Richardson, Coble seek seat in Ohio House

Republican Tracy Richardson, of Marysville, and Democrat Glenn Coble, of Marion, are hoping to represent Ohio’s 86th district.
On Nov. 6, one of them will take the seat currently occupied by the retiring Dorothy Pelanda.
Richardson said her campaign has been a team effort with her family. She said her children, Sean, Connor and MJ, have helped her with both moral and tech support.
“It’s those kinds of things that encourage me to keep going,” Richardson said.
Richardson said as she went door-to-door during her campaign and spoke to voters, two issues kept presenting themselves: opioid use and job growth.
Richardson has campaigned on those two issues from the beginning.
Richardson, who currently serves as a member of Marysville City Council, has been vocal in her opposition of illegal drug use. She said heroin and other opiate-based drugs specifically have proven to be an epidemic in Ohio.
She said if elected, she’ll work to end the opioid epidemic in Ohio, and “prevent any future addiction.”
Her emphasis on workforce growth has also been a large part of her campaign. While unemployment is at a record low nationwide, Richardson said the problem stems from the type of jobs available, not the number.
“The challenge is getting the people the skills they need for the jobs that are available,” Richardson said.
She said unemployed residents should be trained for the more specialized types of jobs available today.
Earlier this year, Richardson commented that drug education and employment go hand-in-hand. She said if people can’t pass drug tests, they can’t work.
Coble described himself as a Centrist Democrat. He said one issue he and Richardson disagree on is abortion. While Richardson is opposed to abortions being legal, Coble is endorsed by Planned Parenthood and other pro-choice organizations.
Coble noted he doesn’t support abortions themselves, but “I simply believe women should be able to choose what they do to their bodies.”
“Because it’s law,” he said.
Coble also spoke about his support for more stringent gun control.
“I truly believe we have to find a way to cut down the ruthlessness of these weapons,” he said.
For him, that includes banning the use of bump stocks and automatic weapons.
“Why would you want to put 21 shots in a person or animal?” he said.
Coble said he has nothing against hunting or home defense, but said “common sense” gun laws shouldn’t be out of the question.
“I don’t care what anybody says, guns kill people,” he said. “I’m tired of waking up and hearing on the news that 14 kids (were) killed.”
As Election Day approaches, Richardson said she hopes to change the way people think about politics. She said during her time speaking to people, they have become tired of the today’s political climate.
“They’re disillusioned, they’re disappointed,” she said.
Richardson said she’s a “values driven” candidate. During her time campaigning, she’s emphasized that part of her, and met a “whole range of people along the way.”
Coble hopes his running will provide a new perspective. He said as it stands, politics in the U.S. are getting dirty.
“I think you can’t have a one-party government … that doesn’t become corrupt,” he said. “I think we need to get a better balance.”