A dozen Ohio House seats around central Ohio are up for grabs on November ballot

There are a dozen contested state House seats scattered across central Ohio on the November ballot.

Doctors, lawyers, newcomers and others are among those seeking election to two-year terms.

Here are the contested districts, a brief description of what they cover, and the candidates:

Ohio HouseDistrict 4

This district includes suburbs in the northeastern corner of Franklin County, such as Gahanna, New Albany and the southern part of Westerville.

Beryl Brown Piccolantonio, Democrat

Age: 47

Previously held offices: Gahanna-Jefferson school board, 2016-2024. She is the incumbent Ohio House District 24 Representative, 2024-present

Profession: State representative and attorney

Stances on top issues: Piccolantonio, a lifelong Ohio resident, was appointed to the Ohio House representing District 24 in early 2024 to serve out the unexpired term of longtime Rep. Mary Lightbody, who resigned to spend more time with family. Piccolantonio supports full state funding for public schools, regardless of where students are from. She also supports responsible growth as central Ohio continues to expand, and that includes vital infrastructure but avoids displacing existing residents.

Jason Allevato, Republican

Age: 44

Previously held offices: None

Profession: Business owner and executive; former attorney, economist and consultant

Stances on top issues: Crime and increasing cost of living are some of the top issues in District 4, according to Allevato. He would like to maintain the high quality of life amid ongoing growth in the area. He would support limiting and reducing income and property taxes. He has held jobs in the public and private sector for most of his life.

Ohio House District 6

This district covers parts of Columbus' West Side neighborhoods, including Lincoln Village, Hilliard Green and parts of the Hilltop.

Christine Cockley, Democrat

Age: 28

Previously held offices: None

Profession: Executive assistant to the president and CEO of YWCA Columbus

Stances on top issues: Cockley, a lifelong Democrat, has previously worked in the office and campaign of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. She said her experience in harm reduction and mental health will help her connect with constituents. The biggest issue facing her district is gerrymandering, and she is an advocate for the amendment referendum to the Ohio Constitution for independent redistricting.

Hussein Jabiri, Republican

Age: 66

Previously held offices: None

Profession: CEO and founder of Brava Foundation

Stances on top issues: Jabiri has a background in the public and private sector, including as an owner of a transportation company. He said the top issues for his district are economic stability and growth. Too much regulation can hurt growth, he said, but community support is needed for education, health care and housing.

Ohio HouseDistrict 8

This district includes Worthington, part of Clintonville and some of the nearby suburbs in northern Franklin County near the Olentangy River.

Aaron Neumann, Republican

Age: 39

Previously held offices: None

Profession: Management consultant

Stances on top issues: Neumann said that current legislators have difficulty getting anything done, especially Democrats in the super minority, such as his opponent. He said that he would work on legislation to boost affordable housing, child care and equitable education. He has experience on a variety of local boards and commissions, including on various PTA councils and the Far Northwest Coalition of Columbus.

Dr. Anita Somani, Democrat

Age: 62

Previously held offices: District 11 State House Representative

Profession: OB-GYN doctor

Stances on top issues: Somani’s top priorities are improving access to health care and boosting public education. She supports decreasing the cost of medications, improving transparency of health care costs and boosting access to reproductive health care, including abortions and IVF technology. She opposes school vouchers that help wealthier students.

Ohio House District 10

This district in southwestern Franklin County includes Grove City and part of Columbus' South and Southwest Sides.

Brian Garvine, Republican

Age: 54

Previously held offices: Village of Ashville Councilmember, 2008-2019

Profession: Lawyer

Stances on top issues: Garvine said the top issue is the economy, such as tax reform, that could include eliminating the state income tax. He said affordable housing is also an economic issue and something that needs to be expanded in central Ohio through such means as public-private partnerships. “Education choice” and supporting technical programs can also help the local economy, he said, as is supporting local law enforcement.

Mark Sigrist, Democrat

Age: 62

Previously held offices: At-large Grove City Councilmember, 2022-present

Profession: Upper management and strategic planning at Honda, North America

Stances on top issues: Sigrist said that the biggest issue facing the state is a lack of trust in political leaders, who have not listened enough to constituents or had enough bipartisan conversations. He said he would prioritize helping seniors age affordably and safely, support public education, affordable housing, as well as women’s reproductive health care rights, the LGBTQ+ community and marginalized people.

Ohio HouseDistrict 11

This district includes Hilliard and most of Dublin.

Stephanie Kunze, Republican

Note: Stephanie Kunze did not respond to multiple requests from The Dispatch for this candidate questionnaire, so information was taken from publicly available sources.

Age: 54

Previously held offices: Hilliard City Council, Ohio House 24th District Representative, from 2013-2016; incumbent state Senator representing Ohio Senate District from 2017-present

Profession: State legislator

Stances on top issues: Kunze chairs the Ohio Senate Transportation Committee, the Infant Mortality Commission and the Children’s Trust Fund Board, according to her biography on the Ohio General Assembly website. She has also advocated for bills that help victims of human trafficking.

Crystal Lett, Democrat

Age: 38

Previously held offices: None

Profession: Recruitment director for LEAD Ohio, a Columbus nonprofit that recruits, trains, connects and supports individuals who want to build a more equitable Ohio through progressive change, especially those from underserved and underrepresented communities.

Stances on top issues: The focus of Lett’s campaign is improving equitability and inclusivity for Ohio. She said that she would work to repeal Ohio laws restricting reproductive health care and ensure last year’s constitutional amendment giving abortion rights is implemented fully. She also said she would address rising costs of health care, housing and education.

Ohio HouseDistrict 12

This district includes Madison and Pickaway counties, as well as a few neighborhoods in western suburbs of Franklin County.

Dr. Brad Cotton, Democrat

Age: 70

Previously held offices: None

Profession: Physician

Stances on top issues: Cotton said his experience in the medical field, including as a street medic, emergency department nurse and physician, would inform his approach as a state legislator if elected. He said that his campaign is focused on rights for women to make their own health care decisions and for votes to be counted fairly in competitive districts. Expanding Medicare would be one of his legislative priorities.

Brian Stewart, Republican

Age: 41

Previously held offices: Current incumbent Ohio House District 12 Representative, Pickaway County Commissioner, Ashville Councilman

Profession: Attorney at the Law Office of Brian Stewart, LLC

Stances on top issues: Stewart said he is running for reelection to combat “Bidenomics” in Ohio by introducing conservative policies, such as reducing income taxes and property tax relief. Ohio should continue attracting businesses such as Intel without growing government unnecessarily. He said he has introduced 15 bills that have passed the House so far, such as creating a program to expand broadband to rural Ohioans. He also supports farmers and the agricultural industry.

Ohio HouseDistrict 60

District 60 covers part of Delaware County, including the cities of Delaware and Powell.

Rachael Morocco, Democrat

Age: 42

Previously held offices: None

Profession: Pediatric physician

Stances on top issues: Morocco supports fair funding for public schools and revamping the state's school funding formula to rely less on local levies and property taxes. She instead advocates for a formula that reflects education costs. She also supports access to reproductive healthcare, including contraception, IVF and safe abortion services and said she will work to support policies to protect that access. Another one of her top issues is affordable healthcare for everyone and an expansion of mental health care services. As the Delaware area grows, she wants the community to pursue environmentally sustainable growth that does not affect quality of life or control of local communities.

Brian Lorenz, Republican

Age: 51

Previously held offices: Powell City Councilman, Mayor of Powell

Profession: Incumbent State Representative

Stances on top issues: Like his opponent, Lorenz identified fair school funding as a top issue. He said he worked to ensure state tax dollars were returned to community schools in the fiscal budget and met monthly with his district's superintendents to ensure the schools' quality and funding. Lorenz also touted his record of reducing citizens' tax burden as a state representative. He said he helped eliminate the commercial activity tax annual minimum and lowered the state income tax bracket, and he's working on legislation to reduce property taxes and flatten the property evaluation curve. The right to age in place, keeping children safe by eliminating "sextortion", job creation and smart growth are some of his other top issues.

Ohio HouseDistrict 61

District 61 covers portions of Delaware County and Knox County, including the city of Sunbury and the villages of Fredericktown and Centerburg.

David Hogan, Democrat

Age: 65

Profession: Professor of History, Heidelberg University (1989-present)

Previously held offices: None

Stances on issues: Hogan believes in a woman's right to choose her own reproductive decisions and that no government should be allowed to restrict those decisions. He is opposed to the state's current school voucher program and believes that property tax dollars intended for public schools should not go to churches, charter schools or private academies. He said every Ohioan deserves a living wage, and that current minimum-wage employers are paying poverty wages. Hogan also supports LGBTQ+ equality and opposes the statehouse's efforts to restrict some aspects of LGBTQ+ life. A gun owner, Hogan said he supports bipartisan legislation to close gun shows and internet loopholes and mandate criminal and mental health background checks.

Beth Lear, Republican

Age: 57

Previously held offices: No other paid office. She is the incumbent state representative.

Profession: Education Policy analyst

Stances on top issues: Lear sponsored House Joint Resolution 6 to create a constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide whether to cap property tax increases. She also supported The Never Alone Act, a bill requiring hospitals and nursing homes to allow an advocate in with a patient or resident, even during health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. She sponsored Braden’s Law, a bill that will discourage the crime of sextortion by making it a felony, providing immunity to cell phone companies and giving victims access to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund. She also sponsored The Protect All Students Act, a bill that would require all schools to only allow students to use bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight facilities that correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Ohio House District 68

District 68 covers part of Licking County, including the cities of Newark and Pataskala and the village of Granville.

Michael D. Smith, Democrat

Age: 70

Previously held offices: No public office. President of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Local #55; Executive Board, Columbus Building & Construction Trades Council

Profession: Retired Bricklayer

Stances on top issues: Smith said he supports the will of the people and opposes gerrymandered redistricting maps created by politicians and some statehouse politicians' refusal to comply with Ohio's constitutional amendment legalizing abortion. If elected, he said he'll push a "Keep the Promises Plan" that would require third party benchmark data be collected before production at the state's mega-sites, like Intel, can begin, ensuring companies keep their environmental and health promises.

Thad Claggett, Republican

Age: 53

Previously held offices: No other paid public offices. He is the incumbent state representative. He also is president of the Licking County Library Board.

Profession: Civil engineer and president at Claggett & Sons, Inc., a fourth-generation commercial and industrial construction contractor in Newark.

Stances on top issues: Claggett's focus is on issues that arise from large developments, like Intel, and how to create managed growth as it relates to infrastructure, housing and land use. He also wants to lower real estate and other state taxes. A significant amount of his time is spent dealing with technology issues and how to protect people from abuses that stem from new technologies.

Ohio HouseDistrict 69

District 69 covers portions of Licking, Perry and Fairfield counties, including the villages of Buckeye Lake and Somerset.

Jamie Hough, Democrat

Age: 37

Previously held offices: Democratic Central Committee Representative

Profession: Travel Centers Management

Stances on top issues: Hough advocates for equal pay, reproductive rights, and protection from discrimination to ensure women have access to health care and opportunities. He also believes everyone should have access to affordable housing and health care. On the education front, Hough wants to increase school funding, boost teacher salaries and offer increased resources. Fostering economic growth through support for small business, job creation and workforce development. Sustainable energy, reducing carbon emissions and protecting natural resources are also a priority for him.

Kevin Miller, Republican

Rep. Kevin Miller did not respond to The Dispatch's request for candidate information. What follows is information from his candidate website and public records.

Age: 49

Previously held offices: None. He is the incumbent state representative.

Profession: Retired Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper

Stances on top issues: Miller, a lifelong Republican, supports policies that promote conservative principles like the right to life, the right to bear arms and freedom from government overreach.

Ohio HouseDistrict 73

District 73 covers part of Fairfield County, including the city of Lancaster and part of the city of Canal Winchester.

Michael Scarmack, Democrat

Age: 71

Previously held offices: Executive Board & Central Committees Member for Fairfield County Democratic Party

Profession: Registered architect

Stances on top issues: Scarmack said his campaign is based on a commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity. As a state representative, Scarmack said he would work to protect citizens' liberty and pursuit of happiness. He also identified climate change and environmental stewardship as key issues for him.

Jeff LaRe, Republican

Age: 48

Previously held offices: The resident of Violet Township in Fairfield County is the incumbent state representative.

Profession: Executive vice president of The Whitestone Group, a nationwide provider of asset protection and security services. Prior to his work at Whitestone, he was an Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) Certified Peace Officer and an OPOTA Certified Corrections Officer at the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.

Stances on top issues: LaRe said he supports energy independence, immigration reform, small businesses, law enforcement and keeping our communities safe.

Ohio HouseDistrict 86

District 86 covers the entirety of Union County and part of Marion County, including the cities of Marysville and Marion.

Lesley Verbus, Democrat

Age: 41

Previously held offices: City of Marysville Planning Commission

Profession: Founding owner of Linear 1 Technologies, LLC

Stances on top issues: Verbus supports "common sense" gun reforms focused on responsible gun ownership and secure storage legislation. She opposes the state's EdChoice school voucher program and would work to eliminate it as a state representative. She instead supports fair and equitable public-school funding. Verbus also advocates for reproductive health freedom and the right to affordable health care. She supports alternative energy sources like solar and wind energies, and she wants to see continued growth of small businesses and tradecraft and vocations in Ohio.

Tracy Richardson, Republican

Age: 59

Previously held offices: Marysville City Council. She is the incumbent state representative.

Profession: Veteran and former corporate leader

Stances on top issues: Richardson supports strengthening the economy by addressing inflation and reducing government spending, increasing energy production in Ohio, reducing state income taxes, improving property tax policy, properly funding education and giving parents a say in their children's education, increasing mental health care access, cutting down on

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: A dozen state House seats on ballots around central Ohio