Name: Connie Pillich

Political Party: Democrat

Background:

Background

Pillich started her career in the Air Force. While on active duty, Pillich went to night school and received her MBA. She then went on to graduate from law school at the University of Cincinnati.

In 2008, she was elected to the state legislature and is known as the “bipartisan problem solver,” according to her website. She is currently serving her third term in the 28th Ohio House District in Cincinnati.

Why should I care?

Pillich plans to install an inspector general in the Treasurer’s office for the first time.

She also plans to implement programs in the Treasurer’s office that will help young adults financially, including a program that will make higher education more affordable and help young adults to avoid student loan debt.

For The Students:

“I really want to encourage everyone to vote. It’s one of the greatest privileges we have as Americans, and as someone who has served in the military, I have seen countries where people do not have the right to participate,” Pillich said in a statement. “And the people you will select this year will have the biggest influence on the rest of your college experience and your early years right out of college.”

Name of Candidate: Josh Mandel

Political Party: Republican

Background:

A Marine Corps veteran who served two tours in Iraq, Mandel was elected as Ohio State Treasurer in 2010 and is the youngest candidate in office today. During his time in office, Mandel said, the state’s finances have improved, bringing Ohio from the 43rd to 7th in the nation.

“We improved the bond rating for the first time in a decade for the Ohio Enterprise Bond Fund and we are the only state treasurer’s office in America to win the Association of Government Accountants award for excellence in financial management,” Mandel said in a statement.

Why should I care?

Mandel plans to improve the government’s transparency if he is re-elected.

“I am working on a project right now to book the state’s checkbook online,” Mandel said. “It will be the first time in the state of Ohio where citizens will be able to see every single penny spent in state government and to hold politicians accountable.”

Mandel also is concerned with the cost of higher education for young adults.

“There are way too many young people in our state and country that are graduating with enormous amounts of debt,” Mandel said.

He hopes to bring back trade jobs to Ohio.

“I think we need to recognize the fact that you can be successful without getting a four-year college degree. I think we need to put shop class back in high schools and encourage people to go into a career with technical education and go into the skilled trades,” Mandel said.

Message for KSU Students:

“I am young, and I am even younger looking, and I think the young people of Ohio should vote for me on Tuesday. I understand the issues that young Ohioans are facing and I’ll fight for them and I’ll do it in an environment where they can get a job after they graduate,” he said in a statement.