Ballotpedia, Craig Swartz

Craig is from Ohio and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Ohio State University. He lives in Upper Sandusky with his wife, Camille. 

Craig works as the director of the Ohio Public Banking Coalition. He previously worked as a realtor with Re/Max Select Associates, real estate agent for Parker Realty Associates - Marion, as a partner at Angel Capital, as a substitute teacher for Tri-Rivers Career Center, and as a project manager for R. Anthony Enterprises.

Craig Swartz served as a City Council Member for Upper Sandusky for 1 term from 2003 to 2007. He ran for Representative for US House District 5 in 2022, but did not win. He ran for State Senator for Ohio Senate District 26 in 2020, but did not win. 

Believes unions are essential for organizing and training future workers to maintain and expand trade skills, saying "Unions are making a comeback though because everyone knows that trade skills must be maintained and expanded to get our economy on the right track."

Believes unions are essential for organizing and training future workers to maintain and expand trade skills.

Believes in boosting trade skill education, employee buy-ins for manufacturing, and enhancing employment opportunities for disabled individuals.

Supports legislation to boost trade skill education, employee buy-ins for manufacturing, and enhance employment opportunities for disabled individuals.

Supports the establishment of The Bank of Ohio to help finance agricultural initiatives, business development, educational opportunities, environmental upgrades, housing expansion, infrastructure improvements, including internet and mass transit construction.

- Believes unions are essential for organizing and training future workers to maintain and expand trade skills.
- Supports legislation to boost trade skill education, employee buy-ins for manufacturing, and enhance employment opportunities for disabled individuals.
- Supports the establishment of The Bank of Ohio to help finance agricultural initiatives, business development, educational opportunities, environmental upgrades, housing expansion, infrastructure improvements, including internet and mass transit construction.

Economy

Supports red flag laws that confiscate or prohibit the purchase of guns for individuals the court determines to be dangerous to themselves or others.

- Supports red flag laws that confiscate or prohibit the purchase of guns for individuals the court determines to be dangerous to themselves or others.

Public Safety

Candidate website

Supports universal healthcare and endorsed House Bill 174 to create the Ohio Health Care Plan.

Supports universal healthcare and endorsed House Bill (HB) 174 to create the Ohio Health Care Plan.

Supports lowering Medicare eligibility in five-year increments.

Supports access to abortion and believes Congress should pass legislation affirming a woman's right to make healthcare choices.

Believes in reinvesting in state-owned psychiatric facilities to address the increase in mental health issues.

Supports state efforts to help community hospitals and believes the Bank of Ohio can finance rural hospital construction to address the opioid epidemic and other local health issues.

Supports strengthening medical marijuana laws to improve availability, pricing, and regulation, noting that states with medical marijuana laws have lower opiate use.

- Supports universal healthcare and endorsed House Bill (HB) 174 to create the Ohio Health Care Plan.
- Supports lowering Medicare eligibility in five-year increments.
- Supports access to abortion.
- Believes in reinvesting in state-owned psychiatric facilities to address the increase in mental health issues.
- Supports state efforts to help community hospitals and believes the Bank of Ohio can finance rural hospital construction to address the opioid epidemic and other local health issues.
- Supports strengthening medical marijuana laws to improve availability, pricing, and regulation, noting that states with medical marijuana laws have lower opiate use.

Healthcare

Supports enhanced trade education to address the shortage of trained labor in Ohio.

Believes in reversing the expansion of school vouchers and redirecting funds to public schools.

Supports reduced testing, later starting times, and a renewed emphasis on languages and music in primary and secondary education.

- Supports enhanced trade education to address the shortage of trained labor in Ohio.
- Believes in reversing the expansion of school vouchers and redirecting funds to public schools.
- Supports reduced testing, later starting times, and a renewed emphasis on languages and music in primary and secondary education.

Education

Supports increasing solar power by reforming the permit approval process.

Supports implementing a carbon tax on the oil and gas industry.

Opposes bailing out "aging coal and nuclear plants" without a plan for the future.

Supports reducing fossil fuel use and increasing renewable energy use for transportation.

Supports repurposing abandoned fracking wells for geothermal power generation, believing it can provide energy for thousands and revitalize damaged Ohio regions.

- Supports increasing solar power by reforming the permit approval process.
- Supports implementing a carbon tax on the oil and gas industry.
- Opposes bailing out "aging coal and nuclear plants" without a plan for the future.
- Supports reducing fossil fuel use and increasing renewable energy use for transportation.
- Supports repurposing abandoned fracking wells for geothermal power generation, believing it can provide energy for thousands and revitalize damaged Ohio regions.

Energy & the Environment

Supports the 2024 ballot initiative for an independent commission to draw legislative districts.

- Supports the 2024 ballot initiative for an independent commission to draw legislative districts.

Voting & Elections

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Craig Swartz

Craig works as the director of the Ohio Public Banking Coalition. He previously worked as a realtor with Re/Max Select Associates, real estate agent for Parker Realty Associates - Marion, as a partner at Angel Capital, as a substitute teacher for Tri-Rivers Career Center, project manager for R. Anthony Enterprises, a financial representative for Modern Woodmen of America, forklift operator, Driver for FedEx, owner of Pour House Restaurant, legal advisor and special event coordinator Investcorp Bank, Legal assistant for Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher. 

Craig Swartz served as a City Council Member for Upper Sandusky. He ran for Representative for US House District 5 in 2022 but did not win. He ran for State Senator for Ohio Senate District 26 but did not win. He currently chairs the Rural Caucus of the Ohio Democratic Party and previously chaired the Wyandot County Democratic Party.

Believes self-employment can be challenging yet rewarding, saying, "Probably the hardest job I ever had was working for myself for the first time at my restaurant. It was also the most rewarding to me."

Believes that the lessons learned from making mistakes as a first-time business owner are "invaluable."

Believes Congress is forced to campaign immediately after elections due to a "faster economy, faster communication, and faster society."

Promises "Zero New Debt and Zero New Taxes."

Believes in supporting working families, saying, "We could offer nothing as we only had an hour’s worth of work the next day and then off to Los Angeles."

Believes uniting seniors on economic issues is challenging.

Supports the development of advanced manufacturing technologies and processes to enhance productivity, quality, and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.

Believes communities and people shouldn't have to worry about whether their leaders are "bought and paid for by the highest bidders."

Believes Vladimir Putin’s government uses war to distract from failing to provide basic goods and services.

Supports firm U.S. and ally resolve in seeking an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.

Supports President Biden's efforts to halt aggression and seek a peaceful resolution in Ukraine.

Believes in fighting "corruption, inaction, and harmful policies" to improve community safety.

Supports open town hall meetings where constituents can ask questions.

Supports states' authority over federal government in areas such as privacy, reproductive healthcare, and voting.

Believes mental health is "extremely critical" and emphasizes the need for more patients, expertise, and care.

- Supports universal healthcare and endorsed House Bill 174 to create the Ohio Health Care Plan.
- Supports lowering Medicare eligibility in five-year increments.
- Supports access to abortion.
- Believes in reinvesting in state-owned psychiatric facilities to address the increase in mental health issues.
- Supports state efforts to help community hospitals and believes the Bank of Ohio can finance rural hospital construction to address the opioid epidemic and other local health issues.
- Supports strengthening medical marijuana laws to improve availability, pricing, and regulation, noting that states with medical marijuana laws have lower opiate use.

Supports House Bill 68, which prohibits discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

Believes in fixing Ohio's school funding.

Believes in addressing education issues, including school funding, curriculum, and teacher support.

Believes in protecting girls from competing with "biological boys" in athletic competitions.

Supports the use of liquid hydrogen as a fuel for heavy lift purposes.

Believes in perseverance and dedication to constituents' needs.

Believes being a representative is challenging yet essential, likening it to driving on icy roads with a deadline, where constituents' livelihoods depend on the representative's perseverance.

Believes transparency in campaigns will help politicians regain lost voter trust.

Believes in protecting voting rights and ensuring fair elections.

Believes gerrymandering allows politicians to "decide who their voters are going to be" for a decade, undermining fair representation.

Believes the state has been "disenfranchised" by the use of electronic voting machines, which have been used for ten years in elections that voted for both President Obama and Trump.

Craig was born and raised in Ohio and attended The Ohio State University. He is married to his wife, Camille, and they have a son. He currently lives in Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

Craig Swartz has held a variety of jobs including owning a restaurant, driving long-haul freight trucks, working as a forklift operator, and working in banking for a decade. He also worked in real estate contracts and volunteered with the Special Olympics.

Craig Swartz was elected to the Upper Sandusky City Council.

- Your State Representative participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 99 members of the Ohio House of Representatives. The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Representative drafts laws, approves budgets, has oversight of the state executive branch, and debates and votes on proposed laws.
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your State Representative can serve on committees. This is important because many bills can be stalled in committee, preventing them making it to a vote.
- Your State Representative is responsible for representing your interests. They also are responsible for helping you navigate the state's services and bringing back resources to your district.
- State Representatives are elected to a 2-year term. There is a limit of 4 successive terms. 