COLUMBUS, Ohio (WLIO) - Republican candidate Heather Hill and her running mate, Stu Moats, say many Ohioans feel their voices are no longer being heard.
For the southeastern Ohio businesswoman, the decision to enter the governor's race became personal after she lost two of her foster children in separate incidents involving law enforcement. Hill says those experiences led her to believe officers need better training when interacting with people who have mental illness.
Hill says it was actually law enforcement officers who encouraged her to run for governor to help address those issues.
"One of the things that I am planning on doing is building a live action training facility that helps law enforcement officers deal with everyday situations of dealing with mental illness. That is my top priority when it comes to dealing with bridging the gaps with law enforcement office," says Hill.
She says Ohio is facing many challenges, including the growth of data centers across the state, which she says some communities feel are being built without residents support or knowledge. Hill also cites rising energy costs and property taxes, which she says she would like to see abolished in Ohio.
As a businesswoman, Hill says she also has a plan to attract new companies and grow existing businesses around the state.
"The top is cutting the red tape, making it to where businesses feel represented here. They feel welcome here. And solving the housing crisis is going to be a big part of it, because most of the industry that I speak to, they feel like we just don't have adequate housing for for their employees," states Hill.
Hill says she hopes to become the Republican candidate who represents Ohio's middle class.
"We have never had a politician that truly represents middle class America. You know, all of them coming in, they're just playing musical chairs, and they're billionaires, and they're billionaire friends and answering to everyone, except for us voters. So I will, for the first time, myself and Stuart moats, we will give Ohio true representation," adds Hill.
For more information about Hill and her campaign, visit her website.
Hill is facing Vivek Ramaswamy and Casey Putsch in the May 5 Republican primary election.
