Christopher Elder

Christopher Elder earned a high school diploma from Paulding High School. Elder also attended Bowling Green State University and Mount Vernon Nazarene University. His career experience includes working as a mental health professional.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I work in residential services for boys with behavioral challenges. I observe and teach to behaviors using a researched and proven method called the Teaching Family Model. I love animals and have a variety of pets. I enjoy playing Magic: the Gathering and volunteering in my community.

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?

Strong Local Government: You and I as neighbors is the best way to live life. Shifting more decisions back to local governments and communities is essential for bringing us together and eliminating waste, fraud, and overreach at the State level. Rolling back laws that infringe on our basic liberties is a priority. As a candidate who is not a member of the two major parties, I have virtually no major loyalty to anyone aside from my constituents.Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) and Recalls: Your voice and your vote matter. If you have ever used the phrase, "I voted for the lesser of two evils," this issue is for you. RCV gives voters the option to rank their vote and be more satisfied if their first choice is not the winner. It also prevents a candidate from winning without achieving 50% + 1 of the overall vote. Additionally, Ohio has no plan in place to allow elected officials to be removed from office or replaced if they fail their constituents. Once a politician is in office and feels safe, it is easier for them to ignore their commitments and the will of you, the voter.Affordability: Life is hard. We pay way too many taxes and are controlled by far too many bureaucracies. Eliminating the property tax will end the subscription service homeowners pay to continue living in their homes. It will also help lower the bill for many renters who are footed with paying the tax for their landlords. Local communities can come together to fund or establish a means of funding their local services. Additionally, funding schools by the student will allow equal access to resources and materials instead of leaving poor or rural districts without the same opportunities just because of zip code.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Local government is the foreground for the type of country we live in. Elected officials are there to represent the people, not to serve interests of groups or individuals that give them the most money. I want to work with my constituents to bring their immediate concerns directly to the Statehouse. Any laws that punish you for doing something that is not a crime or does not result in a victim should not exist. Additionally, healthcare (which includes mental and behavioral health) should not be a concern for Ohioans. You should not have to sacrifice care for yourself because of you job title or ability to contribute to society. The government should not run a program for healthcare, but it should certainly support all people receiving it.