Brunswick teen running for state representative

BRUNSWICK — While most high school seniors are enjoying time with friends and deciding on a college, one Brunswick High School student is readying a push to become a state representative. Seventeen-year-old Dakota Sawyer has announced intention to run for Ohio's new District 67 House seat as a Republican, already making campaign contribution filings with the Ohio Secretary of State's Office. Under a recommendation from the Medina County Board of Elections, he's awaiting final word on Ohio's new district lines before officially signing on to run as the map remains subject to ongoing court litigation. Sawyer, a speaker at numerous local 9/11 ceremonies and co-host of "Monday Night Roundtable" on WHKW-AM 1220 radio, said he's ready to fulfill a longtime aspiration. "I've been going out and doing a lot of campaigning," he said Monday. "That's involved going to a lot of events and really trying to get my name out there. I've been heavily involved in politics over the past couple of years, volunteering on campaigns. When word started to come out of what the new map was going to look like, I realized there was going to be a vacant seat. I thought about it, talked to close friends about it, and I really knew that Ohio needed change. I finally just said, 'Let's do this.'" The new district will most likely be made up of the city of Brunswick, Medina County's western edge, and Ashland County. Brunswick Mayor Ron Falconi, a fellow Republican, is also running to become District 67 representative and officially unveiled his campaign last week. As it stands, he and Sawyer are the only two candidates who've made plans known to enter the race. "I knew that we need change and that Ohio is going down the wrong path," Sawyer said. "That's something that I'm really passionate about, trying to change Ohio for the better. There's people that go down to Columbus just seeking another job or to enhance their political career. I'm going down there to serve the people and fight for conservative values. It's not about making money or just having the job. I'm young. I'm energetic. I'm ready to work." Doing away with Ohio's commercial activity (CAT) tax for businesses with taxable gross receipts of $150,000 or more per calendar year is one of several policy positions Sawyer delved into while discussing his campaign. "It's very hard to start a business," he said. "We have the CAT tax and the income tax and I'm campaigning on the elimination of both of those. I want Ohio to be a place where you can start your business in an economically friendly environment. That's not the way it is right now. Business development isn't progressing like it used to and people are leaving the state or choosing to not start their business here. That's something I want to change. I want Ohio to be a place you move to, not move out of." While specifying that he does not support creation of a national or statewide universal health care system, Sawyer said he could see himself backing efforts to lower prescription drug prices, especially for widely used medications like insulin. "I support reducing costs that the medical industry has kind of gouged out," he said. "Insulin is really expensive for a family to afford. Something I've been advocating for is reducing medical costs for families so the insurance premiums aren't as high. We see these prices get gouged out on prescriptions and it's not affordable or available for most families. I don't support universal health care but I support lowering those costs." Sawyer credited his radio co-host and godfather, George Csatari, for giving him primary inspiration to make a run for office. "He's really always been my mentor," Sawyer said. "He's really helped me along the way seeing the different sides to each issue and giving me the perspective I need for my campaign. It's helped me develop my policy and what I want to do down in Columbus. I want to go down there to be a fighter and to fight for the values of the people in Medina County and Ashland County, limited government and good business." Contact reporter Jonathan Delozier at (330) 721-4050 or jdelozier@medina-gazette.com.