RELEASE: State Representative Mike Dovilla Announces Candidacy for Ohio Senate

COLUMBUS, OHIO—State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) today announced his candidacy to serve as state senator for the 24th Ohio Senate District, comprised of 28 suburban communities in Cuyahoga County, during the 132nd General Assembly.

“For nearly five years, I have been honored to serve the people of Cuyahoga County in the Legislature,” said Dovilla.  “Throughout the summer numerous community leaders and constituents have asked if I would consider continuing to work on their behalf by seeking our district’s Senate seat.  I am humbled by their strong support and enter this race with great confidence we will earn that opportunity.”

Rep. Dovilla, a lifelong Republican and the House Majority Whip, is currently serving his third term in the Ohio House of Representatives.  As a state legislator who has authored more than a dozen laws and quickly risen through the ranks since arriving in the Legislature, he possesses a wealth of policy experience and a proven record of results as a public servant.  Dovilla has previously served as a presidential appointee at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, a senior advisor to U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich, and a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of State.

Additionally, Dovilla has a distinguished military career and is an officer in the Reserve Component of the U.S. Navy.  A lieutenant commander with more than 13 years of commissioned service, he served on active duty on a 12-month deployment in Iraq in 2007-2008.  He currently serves as a department head with a unit supporting U.S. European Command.  As a qualified Information Dominance Warfare Officer, his awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.

“My top five priorities in the Legislature remain those on which I first ran for office in 2010, areas where we continue to make measurable progress,” said Dovilla.  “If given the opportunity to continue my public service in the Ohio Senate, I will stay focused on strengthening our state’s business-friendly environment for job creation, promoting strong public education, protecting our senior citizens, advocating for veterans, and reforming state government.”

In the current legislative session, Rep. Dovilla is sponsoring several additional pieces of common sense legislation, including the following measures:

• House Bill 2 substantially reforms Ohio’s charter school framework by clarifying roles and responsibilities, improving transparency, and increasing accountability.  The bill passed the House by a supermajority in March and is slated for final passage in the near future.
• House Bill 24, the “Ohio Elder Justice Act,” strengthens Adult Protective Service statutes for the first time in over two decades, helping to protect some of the most vulnerable members of society from abuse, exploitation, and neglect.  The bill unanimously passed the House in March.
• House Bill 46, “Open Ohio,” which increases transparency by requiring the Ohio Treasurer of State to establish the Ohio State Government Expenditure Database that includes information about expenditures state entities make.  The bill unanimously passed the House in April.

Since arriving in the Legislature in January 2011, Rep. Dovilla has helped lead Ohio’s comeback, voting for three fiscally conservative, balanced budgets that have cut working Ohioans’ taxes by $5 billion, supporting major reforms to the state’s economic development structure, and streamlining the regulatory environment to help promote private sector job creation.  These pro-growth public policy initiatives have helped reduce Ohio’s unemployment rate from 9.6 percent to 4.7 percent, spur the creation of over 350,000 net new private sector jobs, and replenish the state’s budget stabilization fund from 89 cents to $2 billion.

The 24th Ohio Senate District is comprised of 28 communities in Cuyahoga County – Bay Village, Bentleyville, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Chagrin Falls, Chagrin Falls Township, Fairview Park, Gates Mills, Glenwillow, Highland Heights, Hunting Valley, Independence, Lyndhurst, Mayfield, Moreland Hills, North Olmsted, North Royalton, Oakwood, Olmsted Falls, Olmsted Township, Rocky River, Seven Hills, Solon, Strongsville, Valley View, Walton Hills, Westlake, and Berea – Rep. Dovilla’s hometown.

Jim Trakas Announces Candidacy for State Senate

Press release:

(INDEPENDENCE) Former State Representative James P. Trakas (R-Independence) today announced his candidacy for the 24th Ohio Senate District in a letter to elected officials, supporters, and political activists, where incumbent Robert F. Spada (R-24) of North Royalton cannot run again due to term limitations.

“Now more than ever, Greater Cleveland needs a strong and aggressive voice in The Statehouse, and I plan to be that voice.” said Trakas “With all the talk of improving the region, Columbus can and should be helpful, and that must be a top priority of the next state senator from the area.”

“If our future is to be a bright one, state government must make Ohio attractive again to investment which leads to jobs. The single greatest need in Greater Cleveland is private investment capital to invest and reinvest in jobs for our people. I am convinced that government regulation and red tape are part of the problem with Ohio’s economy, and am committed to a wholesale reform of regulation and the regulatory market so that Ohio can once again be the go-to state for jobs. Additionally, changing the tax code to eliminate the tax on investment capital gains, eliminating the death tax without hurting local communities, and revamping our property tax system will all help to bring employment opportunities to Greater Cleveland.”

Trakas served two terms on Independence City Council from 1992 to 1996, three terms as Chairman of The Republican Party of Cuyahoga County from 1996 to 2005, and served four terms in The Ohio House from the southern and eastern suburbs from 1999-2006. A 1983 graduate of Independence High School, 1987 graduate of The Ohio State University, Trakas is a lifelong resident of Independence and currently resides at 6924 Brettin Drive with his wife of 9 months, Anne Kennedy Trakas, and their dog Nero and cat Otto. He is employed as a commercial sales representative for Nature Stone Floors of Bedford, and works part time as a public policy coordinator for The Public Services Institute at Lorain County Community College. Anne Kennedy Trakas works as an assistant manager at Talbots Mens clothing store at Legacy Village, in the 24th Senate District.

While improving the economic climate is Trakas’ top priority, schools and school funding are a close second. “While there was great bi-partisan work done with the current state budget, 24th Senate District school children were left behind! Most schools in the district received zero new dollars, which can only lead to higher property taxes for district residents in the future. Someone must represent our views in Columbus, and I plan to fight hard to make sure that this never happens again.” said Trakas

In his letter, Trakas outlines a very bold, innovative, and specific agenda for Greater Cleveland and North East Ohio. “I am starting very early, because it is my intent to visit the homes of tens of thousands of District 24 residents from The West Shore to The Southwest Suburbs, to the Chagrin Valley and up to The Hillcrest Area and everyone in between.” commented Trakas on the sprawling district. “I plan to listen closely to the people and truly be an advocate for this area in The Senate. There is much unfinished business to attend to and great accomplishments that Greater Cleveland needs, and I feel strongly that I am the right person at the right time, with the right ideas to add significantly to the survival of this region. Yes, we are talking about survival in Greater Cleveland, and I want to be a vociferous advocate for this area and an effective voice who will dedicate every waking moment to bettering the lives of our citizens, their children, and neighborhoods. “

Trakas concluded, “Ohio faces serious challenges, and needs serious leadership if our future is to be bright. I offer hope and the right plan for prosperity, quality education, and the attraction and retention of new jobs. Much work needs to be done, and I am ready to do it on behalf of the people.”

Announcement letter to constituents:

Dear Fellow Citizen:

Innovation. Excellence. Bold Ideas. Leadership.


It is what Ohio has been lacking, and today I announce my candidacy for the open seat in the 24th Ohio Senate District to provide some of what we need if Ohio is to excel and shake off the rust from a rough decade.

I am Jim Trakas, and have served the citizens of Independence as a Member of City Council for four years. I have served the citizens of southern and eastern Cuyahoga County as State Representative for eight years. I have served the Republicans of Cuyahoga County for nine years as party chairman, and today I offer my experience, ideas, tenacity, hard work, and efforts to the people of Cuyahoga County to be your next state senator from the West Shore to the South West suburbs to the Chagrin Valley and to the Hillcrest Area.

My wife, Anne Kennedy Trakas, and I encounter the same concerns as you do. What will we do about our jobs and economic future? How do we create better quality education at a fair price? What kind of a future do our children and grandchildren have in North East Ohio? Will we live better lives than our parents?

After serving in The Ohio House for four terms, I frankly feel much more needs to be done on behalf of the people, and that Greater Cleveland expects more from its political leadership. But there has been a shift in the political winds in Columbus, where finally innovative, bold, aggressive ideas may be heard. While I am proud to claim accomplishments in state government, much, much more work needs to be done!

Sen. Bob Spada has served us well, and due to term limitations, he can no longer represent the people of Greater Cleveland in The Ohio Senate. Soon, you will be called upon to choose the next State Senator, and I humbly ask for your support for an agenda of action, a fighter for local interests in a Legislature that has not prioritized Greater Cleveland, a leader who will stand up and say and do the right thing for working families, and an innovator who has and will propose great new ideas to better your lives and that of your family and neighbors.

Specifically, here is what I pledge:

I will strive to meet and exceed the expectations of Cuyahoga County residents in my style of representation. I will stand up for suburban communities, good schools, working men and women, and very importantly, be a strong voice for your concerns in The Ohio Senate on every issue.
I will work for sweeping change in Ohio’s regulatory environment and tax environment, the kind of change that will lead to jobs staying and new jobs coming to our state. Let’s face it, we need substantial change in this area to attract the private investment needed to sustain our today and tomorrow.
I will vote to put more money in your pocket to continue to cut income taxes, eliminate the death tax, eliminate the tax on capital gains on Ohio investments, and work to restructure Ohio’s property tax system, which politicians have been afraid to touch for years, but is unsustainable and must be revamped.
I will tackle education from top to bottom, by improving the quality and focus on the valuable areas of science, math, and technology as well as re-focusing higher education to benefit Ohio’s economy.
I will stand up for money for suburban schools. Both political parties got it wrong this time, as incredibly, the vast majority of 24th district schools got ZERO new dollars in Governor Strickland’s first budget. We need leadership who will work in our interests. I will also work to take cost out of education and lower tuitions at Ohio colleges. Education is key to our future, but it is too expensive and must become more valuable to our state’s economy.
There is much more, and as I visit your home and your neighborhoods over the coming months, I will spell out a strong vision for a great Ohio very specifically. Between this summer and next, I plan to visit over 50,000 homes in my quest to be in touch with the issues that you care about and truly be your voice in The Ohio Senate.

I invite you to join me in this quest. There are only 33 state senators, and over 11 million Ohioans. One person can make an enormous difference, and I would like to be that one person who will work tirelessly on your behalf and raise the issues and solve the problems that face you and this state.

I ask for your support, for all the right reasons. I know you have heard the promises before. My greatest promise is that I will try very hard to accomplish these key goals and others, and hope to succeed. If I do not, you will know that it was not for a lack of effort. Our region and our state are crying out for the right leadership now! With confidence in my platform, and with the hard work of a second generation Greek American that I am, I know that I am up to the challenge and hopefully worthy of your support.

Sincerely,

James P. Trakas