith Faber (R-Celina), incumbent candidate for the 12th district Ohio Senate seat, was appointed to fill the last two years of Jim Jordan’s (R-Urbana) Senate term when Jordan moved to Congress, he said. Faber was then re-elected in 2008, he stated.
Faber holds a degree in J.D. Law from The Ohio State University, and has a practice in Celina, Ohio, he stated. He also has a 3-term background in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served for Mercer, Darke, and Preble Counties, Faber commented.
His opponent, Paul Hinds, a member of the Libertarian party from Lima, Ohio, has “no more education than the average Ohioan” with a high school diploma, no background in government, and is a former small business owner, he told The Daily Advocate.
“I definitely understand why it’s mostly partners in law firms who run for office, because the sheer amount of time you have to dedicate to campaigning alone is exponential, so for an average working Ohioan like myself, it’s been very difficult,” Hinds remarked.
Faber finds himself averaging more than 180 events over his seven county constituency, he stated, which means he travels more than 25,000 miles each year, so being an Ohio Senator is a busy choice. Faber stated that his office attempts to personally respond to communications from the constituents of District 12, and he considers job creation and workforce development to be the central priorities.
“These issues transcend partisanship, and they require thoughtful solutions from elected leaders at every level of government,” Faber remarked. “Getting our economy back on track begins with wise fiscal management.”
While in office Faber stated that Ohio has had more than 123,000 jobs created, while eliminating a projected $8 billion budget shortfall, and not raising taxes. Efforts to develop Ohio’s energy industry have already led to the creation of 8,000 jobs, Faber stated.
“In the weeks ahead, my colleagues and I will be introducing bold new reforms to focus on job training and workforce development, believing that Ohio’s economic recovery will be fueled by the quality of its people,” Faber remarked. “Finally, I am committed to working together on responsible tax reform that reduces the burden on families and job creators in our state, so that Ohio can become a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Hinds states that, if elected, he will work for the people, be transparent about all of his votes, and keep his constituents informed. He also feels that Columbus “needs to lose some weight,” and empower the people at the county and township level.
“I believe individuals are much better-equipped to make decisions on their own lives, than a group of people sitting in offices in Columbus are,” Hinds stated. “What might not be right for someone living in Cleveland, Ohio may be right fro someone in Greenville, Ohio, yet in Columbus, they draw a broad brush-stroke and expect us all to be the same.”
Hinds also has a pro-stance on a couple of more taboo issues, such as lifestyle respect and marijuana legalization, according to his website and Hinds himself.
“The reason they’re taboo, is we’re told they’re bad things,” stated Hinds. “Lifestyle respect to me is basic human rights, in my opinion. If someone lives a different lifestyle than you or I, who are we to judge whether it’s right or wrong?”
Hinds also feels that the marijuana being illegal doesn’t make much sense, he said, as it is less dangerous than alcohol, and to his knowledge no one has ever overdosed on marijuana.
“At the end of the line, it comes down to this: I don’t know what’s best to consume in your body, whether it’s raw milk, marijuana, or Brussels sprouts, and I don’t have the right to tell someone else not to consume it if that’s what they’d prefer,” Hinds stated. “…Marijuana isn’t illegal because it’s bad for anyone, marijuana is illegal because big business profits off of it being illegal.”
Hinds commented that he’s running for Ohio Senate because he’s an average Ohioan, and it’s time to get regular Ohioans back in charge.
“I’m asking for your support, not just as a candidate, but as a person, to help me send a strong message back to Columbus that we’re ready for regular Ohioans to be back in charge,” stated Hinds.
Faber is asking for support of his constituents to continue serving in Columbus and working on the policies that will help assure that “our kids and grandchildren receive the same opportunities that our parents gave us.”
“Ohio is a great state and we are fortunate to live, work, and raise our families in one of the best parts of Ohio. It has been my honor to represent the hard-working families of this district,” stated Faber. “In this era of runaway federal spending, I am convinced that local and state spending restraint is all the more important. We can’t tax and spend our way to success or a stronger Ohio.”