Kent Smith News

As a Member of the Ohio General Assembly, I know that Ohioans are facing a variety of challenges from this ever-changing public health crisis.  But using the simple lessons of the “how to eat an elephant” story (one bite at a time), let me offer the five different areas of public policy challenges and what my colleagues and I will be working on in the early stages of this struggle.

The new Coronavirus has spread rapidly across the globe.  In less than two months, it has reached over 135 countries and infected more than 160,000 individuals.  Diseases do not stop at state or international borders.  It has come to Ohio and it is a public health emergency.  We dare not underestimate it.

COLUMBUS- State Reps. Joe Miller (D-Amherst), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) and Kent Smith (D-Euclid) today announced legislation that would require one-time performance audits of school districts with a current Academic Distress Commission (ADC). 

COLUMBUS- State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) today released the following statement regarding Senate Bill (SB) 89, which incorporated an amendment to dissolve Academic Distress Commissions, including in East Cleveland City Schools. It passed the Ohio House Wednesday.

State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) today sent a letter to the members of the House Bill (HB) 9 Conference Committee urging them to include in the bill language to remove East Cleveland and Youngstown schools from state control. The Senate-passed version of the bill had included a provision to restore local control only to Lorain schools.

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio—Tuesday, state Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid), Sen. Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights), Ohio Governor Mike DeWine,and Mayor Brandon King (D-East Cleveland), with East Cleveland leaders, visited the site where 36-year-old resident Terra Nolden was killed on Dec. 30 to discuss efforts to increase public safety in the community.

State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) and State Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon), who serves as Ranking Member on the Committee of Primary and Secondary Education,issued statements today concerning the immediate need to fix the state’s EdChoice voucher program.

State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) spoke on the Statehouse Floor on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, in opposition to House Bill 242 which would prevent local governments from enacting plastic bag bans and other similar legislation.

State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) today unveiled a new District 8 Legislative Survey following his Ohio Promise town hall tour.

“The Legislative Survey provides the opportunity for you to share your opinions and concerns as we head into the final 14 months of the 133rd General Assembly,” said Rep. Smith. “The survey is a ten questions and should only take a few minutes to complete. Feel free and share the survey with your friends and family.  The more responses the better.  So grab a computer, get online and tell me what you are interested in. After all – I work for you.”

The District 8 Legislative Survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KMCXXQZ 

“If for some reason the link gets removed or expires, please contact my Columbus office at 614-466-5441 and we will direct you to the most current online survey link,” said Rep. Smith.