Taylor Sappington is seeking election to Ohio Auditor.
Why are you running for office, and what previous experience makes you the most qualified candidate for the position?
I’m Taylor Sappington, currently serving as the City Auditor of Nelsonville Ohio. On day one in office, I launched an investigation into our city finances after finding emails and financial records illegally wiped. This led to the largest fraud bust in our City’s history. Shortly after, we got notice that the census count had led to a possible reduction in our city status which would have led to a decrease in state funding and lost our city employees’ ability to unionize. I led the effort to recount our city which led to us retaining our status as a city.
I’m one of the youngest and the first openly gay candidate for Statewide Office in Ohio’s history. I come from a working class, union background. I was raised by my single mother in a trailer on a hillside in Appalachian Ohio. All of this taught me the difference between right and wrong, which is something I think a lot of politicians are lacking. I understand at a personal level the troubles that are plaguing so many marginalized Ohioans in a way that most politicians never can.
I balanced the books and caught the crooks in my hometown, and that’s exactly what I plan to do for the state of Ohio as well.
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in this position?
I hope to help put an end to the culture of corruption that's plaguing the state of Ohio. At every level, politicians across the state have been found to be behind scandal after scandal, and everyday Ohioans are left to pick up the bill. We deserve an auditor who is committed to fighting back against this.
What are three policy initiatives you plan to focus on?
Getting to the bottom of the First Energy bribery scheme.
Ensuring Ohioans have fair districts with the Auditor's vote on the Redistricting Commission.
Forming an anti-corruption task force on day one.
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?
Student loan support, lower tuition cost, a new age economy that works for Ohio, aid for first time home buyers, and giving young people a government they know, trust, and can depend on.
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?
Yes. I’ll support them in the office for the roughly 800 employees and advocate for them in the statehouse for employees around the state.
What can the state of Ohio be doing to ensure racial equity and eliminating bias in community policing?
Fully fund training. Reconciliation and accountability with the community. Diversity in leadership and chiefs, ensuring that the force looks like the community they’re serving in.
Do you support reasonable regulations on firearms in the United States? Please explain in detail.
Yes. We should support common sense regulations which include: universal background checks, make gun trafficking a federal crime, cooling off periods, temporary removal of guns from people in crisis, allowing CDC to study gun violence, and cracking down on the black market for guns.
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’m an advocate and supporter of universal healthcare, and particularly public option healthcare, and I have run on it.
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 would support legalization and expungement for nonviolent crimes vocally. If entities governing the existing program need investigating, I would be happy to do so and find out what’s going on.
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