Reelect Joe Miller to the Ohio House

If the race to represent the 53rd District in the Ohio House seems like a rerun, that's because in many ways it is. The two candidates, state Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, and Republican Brad Lacko first squared off in 2020. Back then, Miller was running for reelection in what was the 56th District. Thanks to GOP gerrymandering, the district's contours have changed over the past four years. The district now includes Amherst, Avon Lake, Lorain, Sheffield Lake and Sheffield, along with part of Sheffield Township. Miller, 55, came out on top in 2020, as he did in 2018 and 2022 against different opponents. Part of that is because the district, as it has been configured during Miller's six-year tenure, leans Democratic. That means Miller, who holds the positions one would expect of a Democratic politician, probably aligns better with the district's voters on the issues than the conservative Lacko For example, Lacko, 45, is staunchly pro-gun, although he told us he was willing to entertain the idea of expanded background checks so long as doing so wouldn't interfere with gunowners' rights. Miller has supported expanded background checks, along with other common-sense gun reforms, over the years. He voted against a bill that loosened restrictions on Ohioans carrying concealed weapons and another that reduced training requirements for teachers to carry guns in the classroom. Or consider their respective stances on abortion. Miller is pro-choice, while Lacko is pro-life, although he told us he favored exceptions for rape, incest and danger to the life of the mother. Miller also has shown himself to be an effective legislator despite being part of a superminority, which, again, is the result of Republican gerrymandering. Issue 1, a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution would, we hope, help restore some measure of balance to the state legislature by removing politicians from the redistricting process. Unsurprisingly, Miller backs Issue 1, while Lacko opposes it. Miller told us in an endorsement interview that he was less interested in getting credit than in getting things done for his constituents. He said that the GOP supermajority in the House was often loath to allow a Democrat to get a win, so he had to work across the aisle to accomplish his aims. That was on display when it came to undoing the damage caused by House Bill 70. Championed by then-Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, the 2015 bill allowed the state to seize control of Lorain Schools through an Academic Distress Commission and a CEO with almost unlimited and unchecked authority over the district. (A few other districts suffered similar fates.) State takeovers ended up being a disaster in Lorain and elsewhere, and politicians from both sides of the aisle, including Miller, worked for years to undo them. That goal was finally accomplished last year after state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, inserted an amendment into the state budget that offered Lorain Schools a welcome exit ramp. Lacko, on the other hand, argued that the 53rd District would be better served by electing a Republican who would be part of the majority party. While there is some merit to that argument, we remain unconvinced that electing only Republicans to the Statehouse would better serve voters. Ohioans need Democrats like Miller in Columbus calling out the Republicans for their excesses. For example, Miller was among the loudest critics of a terrible bill, co-sponsored by state Rep. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, that would have paved the way for forcing a hard-right group's civics curriculum into Ohio's public schools. Fortunately, that bill, which Manning admitted had been a mistake to support, stalled out in the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee, which Miller serves on. Miller also was vocal in his opposition to Senate Bill 83, which aimed to restrict how "controversial" subjects like climate change could be taught in Ohio universities. Although the bill was softened somewhat to help get it out of the House Higher Education Committee, on which Miller is the ranking Democratic member, it still aims to place limits on the collective-bargaining rights of faculty members. Unfortunately, SB 83 might yet pass in some form during the legislature's lame-duck session or the next General Assembly. We aren't persuaded that Lacko, whose children are home schooled, would be as stalwart a defender of public education as Miller, a former public-school teacher, has been. Both have been supportive of students who want to pursue careers that don't require college, but by virtue of his experience, we believe Miller is better suited to work on the issue. In addition to his six years in the General Assembly, Miller is a former member of Amherst City Council. Lacko, a farmer and truck driver by trade, has never held elected office. In addition to running against Miller four years ago, Lacko has run for Amherst Council several times, but come up short. Lacko struck us as someone with good intentions who would work hard if voters send him to Columbus, but the district is already ably represented by the hard-working Miller. Voters should give Miller a fourth two-year term.