In Episode 2 of our returned podcast I discuss what I have been doing in Columbus since the November 2024 election, the Speaker election, why Lame Duck will always be with us and some of the outcomes from this most recent session, along with the Ashtabula County Auditor's Office transition and what lies ahead to January 6, 2025 and the start of the next Ohio General Assembly.

Join Ashtabula County Auditor and incoming State Representative for Ohio's 65th District David Thomas as he welcomes listeners back to the Ohio's Bios Podcast while cooking up a little lunch.

The podcast will be coming back regularly to update you on the insights he is gaining from Columbus, behind the scenes views on the important happenings of today, and a look at who makes our state great!

Brian Walsh is a former Washington DC Hill Staffer and current spokesman for the Capital Access Alliance (CAA). We spoke about the group's goal for the FAA Reauthorization Bill to make air travel more affordable and accessible to and from Washington D.C. Since the late 1960s, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has been the only airport subject to a federally imposed perimeter rule, which limits the number of flights that are allowed to take-off and land outside a 1,250-mile perimeter. This, along with limits on the number of total flights, causes ticket prices to be artificially inflated. We talk about how removing this bureaucratic holdover policy will create better competition for the airplane ticket market.

You can learn more about this group and their plan at: https://capitalaccessalliance.com/

In this episode I speak with Ben Schwartfigure, the Ashtabula County Veterans Service Commission Director, about the services provided to our community's veterans. From health benefits to housing assistance and work with federal and state agencies, the VSC assists veterans everyday. Many are unaware of the programs VSCs across Ohio provide and the federal and state dollars brought in to counties as a result of their work.

Take a listen then learn more about the Veterans Service Commission here: https://www.ashtabulaveterans.com/

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 national policy nonprofit aimed at educating citizens and advocating for economic freedom.

We saw a Rio Grande River crossing in the McAllen Water District run by Othal Brand. Touched several variations of walls, technology, and structural barriers. Also heard from retired Yuma, Arizona Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem about his experience and policy ideas- just a wall or just technology or just more staff will not secure our border, policy changes must be made to clear confusion and direct behavior to legal immigration. Then visited the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley to hear how they process and serve as respite care hundreds of people daily before they go to their sponsor in America.

The solution isn't just a 1 prong approach but 4. 1) More physical barriers where it makes sense to slow border crossers, 2) more technology for surveillance and notifications where it makes sense, 3) more staffing for Border Patrol Agents to increase the force and immigration Judges, 4) change of policies for Immigration itself removing unclear policies and increasing ability for legal immigration or work migration.

See photos at: www.davidthomasforashtabulacounty.com/single-post/my-visit-to-the-us-mexican-border

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 and everything in-between, you'll get a great sense of the view from an administrative head in a local community.

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 roles in Washington DC assisting policy to increase business competitiveness and help consumers in addition to his insight for today's technology and information sector. While his background is different from many of our guests, this episode highlights the unique impact federal policy and international relations has in the lives of everyday Americans and local governments. Technology is a growing part of all organizations and the need for American led innovation is important now more than ever.

While talking, we discovered a policy he helped initiate directly benefited Ashtabula County and Ohio's Wine Industry by allowing the shipment of wine across state lines. A perfect example of the benefits of allowing competition and lowering barriers to entry for businesses.