Cara Jacob

Cara Jacob's career experience includes working as a medical doctor.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a neurologist in Cincinnati, a passionate advocate for my community and a mom of two. In my role as a doctor, I've had the privilege of caring for patients and families from communities across Ohio, and I see how policy impacts their day-to-day lives. That realization turned me into an advocate for policies that expand access to healthcare, strengthen our public schools, protect our democratic process, keep our communities safe, and ensure government works for everyday Ohioans.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Public education: We deserve a legislature that ensures every child no matter their zip code gets a world-class, well-funded public education. Public schools are the backbones of our communities and yet Ohio ranks near the bottom nationally in it's share of state funding for public schools. This shifts the burden onto property taxes to make up those funding deficits and communities keep paying more while getting less. Meanwhile, billions of dollars of taxpayer money are being diverted into an unaccountable, unconstitutional private school voucher program. Public schools educate more than 80% of Ohio’s kids. Funding them appropriately through our state budget should be a top priority.Healthcare access and affordability are under threat. Federal Medicaid cuts, risks to expansion in Ohio, and expiring ACA subsidies put our entire system, especially rural hospitals and clinics operating on thin margins at risk. When facilities close or lay off staff, access to care is diminished, and the costs are shifted back onto everyone in the form of higher insurance premiums. We absolutely have to fight against these cuts at the state level. We also have to stop the attacks on evidence based medicine coming out of the legislature which only serve to drive medical professionals out of Ohio when we already have a growing physician shortage.Tax reform: Families in Ohio are also struggling with rising costs in childcare, healthcare, housing, utilities, property taxes and more. If we want to truly invest in Ohio families, we have to fix our broken tax code. Right now, low- and middle-income families pay a higher share of their income in taxes than the wealthiest Ohioans. That’s the result of nearly two decades of tax cuts for the wealthy & special interests, shifting the burden onto working families, fueling our property tax crisis, & starving investments in the public goods and services that could help Ohioans thrive. When the state refuses to pay its fair share, local communities are forced to make up the difference and every day Ohioans pay more while getting less.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

All of them! This is the honest answer. I pay very close attention to what is going on federally and especially at the state level, as this is where the majority of legislation is passed that impacts our day to day lives.