Ohio House of Representatives – 62nd District
Biography:
Ian Schwartz is an Air Force veteran and a proud graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Arts and Sciences, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Philosophy, as well as Northern Kentucky University’s Chase College of Law, where he completed a Master of Legal Studies. He brings experience from his service in the United States Air Force Security Forces, work on a gubernatorial campaign, and hands-on advocacy through volunteering with nonprofit organizations. His focus has been on promoting sensible, evidence-based policy reforms that put people first. Ian and his wife are raising their son in Union Township, Clermont County, where they are committed to building a safe, fair, and thriving future for the next generation. He is running for State Representative in Ohio’s 62nd District to restore trust in public service and ensure government reflects the values of honesty, fairness, and responsibility. He believes public servants should be held to the same standards of accountability, integrity, and moral character that they ask of the communities they serve.
Why are you seeking this office, and what motivates you to serve at this time?
I am seeking this office because I believe government works best when it is grounded in service, accountability, and respect for working families. I was raised in public schools, served in the military, and learned early the value of responsibility and community. At a time when trust in government is strained, I am motivated to bring integrity, practical problem solving, and a willingness to listen to the Statehouse so policies reflect the real needs of the people they affect.
What professional or personal experiences best prepare you to understand the needs of small businesses and employers in Clermont County?
Air Force Security Forces veteran, former gubernatorial campaign director, nonprofit advocate, guided by integrity and grit.
What are your top three policy priorities if elected, and what impact do you expect those policies to have on our region?
My top three policy priorities are expanding access to affordable housing, improving access to mental health care, and addressing food insecurity while strengthening local food systems. Together, these priorities will increase housing stability, improve health and workforce readiness, and ensure families across the region have reliable access to basic necessities. The impact will be stronger, healthier communities, a more resilient local economy, and a region where working families, seniors, and rural residents are not left behind by state policy.
What do you see as the most significant economic challenges facing Clermont County over the next four years, and how should government respond?
Clermont County’s biggest economic challenges over the next four years include rising costs for families, workforce shortages, infrastructure strain, and uneven growth and income inequalities between communities. Government should respond by investing in workforce development, modern infrastructure, and public services that support working families and small businesses. The focus should be on stable growth that strengthens local employers, keeps young people in the county, and ensures prosperity is shared across communities rather than concentrated at the top.
How will you engage with the business community to ensure that taxes, fees, regulatory structures, and public services support long-term economic growth?
I’ll engage the business community through regular, direct dialogue with local employers and entrepreneurs to understand what helps them grow and what creates unnecessary barriers. My focus is on fair, predictable taxes and regulations that are clear and consistently applied. Strong public services like infrastructure, education, and workforce development are not obstacles to growth but essential investments that support long term economic success for businesses and communities alike.
Public trust and collaboration are essential in governing. How would you work with colleagues — including those with differing viewpoints — to advance meaningful policy solutions?
Public trust is built through transparency, respect, and results. I will work with colleagues across the aisle by focusing on shared goals, listening in good faith, and grounding policy discussions in evidence and lived experience. I am willing to collaborate with anyone who comes to the table honestly, but I will not compromise core values or accountability. Meaningful solutions require principled cooperation, clear communication, and a commitment to serving the public rather than partisan interests.
What state-level reforms do you believe are necessary to improve Ohio’s business climate?
Ohio’s business climate improves when the rules are fair, predictable, and applied consistently. At the state level, that means simplifying tax and fee structures, cutting unnecessary bureaucracy for small and local businesses, and ensuring regulations are clear and outcome focused. It also means investing in the fundamentals that businesses rely on such as infrastructure, workforce development, and public education. Long term economic growth comes from stability, transparency, and a skilled workforce, not from shifting costs onto communities.
If voters approve the elimination of property taxes, what specific steps would you take in the General Assembly to address the resulting impact on funding for local governments, schools, and essential public services?
Eliminating property taxes would create a significant funding gap for schools, local governments, and essential services, and that gap would have to be addressed immediately and honestly. In the General Assembly, I would oppose shifting the burden onto working families through more regressive taxes or service cuts. Any replacement must be stable, equitable, and tied to ability to pay, with dedicated funding streams to protect schools and local services. Public services do not disappear when a tax does, and responsible governing means ensuring communities are not left holding the bag.
How do you balance state mandates with local control when it comes to economic development and regulatory policy?
State mandates should set clear, fair baselines, not micromanage local communities. I support local control in economic development and regulatory policy because communities understand their own needs and economies best. The state’s role is to ensure consistency, protect basic standards, and prevent a race to the bottom, while giving local governments the flexibility to innovate and respond to local conditions. The right balance is statewide guardrails with meaningful local discretion.