2/27/2004

Schools a top issue in district 28 race

Jessica Alaimo
Daily Kent Stater

Education is the hot topic for both candidates in the Democratic primary for the 28th district state Senate seat.

The debate is how to fund it.

Tom Seese, a former state representative from Akron, is challenging incumbent state Sen. Kim Zurz of Green, who was appointed to the Ohio Senate in September and represents all of Portage County and parts of Summit County. The winner of the primary will take on Republican

Kevin Fowler from Ravenna, who is unopposed in the Republican primary.

Seese’s goal, if elected, is to expand E-check, the state mandated auto emissions test in 14 of Ohio’s 88 counties. It was created 12 years ago. Expanding E-check will create jobs and turn profits to fund education, he said. If this is not effective, Seese said, then he will abolish it altogether.

“It was supposed to be in all counties of Ohio,” Seese said. “The politicians left it where it started, it’s unfair.”

Zurz said E-check won’t turn any profits.

“Only 50 cents goes back to the state, the bulk of the money goes back to the corporations,” Zurz said.

Zurz said the state needs to restructure the tax system to make it more equitable to find the funding.

“There are some bills in the works,” Zurz said. “Everyone knows we have to do something, this has gone on for too long.”

State Sen. Kim Zurz

In her four months in office, Zurz has emphasized economic development and education.

“My job is to serve the people, to bring state government to them,” Zurz said. “(I want to make sure they have) the information they need.”

In the Senate, Zurz is ranking minority member on the State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee and also sits on the Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee.

Recently, she attended a public meeting with district representatives and elected officials regarding state retirement funds.

“There are so many of our (residents) who are extremely worried about what happens to their retirement funds,” Zurz said. “It’s a big concern for a lot of people.”

She is also working on a database for to make it easier to process different grant requests.

“It’s one more step down the road to find a new source of funding for things,” Zurz said.

Prior to taking the seat on the Senate, she served 10 years on the Summit County Council, including three terms as president.

Married with three children, Zurz is president of her family business, the Eckard-Baldwin Funeral Home in Akron.

Tom Seese

Tom Seese, retired, has been a politician, a union machinist for Goodyear, and currently owns the “Suds Your Duds” coin laundry in Akron.

“I’ve always been a voice for working families, retirees and the handicapped,” Seese said.

Seese served five terms in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1986 to 1995. During this time, he created a free-trade zone out of the Akron-Canton airport, and assisted with state plans to widen the steel channel at Portage Lakes.

Funding education is the No. 1 issue that the current administration can’t handle, Seese said.

“It’s really apparent to me that they haven’t got a clue how to put additional money to each child’s education other than asking property owners to continually vote to increase taxes,” Seese said.

Seese said he has worked with Kent State president Carol Cartwright in the past, and said state government needs to work with the state universities.

“I know that not everyone can afford college today because of the cost,” Seese said.

Competition

Zurz and Seese competed for the appointment to the Senate in September.

“Obviously I’m disappointed (in being challenged),” said Zurz. “The money (for the primaries) could be saved for the general election.

Both candidates said they bring experience to the election. Seese said the natural progression for him, after the House is to serve in the Senate.

“While my opponent can say he was in the house for a number of years, he was in the majority,” Zurz said. “In the minority, we don’t always get our way.”

E-mail: jalaimo@kent.edu