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How to vote in 2024

By
Paula Wethington
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Lucas Zielinksi, with Turning Point USA, hands Amelia Mathkour, a music, business and tech major at Owens Community College, a pamphlet about voting registration. Zielinksi said he was on campus for the day to help students register to vote. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Lucas County Board of Elections explains voting details, process

Toledo – With Election Day a month away, preparations are in full swing at the Lucas County Board of Elections office.

“We’re up and running and getting everything ready,” said Timothy Monaco, deputy director of the elections office. “It’s a wonderful time. It’s important to exercise your right to vote.”

Logistics that the staff and officers have been handling for weeks on behalf of Lucas County’s 303 voting precincts include preparing ballots, training precinct election officials, and getting early voting dates and times posted on their website.

Monaco said the most commonly asked question from voters during the past couple of weeks has been when absentee ballots will arrive in the mail. 

Here’s the answer: Ohio voters can look for the absentee ballots starting Oct. 8, which is one day after registration ends for the Nov. 5 election.

The Lucas County Board of Elections staff doesn’t give predictions on voter turnout, Monaco said. But, according to state election records, 67 percent of registered Lucas County voters participated in the 2020 presidential election, and 66 percent did so in the 2016 presidential election. This participation includes absentee voting, early in-person voting and traditional Election Day voting.

Those choices are meant to help all eligible voters participate, whether they prefer going in person to a local polling site or to cast a ballot before they travel out of town.

“It’s important to make your plan as to who you are going to vote for,” Monaco said. “Make sure you make a plan and know what is on your ballot.”

While the presidential campaign is the key race of the Nov. 5 election, there are also races in Lucas County for local judges and city officials. For those who want to see the list ahead of time, ballot proofs are available for review on the election board’s website.

“Ballots will be three pages for everyone and four pages for some,” Monaco said.

While some people remember how they wish to vote when going to the polls, others find it helpful to bring paper notes or refer to a list on their phone, Monaco said. “Some folks really come prepared,” he said.

“It’s also important to be respectful at the location,” he added, referring to an Ohio law that prohibits photos of marked ballots. “We do ask that you limit cell phone use at the ballot.”

Many other election details are explained at lucascountyohiovotes.gov.

Election calendar

Key dates for the November 5 election:

  • Military and overseas civilian voting: Started Sept. 20.
  • Voter registration deadline: 9 p.m. Oct. 7.
  • Early in-person voting season: Oct. 8.-Nov. 3.
  • Absentee ballot postmark deadline: Nov. 4.
  • Election Day: Nov. 5.

CAMPUS TALK

OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS SOUND OFF ABOUT VOTING

Question: How important is voting to you?

Oliver Odendahl
James Johnson
Nivant Dawson
Sydney Stanley
David Case III

Voting is not my main concern, but it is pretty important because it is the future of America and I would like to have a say in what is gonna be my future. I usually try to vote on voting day, if I can’t I’ll do the absentee ballot.

Oliver Odendahl | EMT Major | Tontogany Resident

I am not a registered voter. If I was to lie to you I’d say yes. But honestly, I don’t have enough time … it’s not really a main priority, even though it should be. I do plan on voting at some point, maybe when I’m in my adult phase. Even though I’m not a registered voter I do think voting is important because it basically determines the society and the rules and regulations we live by.

James Johnson | Broadcast Media Technology Major | Toledo Resident

I’d say voting is very important. There’s certain aspects of it that do feel sort of depressing, when you think about it, because a lot of people would say people voting normally wouldn’t matter because of a small majority in the Electoral College – their votes matter 100 times more than your own. That’s what it feels like at least from what I know. It does feel a little degrading knowing that’s going to happen.

Nivant Dawson | Business Major | Toledo Resident

I think voting is important, but I’m not exactly sure why it’s important. I mean, there’s a lot of things that come from it. You’re voting for someone that you’re putting your trust and you’re faith into to guide us all in the right direction, but we just all don’t know what that direction is yet. So, we’re just kind of free-balling it, in a way. So, I don’t know … I’ve never voted before but this will be interesting. I really don’t know what all is involved. I just have a lot to learn about voting – like what I should be looking for in the leader I’m going to be voting for. So, yeah, it’s coming up soon. There’s a lot to learn.

Sydney Stanley | Chemistry Major | Millbury Resident

Voting is very important, especially in this day and age, when everything’s going on.

David Chase III | Literature Major | Toledo Resident
Registration details

Ohio voters must be registered by 9 p.m. Oct. 7 to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Residents can register to vote, look up voter registration, change their address, find an early voting location, look up Election Day polling location or track an absentee ballot at VoteOhio.gov.

Photo ID requirement

Bring your photo ID when voting. The options are:

- Current Ohio driver’s license or State of Ohio ID card.

- Interim ID form issued by Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.

- U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card.

A registered voter who has changed his or her name since the photo ID was issued will need to show proof of legal name change and sign a form. A photo ID card can show a former address if a current address is on file with the voting records. If you forget a photo ID, you can request a provisional ballot. 

How to vote absentee

An absentee ballot in Ohio needs to be requested, signed, dated and submitted for each election. Military personnel and civilian overseas voters can file one application for all elections happening in a given year.

The application asks for the number on your Ohio driver’s license or Ohio ID card, last four digits of your social security number, or a photocopy of other eligible ID such as a U.S. passport or military ID.

Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and can be hand delivered to the Board of Elections on Nov. 5.

Additional instructions are on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.

In-person early voting

Ohio’s in-person early voting season begins Oct. 8 and ends Nov. 3. 

The Lucas County Early Vote Center is at 3737 W. Sylvania Ave. Suite 121 Entrance C (at the rear of the Lucas County Board of Elections building) in west Toledo.

Voting times and dates can be found at LucasCountyOhioVotes.gov.

Election Day voting

Polling sites are open in Ohio from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. You can look up your polling location at VoteOhio.Gov.

What’s on the ballot?

A “ballot proof” is available for review on the Lucas County Board of Elections page. It lists candidates and ballot issues by precinct, so voters know what to expect.

For example: Six president/vice president candidate teams have declared in Ohio, with an additional write-in option available. Other candidate races include U.S. Senator, Lucas County Sheriff and openings on Toledo City Council.

Ohio Issue 1 is a proposed state constitutional amendment that has gained a lot of attention. This issue, if approved, would designate a redistricting commission to draw state legislative and congressional districts.

There are other issues locally, such as a proposed bond issue for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library and a tax renewal request from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

Are ballot “selfies” allowed?

Ohio does not permit photos to be taken of a marked ballot. It’s actually a fifth-degree felony should that take place, according to Ohio law.

The “I Voted” Sticker

A traditionally popular way to showcase voter participation is through an “I voted” sticker, picked up on Election Day at the polling site.

Ohio’s current “I Voted” sticker design was adopted in 2019 through a student art contest. A red squiggle depicts a map of Ohio, nestled in a blue circle outline, with the phrase “Ohio Voted.”

Voters are invited to download the image to share on social media at the Ohio Secretary of State website. That website also has also a “future voter” coloring page for children available for download.

Is campaigning allowed at election sites?

Ohio does not allow election campaigning, also known as electioneering, within 100 feet of a voting site. This means no campaigning messages on attire such as shirts or hats, Monaco said.

Two small United States flags are placed at each voting site to designate the “neutral” zone where this applies. 

Where is the Board of Elections office?

If you need to visit the Lucas County Board of Elections regarding a voting matter, that office moved about two years ago from its former location at One Government Center to 3737 W. Sylvania Road in West Toledo.

When are election numbers official?

Ballots cast on Election Day will be delivered in person to the Lucas County Board of Elections for the counting procedures.

There will be numbers reported after that count is complete. 

The Ohio Secretary of State does not consider voter counts to be official until two or three weeks later, after provisional ballots are accounted for and to give time for absentee ballots to arrive that met the postmark deadline.

City advances ‘period equity’

By
Laurie Bertke
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The University of Toledo began offering free period products in all academic buildings on the Main and Health Science campuses last spring. Instrumental in the program (from left) are Abbie Ragan, student government senator and director of Period Equity; Addie Reed, student government senator; Dr. Sammy Spann, vice president of Student Affairs and dean of students; Dr. Julie Fischer-Kinney, executive director of Student Experience; Danielle Lutman, associate director of the Eberly Center; and Ryan Gibson, student government senator. (Courtesy Photo/The University of Toledo)

Toledo City Council funds program for free menstrual products

TOLEDO – Free period care products are coming soon to public restrooms in municipality-owned buildings in Toledo, the latest step forward in a growing “period equity” movement.

In October, Toledo City Council voted to allocate $50,000 toward a pilot program to install dispensers with free menstrual products in more than 100 high-traffic bathrooms.

“We kind of wanted to start strategically with the high volume bathrooms, and then just see how well it goes,” says Toledo City Council president Carrie Hartman, who proposed the initiative with council members Nick Komives and Brittany Jones.

“They’ll be at parks; they’ll be at community centers. One of the first places I wanted to put them in was the Safety Building and Toledo Municipal Court because those get a lot of volume,” she said. “There are also women who work in those buildings, too, so this is not just for the public; it’s for our employees, as well.”

Toledo City Council president Carrie Hartman says there was little opposition to the proposal to allocate funding to provide free menstrual products in municipally-owned buildings in Toledo. (TFP Photo/Laurie Bertke)

Hartman says the proposal was inspired by research compiled by Solace Health and Wellness, a Toledo community organization that provides education, advocacy and outreach to promote sexual and reproductive health.

A 2024 survey by U by Kotex found that two in five people who need period supplies have struggled to buy them, and that a third of girls and women who menstruate had to miss school, work or a similar activity in the previous year because they did not have the products to manage their periods.

The Alliance for Period Supplies reports that one in six girls and women between the ages of 12 and 44 lives below the federal poverty line. 

Katie Garber, who serves in a volunteer capacity as director of Menstrual Justice Programming for Solace, notes that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) do not cover menstrual products. “There’s no government program that provides hygiene supplies, including menstrual hygiene,” said Garber. 

Lack of access to these products leads to challenges with participation in work, school and community life. “It can lead people to use unsanitary items, which can cause a lot of health problems and infections,” Garber added.

Aunt Flow dispenser. (Courtesy Photo)
Aunt Flow product. (Courtesy Photo)

Menstrual hygiene as a human right

In 2020, Garber began collecting donations of period products on her own to donate to homeless shelters and other organizations. Since she began working through Solace, this initiative has grown to involve businesses and organizations that host collection drives and period packing parties to create kits for community members in need. 

“What we believe is menstrual hygiene is a human right. The main goal is just getting products to people who need them,” said Garber. “We’re trying to end the stigma around period products and menstruating.”

Hartman says the city already stocks its bathrooms with toilet paper, towels and, in some case, toilet seat covers. “Why not just go a step further and supply them with menstrual products, too?”

Toledo is not the first city to address the issue of period equity. Hartman cites Columbus and Cleveland as cities that have passed similar legislation. In 2022, Ann Arbor enacted the country’s first law requiring menstrual products in all public restrooms.

Schools, colleges and universities are also supporting the movement. Ohio passed a law in October 2023 requiring all schools with girls in grade six to 12 to provide free menstrual products.

Last spring, The University of Toledo began offering free period products in all academic buildings on the Main and Health Science campuses through an initiative spearheaded by the student government and UToledo’s Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women.

Danielle Lutman, associate director of the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women, said no issues or challenges have arisen since the program began, and many students have shared their gratitude for it.

I was just at a conference yesterday and folks from all over the country were talking about how their campuses are starting to work on this.

Danielle Lutman

Hartman says the proposal received little pushback when it was introduced to Toledo City Council in October. “The only questions were how much money and where? So, it was a pretty easy decision,” she said.

The city is still in the contract and ordering process for the dispensers, which will be provided through Aunt Flow, a company founded by Sylvania native Claire Coder. “Aunt Flow has great statistics, and they also have great branding to kind of make people aware of why those dispensers are there, so they don’t really see a whole lot of vandalism or theft,” says Hartman.

The one-year pilot program will begin with dispensers in about half of the city’s bathrooms, but the plan is to eventually expand to all.

“I see this as the same kind of line item as toilet paper and paper towels,” she said. “I think we really just are going to have to increase that line item, and I don’t think it will be that big of a percentage.”

“I think the impact is pretty great, when you think about women who might not have access to menstrual products now can get them in a park, or get them from a community center,” she added.

The Humorists

By
Don Lee
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Editorial cartoon by Don Lee for the Toledo Free Press.

Toledo salon industry grows

By
Steven Bieber
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(Stock Image/Pexels by Kampus Production)

Glass City draws attention from major salon company

TOLEDO – There are hundreds of salons in Toledo, and – as the industry grows – one company plans to expand to the Glass City, providing local entrepreneurs a place to showcase their talents.

Phenix Salon Suites is a suite licensing company where franchisees essentially act as sub-landlords that go into a property, subdivide it into rooms or suites and rent it out. They rent the properties to entrepreneurs looking to open a hair, nail or makeup salon.

Phenix also works with lifestyle professions, such as massage therapists, teeth whitening, botox, chiropractors, and more. The company has 32 corporate locations and 400 franchise locations.

Philip Watson, vice president of global development, explained what the company saw in Toledo that prompted the expansion. Phenix Salon Suites plans to build three to four locations in Glass City and launch them in a few years.

“The Toledo market is a great market for Phenix salon suites because it adds all the main drivers we’re looking for,” he said.

Philip Watson

“To put it simply, we’re looking for concentrations of salons and salon professionals and in the Toledo DMA. We looked for a minimum of 50 salons for each of our locations, and that’s looking at hair, nail makeup, other types of salons,” he explained. “But looking at hair alone, there are 250 salons in Toledo, so the Toledo market is a three- to four-location market for us fairly easily.”

According to Watson, the company wants to avoid opening too many franchise locations and cannibalizing existing franchisees.

Phenix requires the renter of a suite to have a license in their profession. The only other requirement is to cover the rent. Watson says that Phenix offers freedom and flexibility for the renter.

To be a franchisee, he said it would be helpful to have marketing experience, as well as real estate or business ownership experience, but it is not a requirement. What he’s looking for is “passion for the industry and liquidity of at least 300,000 net worth of at least a million in order to have a shot at obtaining financing to open a location.”

Watson added that one of the biggest ways Phenix builds trust with clients is by maintaining the property. The other is by being a tenant. He also said they provide resources to their clients to market their business and increase their presence on social media.

For hairstylists, they provide equipment, such as a styling chair, mobile cabinet and a cabinet under the spa sink, and they are also encouraged to decorate the location how they want.

“We really let them flex their creative spirit,” Watson said.

Other resources the company provides are credit card processing, a loan program, scheduling software, as well as seminars and training videos.

One of the biggest factors that separates Toledo from other cities is the rental rates. Watson said the rates are much better than larger locations, like Miami or Manhattan. He said that the rent-to-income ratio in Toledo would be very strong.

Watson said Phenix Salon Suites does not have a rule against having too many of the same businesses in one building, but he hopes each location can be a one-stop shop for customers. At a franchise, a customer can get a haircut, go next store to get their nails done, and then go get a massage.

Watson talked about Gina Rivera, the company’s founder. He said she is a celebrity in the industry and spent more than 42,000 hours behind the chair cutting hair. He said that she has a strong family lineage with 29 family members in the industry.

“We provide all the support our franchisees need to be necessary. Everything from site search, lease negotiations, and build-out ongoing operational support technology to help them run their business, and with the gig economy on the rise and everybody wanting to be their own boss, we are well positioned to take advantage of that,” he said.

Pros and cons of starting a salon in Toledo

Ebony Carter, director of the Minority Business Assistance Center and vice president of the Minority Business Services at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, shared an indicator that the salon industry is performing well in the city. She said that there have recently been two or three new salon locations and expansion projects around Toledo.

“There are never enough salons. I think the beauty industry is one of those industries that’s going to always be a high demand,” she said. “Even for men, you’re always going to need your hair done, but especially for women; you could never have enough options as far as where you’re going to get your hair done.”

Carter said people will have different experiences when opening a new business. She said that the difficulty of the process depends on the space that the building was before.

“If you’re a salon and you’re going into an old Pizza Hut, then of course there’s going to be a lot of regulations associated with that.“

One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting a business in Toledo is failing to use the Toledo Permit Planner. The permit planner identifies and estimates the permits, licenses, and fees needed to open or expand your business in Toledo. Carter warned of hidden pitfalls when starting a business and the permit planner can save you money.

Stacey Mallett, vice president of communications at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, said when it comes to starting a business in Toledo, “You don’t have to go on your own, and our services here are free.”

Steve DeMaio, director of the Small Business Development Center and vice president of business development services at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, discussed the benefits that business owners enjoy while working with a franchise like Phenix Salon Suites.

“You’re not incurring the overhead of purchasing or leasing a full space that you would be as a salon owner who owns a whole salon space. You are renting a solar space, but they’ve done the work with the landlord for establishing that.”

Other benefits he discussed are fewer building costs, the fact you still get to be your own boss, and you don’t always have to manage employees. Additionally, some franchises offer marketing, website support and other business services.

DeMaio also mentioned some downsides of working with a franchise, such as missing out on the benefits of entrepreneurial experiences of owning the building and being in full control. The other downside was the loss of some foot traffic; just because someone walks into the building does not mean they will be your customer.

Carter said the franchises benefit the city because they help people comply with the health department or the school cosmetology. Someone running their business out of their home may not comply. They are also good for people who cannot afford to have their place or struggle to bring in a suitable amount of foot traffic because they work in their homes.

The feeding of Bonaparte’s gulls

By
Art Weber
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Bonaparte's gulls feed in the Farnsworth's Roche DeBout Rapids. TFP Photo/Art Weber)

Gulls gather, add action to wetlands

WATERVILLE – Waterfowl migration is lagging a bit, perhaps due to the warm fall they’ve enjoyed to our north. The big numbers we often see in our wetlands and waterways, like Howard Marsh Metropark and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, haven’t arrived.

Still, there’s always action to be observed in those wetlands and others, like the rapids of the Maumee River. Gulls love to gather in numbers to feed in Side Cut’s Jerome Road
rapids and Farnsworth’s Roche deBout Rapids, for example.

In this recent photo, hundreds of Bonaparte’s gulls gathered in those
rapids to feed. It’s not unusual to see large feeding flocks moving as one,
following the concentrations of forage fish, in this case probably shad.

Daily Dose | Humorist

By
Steven J Athanas
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Cartoon by Steven J Athanas

Statehouse News: Ryan & Ramaswamy

By
Signal Statewide
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Lawmakers are back at the Ohio Statehouse for a lame-duck session. (Courtesy Photo/Ohio State House)

Tim Ryan running? | Lame duck session | House speaker

This story was originally published by Signal Statewide. Sign up for their free newsletters at SignalOhio.org/StateSignals.

By Andrew Tobias | Signal Statehouse

Although he’s remained involved on the periphery of Democratic politics since losing a 2022 bid for the U.S. Senate, Tim Ryan publicly had ruled out running for office again in 2026.

He’s re-evaluating that position following last week’s election.

“I said I wasn’t,” Ryan said in an interview on Tuesday. “People have been calling me and saying, ‘Keep your options open.’ So I’m keeping my options open right now.”

The former Youngstown-area congressman gained currency among national Democrats when he ran for U.S. Senate two years ago against Republican JD Vance, who won and is now the vice president-elect.

Ryan lost by 7 percentage points, not an especially close result. But thanks to energetic campaigning and his big “Ohio guy” energy – think Ohio State sweatshirts and football tossing – Ryan managed to raise tens of millions of dollars and get widespread media attention in a race that wasn’t expected to be competitive. A grandiose headline in the New York Times sums up the national perception of the race ahead of that year’s election: “Tim Ryan is Winning the War for the Soul of the Democratic Party.” 

After leaving office at the end of 2022, Ryan’s now living in suburban Columbus and has been doing consulting work with natural gas and cryptocurrency industry groups and took a job selling clean-energy credits. A former high school star quarterback, he’s also been coaching his young son’s football and basketball teams. 

But Ryan said he’s been in touch with Democratic leaders since last Tuesday, including James Carville and David Axelrod, key strategists for Bill Clinton’s and Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns. He said he thinks 2026 could end up being a good national political environment for Democrats, depending on what President-elect Donald Trump does. 

2026 could see other top Democratic names

If Ryan runs, he could fill the Democratic slot for the governor’s race. There also continues to be buzz that Sen. Sherrod Brown may run again in 2026 after losing last week – for governor or the U.S. Senate. Amy Acton, the former state health department director, and Allison Russo, who’s the top Democrat in the Ohio House, also have said publicly they’re considering running for statewide office.

Regardless of what he decides, Ryan said he would like to be part of the conversation to push the Democrats toward “the Democratic Party that we all grew up with.” That vision includes moving away from the “old-school redistribution” and “woke elements” that he said voters rejected this month and moving toward emphasizing economic growth.

“I hope this is a wake-up call to, if you aren’t speaking directly to working-class people of all colors, shapes and sizes, you can’t win,” Ryan said. “Until you get a message that appeals to them where they trust you, you’re just not gonna get ‘em.” 

Vivek Ramaswamy’s new job and Ohio calculation

Vivek Ramaswamy, the Columbus-area billionaire and MAGA personality, has a new job in the Trump Administration. On Wednesday night, Trump announced that Ramaswamy and mega-billionaire Elon Musk will oversee a Department of Government Efficiency, a not-yet-clearly-defined outside-of-government initiative to slash federal spending. (But its title is surely ripe for memes on Musk’s X media platform.)

A Trump statement said their work will end on July 4, 2026, just before the home stretch of that year’s November election, which means Ramaswamy could still be a candidate in Ohio. While Ramaswamy withdrew his name from consideration for Ohio’s U.S. Senate appointment – although it didn’t seem likely that Gov. Mike DeWine would pick him – his role with Trump as described didn’t seem to close the door on a run for governor in 2026.

A few Republican operatives, including those with ties to Ramaswamy, said they viewed it the same way. Raswamy’s maneuvering has gotten the attention of other Republicans, given his ability to self-fund a campaign and ride his Trump-adjacent celebrity.

Ramaswamy sure sounded like a potential Ohio candidate when he spoke at an Ohio Chamber of Commerce event last Thursday. He deployed tried-and-true Ohio talking points, praising the state’s history of pioneering and innovation and its logistically convenient location. But, he said, the state also has declined economically over the past 60 years. 

Ramaswamy told reporters after his speech that Ohio needs to improve its business climate if it wants to compete economically with states such as Texas. That’s where an investment company Ramaswamy founded recently moved, although Ramaswamy said the decision wasn’t his and that he’s personally rooted in Columbus, in part because his wife is a top physician at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center.

“Is that critical of the leadership of this state? No, it’s not,” said Ramaswamy, who is friendly with Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who has spent years preparing to run for governor in 2026. “I think they’ve done a great job of getting the state to where it is. But when we think about, ‘How do we take this state and this country to the next level?’ that’s what I care about.”

House speaker vote coming up and more 

Ohio House Republicans are scheduled to meet next Wednesday to informally choose who will lead the chamber going into next year’s new legislative session. 

Senate President Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican who was elected to the Ohio House last week, is widely favored over current House Speaker Jason Stephens. That’s because Stephens has been unable to unite the GOP caucus after he surprisingly won the job in January 2023 by making a deal with Democrats.

A dark-horse candidate is stalking the speaker job

Steubenville-area Republican Rep. Ron Ferguson wants the job, too. And he has ideas.

Ferguson made his case in an interview with Signal Statewide. He said he’s campaigning on a platform of weakening the speaker’s job, in part by taking away its ability to unilaterally pick committee chairs, jobs that come with influence, prestige and a pay bump. Instead, Ferguson said House Republicans should elect an internal committee that would pick committee chairs. 

Another distinguishing factor is how many years both candidates will be able to remain in their jobs, thanks to term limits. 

If Huffman gets the job, he could keep it through 2033, providing stability but boxing out other ambitious legislators. If Ferguson gets it, the longest he could keep it is through 2029, giving a glimmer of hope to officials who look in the mirror and see themselves as a future House speaker. Huffman and Ferguson share a signature issue – support for wide expansions of private school vouchers, which Democrats and some rural Republicans oppose.

Ferguson said both he and Huffman may draw votes from the faction of House Republicans that previously backed Stephens. 

“It’s not black and white,” he said, adding there’s a “0 percent chance” that anyone will make another deal with Democrats, which triggered an intense backlash from GOP activists and sanctions from the state Republican Party. “We need to pick the person to turn around this fractured caucus and lead it in the best interest of Ohioans.”

A sure-fire lame duck prediction

State lawmakers have returned from their pre-election break and are holding their final legislative sessions before the end of the year. This period is called the “lame duck” session, known for late-night legislative huddles and a flurry of activity, which includes unfinished business but also controversial topics that lawmakers are more likely to stick their neck out for when they’re in their final days of elected office or if they don’t have to run for reelection for another two years.

State Rep. Bill Seitz, a longtime Cincinnati-area Republican who’s leaving office at the end of the year due to term limits, predicted one tried-and-true lame duck topic could come up for a vote – giving raises to elected officials.

Seitz said county elected officials haven’t gotten one since 2018, thanks to another lame duck vote, and are arguing they need one now due to inflation. Paying elected officials more may not play well politically, but Seitz said they “have a good case to make.” He and other lawmakers have argued in the past that good pay is needed to attract quality candidates.

Other subjects potentially could get a vote, include a bill banning Delta 8, a THC product derived from hemp that occupies a legal gray area, and a bill that would require schools to make a policy allowing students to leave during the school day for religious instruction. On Wednesday, Ohio Senate Republicans over Democratic objections, approved a bill restricting the use of common bathrooms and other similar facilities by transgender people at K-12 schools and universities. The measure now heads to DeWine’s desk for his approval.

Lame duck sessions are notoriously hard to predict, especially with the looming speaker vote. But Seitz made another lame duck prediction that seems like a stone-cold lock.

“We have 27 or 28 members that are leaving,” Seitz said, “so you can expect to hear farewell speeches until you puke.”

Signal Statewide is a nonprofit news organization covering government, education, health, economy and public safety.

Composting in Toledo

By
Au'Ree Antoinette
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0
LSWCD staff member Patrick Troyer teaches participants how to use shredded newspaper for composting during a vermicomposting 101 class this spring. (Courtesy Photo/LSWCD)

A guide to doing your part in the 419

TOLEDO – With the rise in environmental awareness, many people have been searching for new sustainable practices to implement into their lives, one of them being reducing food waste by composting. 

What is composting?

Composting is the process of breaking down organic waste — like food scraps, leaves and yard waste — into a nutrient-rich substance called compost. It involves the natural decomposition of materials using microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and worms. This compost can then be used to improve soil structure, boost plant growth, and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers. 

Why should you compost?

Along with improving soil health, composting can make a much greater environmental impact. Landfills lack proper oxygen flow so that, when food waste accumulates there, it starts to creates methane, one of the leading contributors to poor air quality and the increased temperature of the planet. Human related methane emissions accounted for nearly 14 percent of all methane production on the planet from 1990-2022, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

How can you start composting?

Composting can seem like a daunting task. Luckily, local organizations, like Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Keeping Toledo Lucas County Beautiful and Toledo Metroparks are working together to help make food waste recycling and composting accessible and simple.

The Lucas SWCD’s sole mission is to educate the community about environmental conservation and give them the resources and tools to make their own impact. Lucas SWCD has offered two vermicomposting 101 classes that provide registrants with everything necessary to start their at-home composting bin.

“Vermicomposting is intended to be more of an inside composting option for people if they may not have a yard or don’t have a lot of food waste, and it utilizes the power of worms to break down that material and create compost,” said Jessica Grisier, Lucas SWCD’s communication and outreach coordinator.

Grisier also shared that Lucas SWCD sells other composting tools, such as a cold composting bin and a food scrap pail. Lucas SWCD sells these in stock all year long; the composters cost $62.50 and the food scrap bin costs $25.

A vermicomposting 101 participant drills holes in the provided composting bins during a class at the LSWCD office last year. (Courtesy Photo/LSWCD)

If you run into any issues with starting or maintaining your compost bin, Grisier encourages residents to come into their office, view their website page, send them an email, give them a call or schedule a site visit. Once you are connected, their educated team will be ready to assist you with your conservation journey. 

If having your own composting bin doesn’t interest you, there are other ways to practice organics recycling. In 2023, Keeping Toledo Lucas County Beautiful, City of Toledo and Toledo Metroparks partnered with GoZero to create food waste drop-off locations. The three drop off locations are Swan Creek Metropark, Toledo Botanical Gardens and Glass City Metropark. Once those food scraps are collected, they are then transported to GoZero’s composting facility in Wauseon.

“They provide bins very similar to what you would have for your garbage or recycling, and they come through and pick it up in what pretty much looks like a big garage truck; they take it out to their facility to be composted,” said KTLCB’s executive director Adam Cassi. 

“It makes composting a lot easier because you don’t have to sort through as much,” shared Cassi. In total, these food waste bins have collected 67,350 pounds of food waste in the past year.

He also shared that Go Zero is an industrial composter, so they can break down materials that don’t typically break down in a traditional compost bin. Materials, such as meat, dairy, bone and BPI compostable plastics can be broken down quickly using an industrial composter. 

“Composting doesn’t have to be hard,” Cassi added. “Now we are coaching people to leave their leaves in their backyard, not rake them up and just let them sit. It’s better for insect life, biodiversity and small mammals. A lot of people complain that they don’t see as many butterflies and lighting bugs as they used to, and one reason is because we don’t leave our leaves; a lot of these insects need to live and complete their life cycle. Also they will decompose and become fertilizer for your yards. That’s composting.”

Cassi added that Go Zero has been aiding in food waste recycling for quite some time “There are a lot of business and restaurants that use them for composting, like Owens Corning, Dana and Mercy St. Vincent.”

Cassi is looking forward to expanding KTLCB’s food waste drop-off initiative by adding new locations in the near further. 

Keeping Toledo Lucas County focuses on waste reduction and recycling. Their other recycling efforts are listed here. 

Lucas SWCD is located at 3350 Hill Ave., Suite K, and their office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Humorists

By
Don Lee
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Editorial cartoon by Don Lee for the Toledo Free Press.

13abc news anchor Diane Larson retires

Thursday is Diane Larson’s last night at the 13abc Action News station.

Larson is a news anchor on the Toledo station and is retiring after a long career in TV news. We at the Toledo Free Press wish her well! Happy retirement, Diane!

Climate migrants on the move to the Great Lakes

By
Steve Roberts
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Great Lakes Water Conference focuses on climate migration

TOLEDO – Are Toledo and other Great Lakes cities ready to welcome people moving away from challenging climate environments, like Asheville, N.C.; Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; Rolling Fork, Miss.; and Ruidoso, N.M.?

On Friday, the University of Toledo’s College of Law hosted its 24th annual Great Lakes Water Conference via a Webex presentation. The focus was on climate migration.

Many people, referred to as climate migrants, are on the move in the United States because of hurricanes, extreme flooding and wildfires. Remember Katrina hitting New Orleans, forcing thousands of people to move to Houston permanently? In 2022 and 2023, approximately 3 million Americans were displaced primarily by hurricanes, floods and fires.

One of the conference speakers, Evan Zoldan, professor of law at the University of Toledo College of Law, mentioned that because of its advantages, the Great Lakes region may become an important destination for climate migrants moving away from inhospitable environments. Great Lakes cities generally have abundant water, a more stable climate and affordable housing compared to many parts of the country.

Beth Gibbons, director of the Resiliency Office, Washtenaw County in Michigan, cautioned that the Great Lake’s region, although it has a more stable climate than much of the rest of the country, does have its own climate issues. The area is warming quickly, there has been a significant increase in precipitation and there has been a big increase in severe storms.

Gibbons also stated that the Great Lakes cities were not prepared to receive large numbers of climate migrants.

A lot of work needs to be done for cities like Toledo to prepare for the changing climate and potential climate migrants. Toledo is working on many of the following recommendations. I’ve gathered from several sources to cope with the changing climate and prepare for climate migrants.

Include citizens in decision-making so that current at-risk residents are not uprooted, new residents are welcomed and diversity is encouraged.

Develop affordable dense housing, such as high-rise apartments, duplexes and row homes for current residents and climate migrants within city limits, rather than sprawling single-family homes. Toledo has reasonably priced housing.

(Graphic by Steve Roberts)

Develop green infrastructure, such as restoring wetlands to reduce flooding. Toledo has worked to install green infrastructure and manage stormwater. The city has a grant program to help homeowners stop sewage from backing up into their basements.

Defend and conserve freshwater resources. Lake Erie and the Maumee River are wonderful resources that need defending.

Increase renewable energy capacity to meet increased demand sustainably. The Overland Industrial Park Solar Array is a recent addition to Toledo’s alternative energy supply. Toledo has a growing solar industry with several companies in the area.

Put city cooling programs into effect to lessen the impact of heat islands. Toledo has begun a heat island mitigation program and is in the process of planting 10,000 trees.

Improve walkability and public transportation. Toledo has been working hard to become more walkable and bike-friendly. The city says the Glass City Riverwalk will be the nation’s second-largest. The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority will put 11 electric buses into service in 2025. Amtrak provides train service for Toledo.

Upgrade emergency response plans for climate/weather emergencies. Toledo is focused on mitigating increased rainfall and flooding, overloading storm sewers, runoff and sedimentation and property damage.

Develop job training programs. Toledo has several agencies working in this area, including OhioMeansJobs, Lucas County, Owens Community College, Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio, Harbor’s Career Services Program, Ohio to Work Initiative, Cherry Street Mission Workforce Development, WorkReady Lucas County and University of Toledo’s Rocket Career Center.

Amenities that contribute to quality of life. Toledo is well situated in this regard. We have so much: the Toledo Metroparks, Toledo Library, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Zoo, many arts organizations and sports teams, public and private school systems, and our institutions of higher education.

If you are an individual searching for a good place to relocate because your life has been disrupted by challenging environmental conditions, Toledo is worth a look.

The Humorists

By
Steven J Athanas
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Artwork by Steven J Athanas for the Toledo Free Press.

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