Erie County Action Team

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We will be posting important information about legislation that you should be aware of and you may want to contact your legislators about. We will provide you with actions to take by calling or e-mailing your State Legislators or Congressmembers – along with Best Practices and scripts. You must let them hear your opinion on issues important to you! This is easy to do! Let’s get started!

You can send e-mails or make phone calls at any time – day or night! You can leave a message on their office answering machine when you call. Staff members will document your opinions and let your legislator know your point of view.

  • Best Practice: A short, concise message; no venting.
  • Best Practice: No matter how or when you contact your legislator, always let them know you are a voting constituent, your name and what your zip code is. If you would like for them to respond back to you with their position on issues, tell them you would like a response and give them your full name, address, city and zip code.

Even if Senator Brown and Congresswoman Kaptur have already signed onto a bill, please contact them to THANK them for supporting bills you also support! They always appreciate hearing from constituents!

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown:

By E-mail:

  • Click here for link

By Phone:

  • Cincinnati: (513) 684-1021
  • Cleveland: (216) 522-7272
  • Columbus: (614) 469-2083
  • Lorain: (440) 242-4100
  • Washington DC: (202) 224-2315
  • Toll Free Ohio only: 1-888-896-6446 (OHIO)

U.S. Senator J.D. Vance:

By E-mail:

  • Visit here to share your opinion.

By Phone:

  • Washington DC: (202) 224-3353

U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-9):

By E-mail:

  • Click here for link.

By Phone:

  • Cleveland:  (216) 767-5933
  • Lorain: (440) 288-1500
  • Toledo: (419) 259-7500
  • Washington DC: (202) 225-4146
  • Toll Free Ohio Only: 1-800-964-4699

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine-R

By U.S. Postal Service:

  • Governor’s Office
  • Riffe Center
  • 77 South Street, 30th Floor
  • Columbus 43215-6117

By E-Mail:

  • Click here for link.

By Phone:

  • Governor’s Office
    • (614) 644-4357
  • Senior Legislative Liaison
    • (614) 466-2828
    • (614) 995-1850
  • Policy Director
    • (614) 466-5585

State Senator Theresa Gavarone-R (SD-2):
The following Erie County precincts will be in the drawn district of the 2nd Senate:

  • SAN A, SAN B, SAN C, SAND, SAN E, SAN F, SAN G, SAN H,
  • SAN I, SAN J, SAN K, SAN L, SAN M, SAN N, SAN O, SAN P,
  • KI VILL, BV VILL, CAST VILL, MIL VILL, GRO TWP, OX TWP
  • HUR TWP #2, HUR TWP #3
  • MAR TWP #1, MAR TWP #2, MAR TWP #3, MAR TWP #4
  • MIL TWP #1, MIL TWP #2
  • PER TWP #1, PER TWP #2, PER TWP #3, PER TWP #4, PER TWP #5,
  • PER TWP #6, PER TWP #7, PER TWP #8, PER TWP #9, PER TWP #10

By U.S. Postal Service:

  • Senate Building
  • 1 Capitol Square
  • 2nd Floor, Room 138
  • Columbus, OH 43215

By E-mail:

  • Click here for link.

By Phone:

  • (614) 466-8060

State Senator Nathan Manning-R (SD-13):
The following Erie County precincts will be in the drawn district of the 13th Senate:

  • HUR A, HUR B, HUR C, HUR D, HUR E, HUR F
  • VER 1-A, VER 2-A, VER 2-B, VER 3-A, VER 3-B
  • BER VILL, BER TWP #1, BER TWP #2
  • FLO TWP #1, FLO TWP #2
  • VER TWP #1, VER TWP #2, VER TWP #3, VER TWP#4, VER TWP #5

By U.S. Postal Service:

  • Senate Building
  • 1 Capitol Square
  • Ground Floor, Room 039
  • Columbus, OH 43215

By E-mail:

  • Click here for link.

By Phone:

  • (614) 644-7613

State Representative Dick Stein-R (HD-54):
The following Erie County precincts will be in the drawn district of the 54th House:

  • HUR A, HUR B, HUR C, HUR D, HUR E, HUR F
  • VER 1-A, VER 2-A, VER 2-B, VER 3-A, VER 3-B
  • BER VILL, BER TWP #1, BER TWP #2
  • FLO TWP #1, FLO TWP #2
  • VER TWP #1, VER TWP #2, VER TWP #3, VER TWP#4, VER TWP #5

By U.S. Postal Service:

  • 77 South High Street, 13th Floor
  • Columbus, OH 43215

By E-mail:

  • Click here for link.

By Phone:

  • (614) 719-3958

State Representative DJ Swearingen-R (HD-89):

The following Erie County precincts will be in the drawn district of the 89th House:

  • SAN A, SAN B, SAN C, SAND, SAN E, SAN F, SAN G, SAN H,
  • SAN I, SAN J, SAN K, SAN L, SAN M, SAN N, SAN O, SAN P,
  • KI VILL, BV VILL, CAST VILL, MIL VILL, GRO TWP, OX TWP
  • HUR TWP #2, HUR TWP #3
  • MAR TWP #1, MAR TWP #2, MAR TWP #3, MAR TWP #4
  • MIL TWP #1, MIL TWP #2
  • PER TWP #1, PER TWP #2, PER TWP #3, PER TWP #4, PER TWP #5,
  • PER TWP #6, PER TWP #7, PER TWP #8, PER TWP #9, PER TWP #10

By U.S. Postal Service:

  • 77 South High Street, 13th Floor
  • Columbus, OH 43215

By E-mail:

  • Click here for link.

By Phone:

  • (614) 644-6011

ISSUES

U.S. Senate:

  • Message: My name is _____, my zip code is _____.
  • I am calling about (the name of the issue or number of the bill)
  • Issues will be posted once 2023 session begins.

U.S. Representative:

  • Message: My name is _____, my zip code is _____.
  • I am calling about (the name of the issue or number of the bill)
  • Issues will be posted once 2023 session begins.

Governor Mike DeWine:

  • DeWine signed HB458 into law on Friday, January 8, 2023.
    • Implements new restrictions and requirements on voting.
    • Visit here for more information.

Ohio Senate:

  • SJR2 – State Senate GOP efforts to amend the Ohio Constitution to raise the threshold for passing a citizen-led ballot initiative to 60% – current threshold is 50% plus one. NOTE: Passed by the State Senate.
    • See HJR1 below.
    • This is same bill as HJR1.
    • Call State Senator to vote NO on SJR1.
  • SB30 – Allowing 14- and 15-year olds to work till 9pm year round. Passed the Senate; now goes to House.
    • Message: My name is _____; my zip code is _____.
    • I’m calling about SB30 – The child labor bill.
    • Teens primary focus should be on school homework and activities – not working.
    • Having teens work after school will not alleviate the workforce shortages.
    • The Ohio Department of Education board was just gutted over concerns about children’s test scores; SB 30 will not help that problem.
    • Improving access and affordability to childcare would be more effective because it would encourage more women into the workforce.
    • I’m asking you to vote NO on SB30.
    • Thank You for considering my voice and the importance of my vote.
  • SB83 – Restricts mandatory diversity training, ban faculty strikes and penalize professors who fail to create classrooms free from bias. NOTE: Passed by the State Senate. Same as HB151 – see below.
  • SB92 – On Wednesday, May 3rd, will be up for a vote in a second House committee. The bill would schedule an August special election — something the legislature eliminated in all but emergency circumstances late last year. NOTE: Passed by State Senate.
    • Message: My name is _____; my zip code is _____.
    • I’m calling about SB92 – To hold a Special August 2, 2023 Election.
    • Placing HJR1/SJR2 before voters in August will cost Ohioans $25 million, when turnout is usually abysmally low.
    • 240 organizations, 4 former Ohio Governors, 5 former Ohio AGs oppose both bills
    • I’m asking you to vote NO on SB92.
    • Thank You for considering my voice and the importance of my vote.
      • NOTE: A rally and march (more info) from Trinity Church at Broad and 3rd Streets to the Statehouse before Wednesday’s session.

Ohio House:

  • HJR1/SJR2 – This bill would increase the voters required to enact new constitutional amendments to 60%+1 threshold, up from the current simple majority of 50%+1; would require signatures equaling five percent of the gubernatorial vote in all 88 counties, up from 44 counties currently; would remove the “cure period,” the window after signatures are turned in when a campaign is allowed to go back out and collect more to try to make up for a shortfall. NOTE: Passed by the House on May 10, 2023.
    • Message: My name is _____; my zip code is _____.
    • I’m calling about HJR1.
    • Ballot initiatives allow us to exercise our freedom to decide on issues that matter most to Ohioans.
    • This bill is a direct attack on Ohioans freedom to make decisions that affect our lives by putting issues on the ballot for Ohioans to decide.
    • If this amendment passes, it will mean more power for special interests and less power for Ohio voters.
    • I’m asking you to vote NO on HJR1.
    • Thank You for considering my voice and the importance of my vote.
  • HB1 – This bill would replace Ohio’s graduated income tax with a top rate of 3.99% on income over $115,300.00/year; create a flat income tax rate at 2.75% for all earners, except those who make less than $26,050.00/year; would reduce from 35% to 31.5% the amount of a property that can be taxed; would freeze the amount people pay in property taxes, even when the value of the home increases; would pay for the tax reductions by no longer sending $1.2 billion in ‘rollbacks’ to local agencies, such as funding for schools, libraries and parks; this would potentially undermine institutions that local voters have overwhelmingly supported through levy approvals; under the ‘rollback’ system, the state government has paid 10% of property tax collections to local governments. For more information, view this YouTube video here.
    • Message: My name is _____; my zip code is _____.
    • I’m calling about HB1.
    • If this bill passes, local schools, libraries and parks will be forced to ask for additional new taxes through levies to make up for the lost funding.
    • The tax reduction disproportionately benefits Ohio’s higher earners.
    • This is not tax relief, but another tax handout to the people who need it the least.
    • It will provide less than $3.00 in tax savings to many middle-income Ohio families. (NOTE: Families making less than $30,000/year will get nothing from this bill; families making $50,000/year will see a tax cut of $3.00 or less; an individual making half a million dollars per year could see a tax cut of more than $5,000.
    • Ohio may have a strong balance sheet now to fund this tax giveaway, but it would weaken state finances in the future.
    • I’m asking you to vote NO on HB1.
    • Thank You for considering my voice and the importance of my vote.
  • HB11 – Known as the ‘Backpack Bill’ would make every Ohio kid eligible for an Education Savings Account (ESA). These accounts could be used for private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, fees for advanced placement exams and other education-related expenses. Each student – whether being home schooled or attending a private school or currently attending a public school – in K-8 would receive $5,500 per year and high school kids would get $7,500 annually.
    • Message: My name is _____; my zip code is _____.
    • I’m calling about HB11 – The ‘Backpack Bill’.
    • This bill could cost taxpayers up to $1.13 BILLION per year – just based on providing non-public and home schooled students at this point.
    • Public education has continuously been short-changed on funds as more of our tax dollars are being spent on private schools and now home schooling.
    • Local communities will continue to see more public school levies on local ballots which will affect local property taxes which has been found to be illegal funding of public education three times by the Ohio Supreme Court.
    • I’m asking you to vote NO on HB11. (NOTE: Currently, Swearingen’s children are home schooled; will he abstain from voting on this issue since his family stands to benefit financially from this bill? If calling Swearingen, ask him to abstain from voting.)
    • Thank You for considering my voice and the importance of my vote.
  • HB23 – The Transportation Budget) WITH the rail safety items included.
    • Message: My name is _____; my zip code is _____.
    • I’m calling about HB23 – The Transportation Budget.
    • This bill would maintain the current crew size of two in Ohio. (The second member of the crew – the conductor – is the mobile member of the crew and is vital for identifying issues and mitigating damage in situations like we experienced in East Palestine earlier this month. The conductor is also responsible for much more mundane safety tasks like separating the train over road crossings to let emergency vehicles and the general public pass.) 
    • This bill would establish guidelines for wayside defect detectors in Ohio, to be managed by PUCO. (These devices detect issues with rolling equipment and notify the crew to stop and visually inspect – identifying problems before they become catastrophic. There is currently no State or Federal Regulation on these detectors, so railroad operators are free to ignore critical alarms, rolling the dice with the safety of the train and crew, but more importantly – with the general public.)
    • Rail safety must be a bipartisan priority.
    • I’m asking you to vote YES on HB23 with the rail safety items included as these are common sense safety driven measures that protect the general public.
    • Thank You for considering my voice and the importance of my vote.
  • HB144 – Allow an August special election for certain purposes
    • Message: My name is _____; my zip code is _____.
    • I’m calling about HB144 – That will allow an August special election for certain purposes.
    • HB458 eliminating August Special Elections was passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor DeWine just a few months ago because of high costs and low turnout.
    • Outside of Ohio special interest groups are pushing this proposal to circumvent possible November 2023 ballot issues.
    • Another Special Election that will cost Ohioans another $20 million.
    • This would allow the state legislature to take power away from voters by diluting our ability to change the Ohio Constitution.
    • Do not sign on to discharge the resolution. (NOTE: With enough signatures, the legislation would move immediately to a full House vote. This supersedes Speaker Stephens’ role in deciding when bills hit the floor. Ironically,  50% of House signatures, not 60%, is required to get the amendment on the floor 50 signatures needed.)
    • Ohio already has guard rails against people meddling in the constitution.
    • There are rarely any citizen-led amendments because of how difficult it is to meet all the requirements to get them on the ballot.
    • I’m asking you NOT to sign on to discharge the resolution and to vote NO on HB144 to not have an August Special Election
    • Thank You for considering my voice and the importance of my vote.
  • HB151 – Restricts mandatory diversity training, ban faculty strikes and penalize professors who fail to create classrooms free from bias.
    • Message: My name is _____; my zip code is _____.
    • I’m calling about HB151 – Would make major changes to Ohio’s public university and colleges.
    • This is an assault on academic freedom by banning required diversity, equity and inclusion training; policies based on race and gender; educational partnerships with China.
    • Would cause professors to skirt controversial subjects out of fear of reprisal from their administrations.
    • This would change how students and staff experience life on America’s university and college campuses.
    • I’m asking you to vote NO on HB151.
    • Thank You for considering my voice and the importance of my vote.
  • HB327 – Prohibits ‘teaching, advocating or promoting divisive concepts’.
    • Message: My name is _____; my zip code is _____.
    • I’m calling about HB327 – Prohibits ‘teaching, advocating or promoting divisive concepts’.
    • This bill is in response to the contrived critical race theory (CRT) panic of 2020 and furthers culture wars.
    • CRT is NOT taught in elementary or high schools; only in college-level courses.
    • This bill would ban particular books being pulled from school libraries and curriculums which could lead to Ohio high schools losing AP courses.
    • Ohio teachers could be punished for failing to fairly present both sides of a political or ideological belief or position.
    • This bill would eliminate teaching of slavery, racial discrimination and racism in general.
    • Teachers would be investigated if any student, parent, teacher or community member alleges that a teacher has violated any of the above.
    • I’m asking you to vote NO on HB327 that will inject fear and panic into educators.
    • Thank You for considering my voice and the importance of my vote.