Where Ben Stands

I hope this section will give you some insight into my guiding principles, and where I stand. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

People Before Politics.

If there is one thing people on all sides agree on, it is the belief that our elected officials have placed their own interests and those of certain interest groups above those of the people they are elected to serve. Too many Ohioans believe Ohio has become a place where people go unseen and unheard. Now more than ever, we need leaders who will ensure the people they represent have a say in what happens in Columbus. This is why I am running for State Representative of the Ohio 55th House District: to make sure the people of Ohio come first. One way we can do this is to put people before politics. 

Servant Leadership.

It is easy to forget in today’s political climate that politics is about people. State representatives are elected to represent their constituents and by extension the people of Ohio. Everything a representative does must be with them in mind, and they must never forget that we the people are the ones who have given them the privilege of serving. That means representing and showing up for people who will vote for me, people who won’t vote for me, and people who won’t vote at all, because it is my oath and duty to serve everyone. 

Is it Good for Ohio?

During his eight years in office, President Dwight D. Eisenhower had only one yardstick he used to test every major problem and that yardstick was “It is good for America?” Like Ike, I believe in doing what is best for Ohio and not what is best for me, a certain political party, or any interest group. Therefore, the first question I will ask when reviewing any piece of legislation is “How does this help regular folks?”  

The Problem Isn’t Who to Blame; It’s What to Blame.

This phrase may sound very familiar to some of you. It is part of a much larger televised address President Ronald Reagan gave to the nation in October 1982. During this address, President Reagan urged Americans to “forget about party politics and take a look at how our country got into this fix and what we can do to get her out of it.” Unfortunately, bipartisanship is undervalued in today’s political environment, because it is viewed as the wishy-washy behavior of those who lack more conviction. Indeed, the bases of both parties expect their representatives to be defiant in the opposition of the other party. All this has done is make our problems worse and leave more Ohioans further behind. I believe all of us deserve something a lot better than this. Politics does not need to be a zero-sum game where one side wins and the other loses. Our history shows us the good things that can happen when we put aside our own priorities and partisanship to serve a greater purpose. We know what the problems are and we know how to fix them. The main issue is do we have the will to fix them. The goal should be to do what is in the best interest of all Ohioans and not just some. 

Accountability.

When we elect representatives, we expect them to be held accountable to two things: the people they represent and the laws they are subject to. I expect nothing less from all of you and am committed to transparency and accountability. The only thing I ask for is the opportunity to prove myself and to never lower your expectations for anyone asking to serve and represent you.  All of you deserve the very best.

Politicians Need to Stop Talking and Listen More.

If there is one thing I have learned as a non- commissioned officer (NCO) in the Army it’s that listening separates the good leaders from the poor ones, those that can solve hard problems from those who can’t. Unfortunately, most politicians only worry about coming up on top and talking over one another. Instead, politicians must learn to listen in a focused and proactive way, to constituents, experts, lobbyists, and most importantly to one another. If our elected officials are to be the problem solvers we need them to be, then they must learn to listen better. That means showing respect for others, especially those we disagree with. Taking time to reflect and hear what people have to say instead of just coming up with what to say next. Lastly, we must set aside our biases, beliefs, and assumptions. Instead of framing conversations or statements with clever “soundbites” and “zingers” that back the other person into a corner, we should be searching for new ideas or information that gives us a new slant on a problem.  This is how we begin to solve the issues facing us. 

Constituent Relationship.

One of my main goals is to develop a relationship with every Ohioan living in the 55th House District. I want everyone to be aware of what is happening in Columbus as well as locally. I also want to people to share their concerns and proposals directly with me. Most of the best ideas come from within our communities. People who live with, struggle with and deal with these issues on a daily basis. A big part of this outreach will also focus on constituent services. These services are critical as state representatives act as a liaison between groups and individuals in their districts and state and federal agencies. Unfortunately, most Ohioans are unaware of these services, and even fewer will ever utilize them. I know constituent services aren’t as appealing to some as passing “big-time” legislation is, but I am reminded of a quote by Ronald Reagan, “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” Any difference we can make to help someone, even if it is one person, is a win. Therefore, I will work hard to ensure sure all Ohioans living in our district are aware of these services and help them navigate unnecessary government bureaucracy, cut through red tape, and provide access to services they need. There may be times when we’re unable to deliver the exact outcome you want, but we will certainly get you a straight answer.

Reforming and Modernizing Government: A 21st Century Government for 21st Century Ohioans.

Many Ohioans often discuss the ideal size of government, but I believe our state government’s effectiveness is more important than its size. Technology has transformed almost every aspect of our lives, yet many state programs remain trapped in the past. I believe 21st Century Ohioans deserve a 21st Century government that will keep pace with today’s technology and take advantage of increasing efficiency be reducing unnecessary bureaucracy. This means ensuring programs remain an appropriate use of our tax dollars and eliminating those that are duplicative, outdated, or no longer serve regular Ohioans. We must also look into ways of infusing our state and local governments with innovative technology, accountability, and transparency. Doing so will enable us to be flexible and ready to take on the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

Reducing the Influence of Money in the Statehouse.

Let’s be honest with ourselves. Ohio, especially the Statehouse, has a dark money problem. With the ongoing House Bill 6 scandal, Ohioans have seen first-hand the dangers of dark money and how it can influence the decisions that impact all our lives. Dark money allows masked interest groups to hold tremendous influence and sway everything from ballot issues to local school boards. Such sway and influence have made many Ohioans cynical and question whether the leaders they elect, and pay, are looking out for their interests, above all others.  One immediate thing we can do to help reverse this tide is to pass stricter disclosure laws. Such laws empower Ohioans by learning the true source of donations, including big-ticket candidate and ballot issues campaigns, as well as which groups are behind the large amounts of lobbying money spent at the Statehouse. Other states have done this. Ohio should, too.

Protecting Election Integrity.

Fair elections are the backbone of our democracy. When we vote, we are not just electing government officials. We are also expressing our needs, preferences, satisfaction and dissatisfaction as an electorate. Voting is one of the main tools we have to communicate how we wish to be governed. Who we decide to elect reflects the issues we care about, how we want our tax dollars spent, and our commitment to developing solutions to the issues we currently face. It’s no secret that confidence in our democratic institutions like elections is low. More and more Ohioans do not feel confident that the results of an election reflect the will of the people. This is very alarming as all Ohioans deserve absolute confidence in Ohio’s electoral process. One thing I like to do as an analyst in the Army is to get a better idea on what is happening on the ground. This means seeing the situation first-hand and talking to Soldiers on the frontline who know what is truly happening.

To get a better understanding on how our elections work here in Ohio, I volunteered to be a poll worker for the first time in 2022. To say this was a rewarding experience would be an understatement. Even though, it was a long day, I got to work with an amazing group of people from both parties. All of these individuals worked hard together to make sure each voter had the best experience possible. What really stood out to me is the amount of effort, manpower, and commitment it takes to run and hold these elections. Each election, thousands of Ohioans dedicate themselves to sustain the backbone of our democracy –our election process. Poll workers are indispensable to this process. They set up, monitor and tear down polling places, check in voters, monitor voting equipment, conduct recounts, and process provisional and main in ballots. More importantly, poll workers help ensure our elections are fair. According to the Ohio SoS, more than 34,069 Ohioans across the state signed up to be poll workers for the April 2022 primary election. Without poll workers our elections would not be possible. I encourage everyone, especially those who or wary or unsure about the fairness of our elections, to become a poll worker and see how the process works for yourself. Not only will you gain a better understanding, but you will also come away with a better sense of appreciation and pride. It is because of the dedication and commitment of thousands of individuals that Ohioans have elections we can be confident in and proud of.

Lastly, Ohio has a first-rate election system with very rare instances of voter fraud thanks to the efforts and leadership of SoS Frank LaRose. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to stop all voter fraud, but we can continue to identify and adopt measures to deter it. We most also continue to work on securing our election systems from possible cyber-attacks as well as data retention and transparency. The goal should be to make our elections fair, transparent, and efficient for all Ohioans.