Jeffrey Crossman is seeking election to Ohio Attorney General.
Why are you running for office, and what previous experience makes you the most qualified candidate for the position?
As a State Representative I've witnessed how dysfunctional our state government has been. There has been zero accountability for the statehouse corruption scandal and our current Attorney General has failed the people of Ohio in this regard. I'm also disgusted at the waste of state tax dollars used by our AG to bring lawsuits that do nothing to help Ohioans and only serve to satisfy the extreme right wing base of the Republican party. The AG's office should minimize the politics in the office and instead return to its core mission to protect Ohio workers and consumers.
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in this position?
Abandon the blatantly political lawsuits filed by our current AG (e.g. his attempt to eliminate the ACA, eliminate restrictions on dangerous firearms, and support for extreme legislation such as the "heartbeat bill" which forces women to give birth to their rapist's baby). I would also focus on holding corrupt politicians accountable and seek state level indictments for them.
What are three policy initiatives you plan to focus on?
Focusing efforts on protecting Ohioans including holding the Sackler family & pharmacies responsible for the opioid epidemic and rooting out the culture of corruption in Columbus.
Protecting workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively.
Environmental justice--protecting our air and water by actually enforcing environmental laws.
Young people are leaving Ohio following graduation at an alarming rate. Several factors contribute to this, including lower wages, a lack of good paying jobs, and college affordability. What can be done to support young Ohioans to keep them, and their talent, in our state?
Ohio used to be #1 in opportunity. People used to move to Ohio because of the good jobs and high quality of life. Ohio is now #1 in the U.S. in state corruption. We can't move Ohio in the right direction, attract businesses, and encourage people to live in Ohio while the state government continues to cheat Ohioans. As AG, I will focus efforts on ending the Columbus Culture of Corruption.
Will you support nondiscrimination policies that protect individuals regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, veterans status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression? If so, how?
The AG stands in a uniquely powerful position to fight against discrimination. I will not only enforce the law, but I intend to foster diversity in the AG's office itself so we can have attorneys from different backgrounds that understand the diversity of communities in our state.
What can the state of Ohio be doing to ensure racial equity and eliminating bias in community policing?
The Ohio Attorney General provides guidance to law enforcement agencies across the state. I hope to be a bridge to bring communities together to address policing issues. Working collaboratively with Prosecutors, police, and local activists to help foster understanding among all interested parties.
Do you support reasonable regulations on firearms in the United States? Please explain in detail.
I support responsible gun ownership and reasonable rules to guide firearm safety. As a legislator, I've opposed eliminating permits for concealed carry and the Ohio "Stand Your Ground" bills because they only encourage more violence. I have co-sponsored legislation to encourage best practices with legislation requiring background checks prior to gun purchases and safe storage laws to protect innocent children from accidental shootings. I would also lobby the federal government to finally eliminate the misguided corporate immunity granted to the gun industry in 2005. I believe that private citizens could help foster best practices with lawsuits against the gun industry if this immunity is finally repealed.
Affordability of health care is one of the most pressing issues facing Ohioans. The quality of care received by patients also remains inequitable, with significant differences in services provided and treatment outcomes by race, income, and geography. What will you do to improve health care access and outcomes for Ohioans?
I first ran for the statehouse on expanding health care access and when I reached the Ohio House I immediately proposed HB 390 which would have enshrined protections for pre-existing conditions which were under threat from the Trump admin. I was (and still am) concerned with people's health care access because health care access equates to a higher quality of life. As AG, I would commission an equal justice initiative on healthcare access similar to what the AG in Massachusetts recently conducted. The AG there provided a detailed report providing the needed background and data for their state legislators to take action to ensuring access to quality healthcare among all communities. A similar initiative is long overdue in Ohio.
Reproductive Health & Education
Please respond "YES" or "NO" to the following questions/statements regarding reproductive health and education:
Do you believe that all individuals should have the right to access safe, legal, confidential and affordable abortion and reproductive health care services?
Yes
Do you oppose attempts to undermine Roe v. Wade through legislation that creates separate legal rights for fetuses distinct from those of a pregnant individual?
Yes
Do you support policies to expand access to contraception, such as requiring insurance companies to cover all federally approved contraceptive methods?
Yes
Do you support comprehensive (age appropriate), medically accurate sex education in schools that is inclusive of resources surrounding contraception, sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), HIV/AIDS, consent and LGBTQ+ identities?
Yes
Ohio's 237,000 chronically ill medical cannabis patients are faced with countless burdens and roadblocks, many of which stem from mismanagement by the three entities governing Ohio's existing program. How would you support improving this process?
I have been a constant supporter of medical cannabis. As a City Councilman in Parma, I led the effort to removing the City's "moratorium" that prevented medical cannabis facilities from petitioning the city to open. As AG, I would ensure that Ohio's cannabis consumers actually have access to their needed medicine and would initiate lawsuits to obtain compliance with the law.
Climate & Clean Energy
Please respond "YES" or "NO" to the following questions/statements regarding climate and clean energy:
Do you recognize the existence of climate change?
Yes
Do you believe the government has a responsibility to respond to climate change?
Yes
Do you support our state government incentivizing the adoption of clean/renewable energy sources over the use of fossil fuels?
Yes
Do you commit to using a union bug on all print materials?
Yes