Dem. keeps working amid shakeup in local Ohio House race

SANDUSKY — Easton Retzke, the Democratic candidate in the Ohio House District 89 election, said the recent changes in the race haven't affected how he campaigns. Retzke said he's not getting caught up in the drama and is sticking to his campaign style. "We have been very intentional about the campaign we wanted to build," said Retzke, who said he has continued to focus on going out and talking to voters in the district, which includes Erie County, almost all of Ottawa County and a small portion of Huron County, in the Bellevue and Wakeman areas. The district's incumbent lawmaker, state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, shook up the race earlier this month when he announced he's not running for re-election. Swearingen explained he hopes to be appointed to a new government job. Meeting last week, local Republican officials nominated Caleb Stidham to be the new GOP nominee. Stidham is the Erie County treasurer and chairman of the Erie County Republican Party. A deadlocked Erie County board of elections 2-2 vote, on partisan lines, means the Ohio Secretary of State will have to break the tie on whether to permit Stidham's candidacy. The Register plans to host a debate between the two candidates in October. Both have agreed to participate. Reviewing Retzke The race for House District 89 is a contest between two young men under 30. Stidham is 29. Retzke is 22 and lives in downtown Sandusky — in the same house where he's lived all of his life. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from The Ohio State University. He's a 2022 graduate of Sandusky High School. His work experience includes a stint as an intern at the Sandusky Register. Retzke said he's pleased that he's been endorsed by the local region of the United Auto Workers, by the state UAW and by the Ohio Federation of Teachers. "I'm really a big fan of union workers," he said. Retzke said his top issues include the cost of living, affordable housing and supporting public education. Many current members of the Ohio House "don't really understand the day-to-day lives a lot of Ohioans face," he said. Retzke said: • As he goes door to door, he constantly hears about high gas prices, utility bills and other cost issues. It's really important to reform property taxes, which have gotten out of control, he said. • Private voucher funding for private school students is a big drain on public schools, and that funding needs to be cut. The state needs to do a much better job of adequately funding public schools, he said. • The Ohio Democratic Party has helped him by including him in meetings with other candidates where ideas can be exchanged. But he said the state party has not put any money in the race so far. "We are trying to egg them on a bit," he said.