COLUMBUS — Electors in Richland, Ashland and Medina counties will have the chance to vote in Ohio’s 22nd Senate District race this November.
Incumbent Mark Romanchuk of Ontario is running to retain his seat, challenged by a political newcomer, Kathy Salem of Medina.
We asked both candidates about their experience, motivation for running and priorities if elected.
Mark Romanchuk
Mark Romanchuk, 62, is the Republican candidate for Ohio’s Senate 22 District.
Romanchuk is wrapping up his first term in the district. Prior to that, he served two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Romanchuk and his wife Zoi co-own PR Machine Works and Slick Automated Solutions in Ontario.
His campaign website describes him as a pro-life, pro-2nd amendment, constitutional conservative who believes in a small government. His platform states he favors parental choice in education and bringing back a vocational focus in the school system.
While he called legislative work a “team sport,” Romanchuk said he’s proud to have supported policies that bolstered economic growth in the state.
“We tried to focus on policy that will stimulate economic activity, and I think we’ve succeeded in that, primarily using and changing the tax code,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of changes to our tax code, both on the personal level and business level.”
Romanchuk said the economy will remain a primary focus for him if re-elected, including a bill to combat riders and hidden charges on utility bills. He also said wants to look into ways to reduce spikes in local property taxes and recently supported a bill to expand Homestead Exemptions.
Romanchuk said he also plans to continue his work in the area of health and human services. He currently chairs the Ohio General Assembly’s Medicaid Committee.
“We spend $36 billion per year just on Medicaid,” Romanchuk said. “When you’re spending $36 billion, there’s places where you need to be looking and making sure that every dollar spent is leading to a positive outcome.”
As the average age of Ohio’s population continues to rise, Romanchuk said addressing long-term care is another priority issue.
“First of all, how do you pay for it? Because it’s not cheap. But also, how do you provide that benefit through Medicaid that is high quality?” he said.
“We’re not cutting costs and sacrificing quality. We’re looking for quality first and then just squeezing out inefficiencies.”
Romanchuk said he’s also supported bills to allow more efficiency in health-care practice, such as a bill that will allow nurses and physician assistants to sign intake and discharge paperwork for behavioral health patients.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever been to the hospital, but there’s a lot of sitting around,” he said. “They’ll come in the morning and say, ‘OK, you’re going home today,’ then you don’t get discharged until 3 p.m. The reason is that they’re chasing down the doctor to get him to sign a discharge order.”
Romanchuk also backed a bill that will allow certified and registered pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines.
Romanchuk cited his 12 years of legislative experience as a reason people should vote for him.
“I know how to get things done. I’ve got several things accomplished in Columbus, but it took me some time to understand how to do that,” he said.
“Not to mention I’m still owner of two manufacturing companies, my wife and I, so I understand the economic issues.”
Kathy Salem
Kathy Salem, 81, is a Medina resident and the Democrat candidate for Ohio’s Senate 22 District.
“I don’t act like (I’m 81),” Salem said. “I’ve always been a trailblazer. At 81, I’m trailblazing.”
This year’s state Senate race is Salem’s first foray into politics. She said she decided to run after being recruited by a group that works to identify potential Democrat candidates for the Ohio Senate.
“I had no idea what I was getting into as far as running a political campaign,” she said. “But I’ve run a business.”
Salem’s campaign website describes her as businesswoman and community leader. She is currently the managing director and producer at Night is Alive Productions, which produces classical and jazz concerts and manages musicians.
Salem told Richland Source that she’s passionate about protecting women’s reproductive rights, investing in education and improving healthcare access in rural areas and Mansfield’s North End.
“I’m working with the North End Community Improvement Collaborative. I went there the other night and talked and I found out there’s no grocery store there,” she said.
“I want to start working on a grocery store and a walk in-clinic.”
Salem described herself as staunchly pro-union, with a father who was in the United Mine Workers and three brothers who are retired Teamsters.
She said she plans to meet with as many businesses as possible and figure out how to support them. She also hopes to engage the business community to support housing development.
“I think we have to work with businesses that want to come in and businesses that are growing and see if we can get them on board,” she said.
“If you have happy and comfortable workers, you have a a good workforce. If you don’t have a decent place to live, you’re not happy.”
Salem said if elected, she’ll do her best to work across the aisle to bring about change.
Salem’s professional history includes two decades as a beautician, 10 years as an advertising executive for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and a two years as a lobbyist for a in Washington D.C. She described her former employer as a “boutique firm” that took on small clients like the American Home Sewers Association.
Salem said she has volunteered in her community by teaching life skills to mothers receiving welfare assistance and spearheading a fundraising effort for a Jewish community center which raised more than $3 million.
“We just have to work together. I work on both sides of the fence. I’m a Democrat, yes, but I know how to work with Republicans,” she said.
When asked if there’s anything else she wants Richland Source readers to know, she urged them to vote.
“It’s the only way we save our democracy,” she said. “Of course I would like them to vote for me, but it’s most important to vote.”
