Rep. Nan Baker announces re-election bid

State Representative Nan Baker announced her candidacy for representative of the 16th Ohio House District during the 130th General Assembly.

As a small business owner and chairwoman of the House Economic and Small Business Development Committee, Rep. Baker understands that creating an environment to retain, create and bring jobs to Ohio is a number-one priority. In addition to supporting a budget that filled an $8 billion budget hole without raising taxes, she also supported measures to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses, make Ohio’s job-creation efforts more effective with the establishment of JobsOhio, and offer incentives to businesses that have received out-of-state offers in an effort to keep them in Ohio. Keeping American Greetings in Ohio and locating in Westlake is an example of that effort.

She also is a primary sponsor of House Bill 18, which encourages businesses that are expanding their payroll and need more space to locate into a vacant facility. The mass exodus of large and small corporations from Ohio has left behind abandoned and vacant buildings dotting urban, suburban and rural landscapes. New and expanding companies could revitalize these buildings. By occupying locations where businesses have left, companies will be entering economies full of citizens that need jobs and are ready to work.

Areas with high percentages of vacant or abandoned properties are also areas that have high unemployment rates.  Companies expanding into these areas can revitalize the communities and make the local economy enticing for more businesses to enter as well. Expanding into previously abandoned buildings also raises the property value and, therefore, local governments receive a higher return on property taxes. 

“I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to serve our community in the Statehouse and help turn around a state that has given me so much through the years,” Rep. Baker said. “Ohio will certainly face many obstacles ahead, but I am confident that with the right leadership, we can turn this economy around and compete on a national and international scale. Our brightest days lie ahead and I will continue to do my part to put our community back to work."

Rep. Baker has been a business owner for more than 30 years and is former president of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce. She serves on the House Workforce Development Study Committee, which traveled throughout the state to discuss various issues about how to make Ohio a national leader in developing a well-trained and educated workforce. In addition to serving as chairwoman of the House Economic and Small Business Development Committee, she also serves on the Education, Local Government, and Ways and Means committees. Rep. Baker also serves on the Clean Ohio Council, which encourages revitalization of abandoned commercial properties and cleanup of contaminated brownfields.