A pair of Democrats are seeking to represent the Ohio House 51st District by facing off in next month’s primary and earn their party’s nod for the November general election.
Amanda Fontana and Angie Hall are vying for the chance to unseat first-term state Rep. Jodi Salvo, a Republican, who was elected to the post in 2024. The two Democrats are set to compete in the May 5 primary election.
Hall and Fontana are both mothers, and both have a special needs child. They said being a teenage mom years ago has helped to build strength and positively grow their lives going forward.
The state’s 51st District covers portions of southern Stark County, including Navarre, Beach City and Brewster, as well as most of Tuscarawas County.
Amanda Fontana wants to boost communities, restore public education funding
Fontana said she wants to represent Ohio District 51 to continue helping her community, which, she said has been there for her during difficult times early in life.
“I was a teen mom and high-school dropout, but went on to earn a GED (general educational development) and degrees in social work,” recalled Fontana, who resides in New Philadelphia. “If there was a public (financial or benefits) system, we were on it.”
Restoring Ohio’s fair school funding program to fully fund public education “is a great equalizer” for youths and families, according to Fontana, who said she would work toward reviving the benefit if elected.
“I want to invest in our people and communities,” said Fontana, a single mother of three children, who are 25, 23 and 11. “We’re absent of fair opportunities and resources.”
Fontana, 44, works as an independent provider through the Ohio Department of Disabilities, and is an adjunct professor at Stark State College in health and public services. She also serves on the New Philadelphia City Schools Board of Education.
If elected, Fontana said, she would promote expanding property tax relief to all Ohioans and broaden credits for older adults or seniors.
“I see people hurting and barely surviving,” she said. “It’s time to have a thriving community with (quality) public education, healthcare affordability and fair housing or rent.”
Angie Hall will fight for better jobs, healthcare for Ohioans
If elected to Ohio House District 51, Hall, who lives in Brewster, said she would advocate for affordable housing, work to ensure health care availability for everyone and quality jobs, while seeking proper funding for public education and trade schools.
“I want to make sure families can afford to work and live well in our communities,” she said. “No more unnecessary tax breaks for wealthy donors and big business. I want to help make life more affordable for working people.”
Hall, 48, grew up in Massillon and graduated from Washington High School in 1996.
Last year, she stepped away from her risk analyst position in the financial industry to focus on state legislation, which included advocating for a bill to prohibit child sex offenders from residing close to parks and playgrounds. Running for public office has become more of a full-time role, Hall said.
“I wasn’t getting (any or proper) responses from our current (state legislative) delegation. So it’s time for regular people to step-up and be a voice for voters,” said Hall regarding her first bid for public office.
Hall is a single mother of six children and has four grandchildren. Her kids range in age from 12 to 31. One is deceased.
Part of her family relocated out of Ohio for better employment and health opportunities, said Hall, adding that her work in the legislature would focus on allowing families to stay home.
“I’m a mom by choice, and a mom for choice,” she said. “Our kids don’t see a lot of the same (job and life) opportunities that we and our parents had. I care about our community growth and safety.”
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Meet the two Dems running to represent Ohio House District 51
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
