Ohio's Bios- Insights from Ohio Local Governments

Aug 22 2023 3
Ohio's Bios- Insights from Ohio Local Governments Podcast artwork

Conversations with Ohio Local Government leaders and public servants hosted by Ashtabula County Auditor David Thomas. As you head to work, hear from those who work for you with stories of local government successes, opportunities, and the motivations behind public policy. Learn more about David Thomas at www.davidthomasforashtabulacounty.com. Questions, ideas, or want to learn more? Email [email protected].

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E:14 Brian Walsh and the Plan to Make the Washington DC Air Travel Market More Competitive

Aug 22 2023 18 mins  
Brian Walsh is a former Washington DC Hill Staffer and current spokesman for the Capital Access Alliance (CAA). We spoke about the group's goal for the FAA Reauthorization Bill to make air travel more affordable and accessible to and from Washington D.C. Since the late 1960s, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has been the only airport subject to a federally impos

E:13 Veterans Service Commission- Ben Schwartfigure Director for Ashtabula County

Aug 01 2023 26 mins  
In this episode I speak with Ben Schwartfigure, the Ashtabula County Veterans Service Commission Director, about the services provided to our community's veterans. From health benefits to housing assistance and work with federal and state agencies, the VSC assists veterans everyday. Many are unaware of the programs VSCs across Ohio provide and the federal and state dollars bro

E:12 US Mexican Border Visit- Immigration, Border Security, and a Growing Crisis

Jul 03 2023 28 mins  
This episode is different from others run in Ohio's Bios. For Episode 12 I share about a unique opportunity I had to visit the US Mexican Border in McAllen, Texas to view firsthand the Border Crisis at the southern border, learn how it impacts the entire United States, and determine policies ideas for helping to secure the border. I took this trip led by American's For Pr

E11: Doug Starkey, Ashtabula County Environmental Services Director

Jun 15 2023 28 mins  
Doug Starkey has served as Director of the Ashtabula County Environmental Services for 3 years in addition to his wealth of local government experiences as Fire Chief and City Manager in the City of Geneva. We discuss his perspective of the challenges local governments and residents face and what he has learned in his decades of leadership for Ashtabula County. From water rates to

E10: The Bio of a Landsale

Jun 01 2023 11 mins  
Ohio's Auditors are responsible for vacant and forfeited land auctions. Many residents are unaware of the process of foreclosure and how land becomes available for use after it has been forfeited to the state.

E9: Asheesh Agarwal, Advisor to the American Edge Project and Former Federal Trade Commission & Department of Justice Staff Member

May 14 2023 31 mins  
Asheesh Agarwal is a former assistant director for the Office of Policy Planning at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), staff member at the Department of Justice, and is currently an advisor to the American Edge Project, a coalition of nearly two dozen organizations dedicated to advancing and protecting American innovation and technology. https://americanedgeproject.org/We discuss

E:8 Alex Iarocci, Executive Director of the Ashtabula County Land Bank

May 01 2023 30 mins  
Alex Iarocci is the Executive Director of the Ashtabula County Landbank, a quasi government non-profit organization housed in the Ashtabula County Treasurer's Office focused on revitalizing abandoned and dilapidated properties. We discuss the economic impacts a Landbank can have on a community, the challenges to being largely grant funded, and future goals of development throu

E:7 So my taxes are how much? The Auditor's Role in Property Taxes and Values

Mar 31 2023 23 mins  
In this Episode, Ashtabula County Auditor David Thomas breaks down the role of County Auditors in property values and taxes for Ohio's residents. Learn the process for valuing properties, how tax rates are determined, and the basis of your tax bill originates.

E:6 Deb Friedstrom, Plymouth Township Trustee- Fire and Road Departments, Life of a Trustee, Grassroots Leadershp

Mar 14 2023 34 mins  
Deb Friedstrom is the Township Trustee for Plymouth Township in Ashtabula County and serves as the Township Association President. We discuss her 14 years as a Township Trustee with lessons of cooperation and communication in addition to struggles of a small township with large expenses.

E:5 The Duty of Weights & Measures- Local Government Role in Consumer Protection

Feb 28 2023 13 mins  
Episode 5: March 1st-7th is National Weights & Measures Week. The Auditor's Office is Ohio is responsible for certifying the weight of commercial scales and devices ranging from gas pumps to deli scales, highway truck scales to propane trucks, and everything in-between. Listen in as County Auditor David Thomas describes the role of County Auditor in Weights & Measures