Episode 79 - Debbie Davidson - Ohio House of Representatives Candidate for District 63

Ep. 79 — Debbie Davidson on Education, Rural Development and Ohio House District 63 This week, we start with news from Loveland, Milford and New Richmond before sitting down with Ohio House District 63 candidate Debbie Davidson. In Loveland, City Council moves forward with the State Route 48 and Butterworth Road sidewalk project, which is expected to connect more than 400 homes with historic downtown. Council also approves roughly $50,000 in traffic-signal improvements at West Loveland Avenue and Lebanon Road. In Milford, residents continue raising concerns about the city’s Flock automated license plate readers while Police Chief Jamey Mills defends the system as a useful crime-fighting tool. We also take a close look at Milford Schools, where finances finished fiscal year 2026 far better than projected, staffing changes are expected to save nearly $1 million, and enrollment continues to decline. And in New Richmond, the effort to place dissolution of the village on the November ballot has missed the required deadline. Because Ohio law limits these dissolution votes to even-year general elections, supporters would have to restart the process for a possible vote in 2028. Interview — Debbie Davidson Debbie Davidson is the Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 63, which includes much of rural Clermont County and part of Brown County. We begin with education and Davidson’s concerns about Ohio’s school-funding system. She argues that declining state support has shifted too much of the cost of public education onto local property owners, particularly in rural districts with relatively little commercial tax base. Davidson discusses the Fair School Funding Plan, EdChoice vouchers and the financial pressure facing districts such as Clermont Northeastern, New Richmond and Bethel-Tate. She also makes the case for giving skilled trades, vocational education and apprenticeships a larger role in preparing students for life after high school. From there, we talk about rural economic development. Davidson wants to see more state investment directed toward small communities like Felicity, Hamersville and Fayetteville, with an emphasis on rebuilding downtowns, supporting local businesses and creating more economic opportunities in communities that have lost jobs and investment over time. Development and energy become another major part of the conversation. Davidson discusses the growth of data centers across Ohio and raises concerns about their power requirements, water use, environmental impact and tax incentives. That leads to a broader discussion about nuclear energy, new reactor technology and how Ohio might meet growing electricity demand. We also talk about solar development and agrivoltaics, including the possibility of combining solar generation with farming rather than treating energy production and agriculture as mutually exclusive uses of land. The conversation then turns to taxes and state spending. Davidson argues that Ohio should return to a more progressive tax structure and says state tax policy is closely connected to the property-tax pressures residents are experiencing at the local level. We also discuss addiction, incarceration, workforce development and the importance of helping people find meaningful work and a sense of purpose. Davidson talks about alternatives for low-level offenders, volunteer opportunities and the role communities can play in helping people build a path toward stability. Finally, we talk about political division and the areas where people on opposite sides of the political aisle may have more in common than the national political conversation suggests. From trade education and rural investment to concerns about data centers and development, Davidson argues that local problems can still create room for people with very different politics to work together. Davidson closes by explaining why she decided to run for Ohio House District 63 and why she believes many of the challenges facing Clermont and Brown counties ultimately lead back to decisions made in Columbus. Links from This Episode Visit Debbie Davidson’s campaign website News Loveland moves forward with the State Route 48 and Butterworth Road sidewalk project The project is intended to connect more than 400 homes in Loveland’s Warren County neighborhoods with historic downtown Construction is currently targeted for spring 2028 Loveland approves roughly $50,000 in traffic-signal improvements at West Loveland Avenue and Lebanon Road Milford residents continue calling for removal of the city’s Flock automated license plate readers Milford Police Chief Jamey Mills defends the cameras as a useful crime-fighting tool Milford Schools finishes fiscal year 2026 far better than originally forecast District officials still project deficit spending in future years Milford says staffing changes for the 2026–27 school year will save nearly $1 million Five teaching positions were left vacant through attrition rather than layoffs Milford opens the school year with approximately 100 fewer students than at the same point last year District officials point to smaller incoming classes, EdChoice participation and other educational options as factors in declining enrollment New Richmond’s village-dissolution effort misses the deadline for the November 2026 ballot Supporters would have to restart the process for a possible dissolution vote in 2028 Events Premier Car and Truck Cruise-In Goshen Ohio Farmers Market Dog Days of Summer Dog Hike Chillseekers Women’s Summer Hike Series Hike with Park Staff at Pattison Park Lakeside Union Township Farmers Market Union Township Summer Concert featuring the Marty Connor Band Full Moon Paddle at Chilo Lock 34 Milford Farmers Market New Richmond Farmers Market Turtles All Around Art in the Park Birding Canoe Float Yoga in the Park Simmons Farms Saturday Farmers Market Loveland Art Festival Follow Let’s Talk Clermont on Facebook and Instagram, and sign up for the Thursday newsletter. 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