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MARIETTA - Republican state Rep. Kevin Ritter and Democratic challenger Wenda Sheard are outlining their priorities for public education, environmental oversight and economic development as they compete for Ohio's 94th House District seat in the Nov. 3 election.
The district includes Washington and Meigs counties and part of Athens County. In separate interviews, the candidates discussed their backgrounds and approaches to issues facing the region.
Kevin Ritter
Ritter, a former Washington County commissioner serving his first House term, taught history and American government for about 20 years and owned a small business preparing baseball players for college and professional opportunities. Outside politics, he said he enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with friends and participating in church activities.
Ritter said his goal has been to increase southeastern Ohio's influence in Columbus and direct state investment toward communities he believes have been overlooked.
"I think most people in this area rightly believe that we've been overlooked by Columbus for decades," Ritter said.
He said the district has received more than $11 million in state investment across 27 projects since his election. He highlighted $465,000 for renovations to Rutland's community building and $125,000 to convert a building into a community center in New Matamoras.
On education, Ritter highlighted his support for Senate Bill 1 and its restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public colleges. Ritter said he believes DEI encourages students to identify primarily with groups defined by race, gender or other characteristics. He said he wants universities to treat students as individuals, rather than emphasize those categories.
"DEI, in our view, is divisive," Ritter said, arguing that it pits groups against one another. He said classroom instruction should focus on subjects such as science, history and literature instead of what he described as an ideology.
He also supported House Bill 15, saying incentives for electricity generation should eventually lower utility bills. He said lawmakers need to understand rural schools' transportation costs when comparing them with urban districts.
Ritter said his responsibility on injection wells is to bring residents' concerns to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, rather than make technical judgments himself.
"As an elected official, my duty is to report local concern to the appropriate authority, which I've done over and over and over again," Ritter said.
He said he has met with residents, environmental advocates and industry experts, helped arrange a meeting with ODNR Director Mary Mertz and urged agencies to hold public meetings. He also criticized ODNR's communication with Washington County residents, saying the agency needs to engage more openly.
On data centers, Ritter favors requiring closed-loop cooling systems that reuse water, companies to use their own energy sources and plans or insurance to remove facilities if companies leave. He opposes nondisclosure agreements and supports residents' ability to reject projects. He said tax incentives should be reserved for projects redeveloping brownfield sites, where contamination can complicate reuse.
"These companies have plenty of money. They need to pay full freight," Ritter said.
He criticized public outreach surrounding the proposed Waterford-area project and said residents need clearer information about what developers intend to build.
Wenda Sheard
Sheard, of Ames Township in Athens County, is an attorney, mediator and former teacher who served three years as Hocking County domestic relations magistrate. She previously led the Athens County Bar Association and served as vice president of the county's League of Women Voters. Her interests include sewing, gardening and singing in choirs.
Sheard, who ran against Ritter two years ago, said she wants to change state spending and tax policies she believes favor wealthy residents and corporations over families and farmers. She opposes a flat income tax, arguing that applying the same rate across incomes does not create an equal financial burden.
"I am opposed to a flat tax that gives the rich a tax break and gives just peanuts to the lower and middle classes," Sheard said.
She also criticized the Legislature's handling of public school funding, saying the state has shifted too much responsibility to local communities. She wants greater support for public education, including adult career training in Washington County.
On injection wells, Sheard said she believes state oversight has failed to adequately protect drinking water. She cited concerns raised by water boards and geologists and said residents should not have to depend on volunteers to identify potential threats.
"It's a terrible situation when, to protect our health, we have to rely on volunteer citizen groups to call attention to the problems," Sheard said.
She pointed to local public bodies' requests for a moratorium and said reports of wastewater migration and damage to conventional oil and gas wells demonstrate the need for stronger oversight.
Sheard said Ohio needs stronger data center regulations and more opportunities for residents to weigh in, potentially through a public vote. She criticized nondisclosure agreements that she said prevent communities from learning about developments that could substantially change their surroundings.
She said lawmakers should address concerns involving noise, lighting, water and air quality, and ensure residents have a role in deciding what development their communities accept.
For economic development, Sheard emphasized the Washington County Career Center's adult training programs and their relationships with employers. She said those programs need adequate funding to help residents obtain jobs.
Sheard said her legal and mediation experience would guide her approach to working with Republicans and Democrats, focusing on shared concerns and values.
"I will approach my work more as a mediator than anything else," she said.
Early in-person voting for Ohio's Nov. 3 general election began Tuesday and continues through Nov. 1. Voters should bring an unexpired photo ID. Locations and the complete schedule are available through county elections offices or at VoteOhio.gov.