Ohio's Bios- Insights from State Rep. David Thomas

This episode is different from others run in Ohio's Bios. For Episode 12 I share about a unique opportunity I had to visit the US Mexican Border in McAllen, Texas to view firsthand the Border Crisis at the southern border, learn how it impacts the entire United States, and determine policies ideas for helping to secure the border. I took this trip led by American's For Prosperity, a nati...

Doug Starkey has served as Director of the Ashtabula County Environmental Services for 3 years in addition to his wealth of local government experiences as Fire Chief and City Manager in the City of Geneva. We discuss his perspective of the challenges local governments and residents face and what he has learned in his decades of leadership for Ashtabula County. From water rates to city councils an...

Ohio's Auditors are responsible for vacant and forfeited land auctions. Many residents are unaware of the process of foreclosure and how land becomes available for use after it has been forfeited to the state.  

Asheesh Agarwal is a former assistant director for the Office of Policy Planning at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), staff member at the Department of Justice,  and is currently an advisor to the American Edge Project, a coalition of nearly two dozen organizations dedicated to advancing and protecting American innovation and technology. https://americanedgeproject.org/ We discuss Asheesh's...

Alex Iarocci is the Executive Director of the Ashtabula County Landbank, a quasi government non-profit organization housed in the Ashtabula County Treasurer's Office focused on revitalizing abandoned and dilapidated properties. We discuss the economic impacts a Landbank can have on  a community, the challenges to being largely grant funded, and future goals of development through a Landbank....

In this Episode, Ashtabula County Auditor David Thomas breaks down the role of County Auditors in property values and taxes for Ohio's residents. Learn the process for valuing properties, how tax rates are determined, and the basis of your tax bill originates. 

Deb Friedstrom is the Township Trustee for Plymouth Township in Ashtabula County and serves as the Township Association President. We discuss her 14 years as a Township Trustee with lessons of cooperation and communication in addition to struggles of a small township with large expenses. 

Episode 5:  March 1st-7th is National Weights & Measures Week. The Auditor's Office is Ohio is responsible for certifying the weight of commercial scales and devices ranging from gas pumps to deli scales, highway truck scales to propane trucks, and everything in-between. Listen in as County Auditor David Thomas describes the role of County Auditor in Weights & Measures and why this Co...

Episode 4:  Mario Butera is the Geneva City Council President and serves as a music teacher in the community as well. In this episode, we discuss the competing financial interests of a small town, the role a council takes in the governing process, and some interesting fun facts about Geneva, Ohio. 

In the 3rd episode of Ohio's Bios, you get an introduction into the many jobs an Ohio Auditor's Office performs to serve other governments and tax payers. Chief Assessor, Fiscal Officer, Sealer of Weights & Measures, Licensor, and Head of IT are just some of the titles given to Ohio's County Auditors. Learn how the Auditor's Office is at the center of County Government. 

Jeremy Shaffer is the Village Administrator for Geneva on the Lake, Ohio. In this episode he discusses the qualities needed in good local government leaders, challenges specific to Geneva on the Lake such as lake front erosion and the seasonality of their village tourism, and his background in the military and local government.  

Ashtabula County Auditor David Thomas launches his podcast, Ohio's Bios- Insights from Ohio's Local Governments. This podcast will help shed light on the people behind local government as we learn about the services they provide, challenges and opportunities they face, and why they have a passion in working for you.