COLUMBUS, Ohio —Throughout the month of September, Spectrum News will highlight some key races in both the state's House and Senate.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Democrat John Rogers represented the 60th District the last seven and a half years but he can't run again due to term limits

  • Democrat Daniel Troy was once a state representative

  • Republican George Phillips has tried to run for office and been unsuccessful, losing in the general election to John Rogers back in 2014

  • President Donald Trump won Lake County with 55 percent of the vote


For the 60th House District in northeast Ohio around western Lake County, one candidate has legislative experience. The other is a small-business owner who has run for public office before.

Democrat John Rogers represented the 60th District the last seven and a half years but he cannot run again due to term limits. So now it will be up to voters to see if Daniel Troy holds onto the seat for the Dems or hands it over to Republican George Phillips.
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Troy is a former state representative who says he is running again for one reason.

“Now more than ever we need voices of reason on both sides of the aisle," Troy says.

Troy feels he can bridge the gap because of his experience. He served the old 70th district in the mid 1980s and 90s and was Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

“The main thing is we have to make sure that the wherewithal is there to provide the core components of services and my opponent has never held a public office," says Troy.

But George Phillips has tried and been unsuccessful, losing in the general election to John Rogers back in 2014. Spectrum News reached out to Phillips several times but he declined our requests for interviews.

According to his campaign's Facebook page, Phillips campaign slogan is 'Fresh New Leadership For Lake County, For Ohio, For Our Future." However, neither his Facebook or campaign website say where he stands on pertinent issues. His Facebook touts his experience in: insurance and financial services, healthcare and non-profit management and says he has worked as an economics professor, small business owner, board member and community volunteer.

Meanwhile, Troy has made his stances known. He's in favor of Governor DeWine's mask mandate, believes systemic racism is an issue and that more money should be invested in workers, instead of handing out tax breaks to businesses. When it comes to healthcare, Troy is in favor of Medicaid Expansion saying he "doesn't think it's a problem that the federal government pays 90-95 percent on the dollar" to improve the system.

For perspective, President Trump won Lake County with 55 percent of the vote.