Warren County voters will decide two Ohio House contests on Nov. 3. Republican incumbents Michelle Teska and Adam Mathews face Democratic challengers Paul Kurtz and Laalitya Acharya, according to the Dayton Daily News.
The 55th District takes in northern and eastern parts of the county, including Franklin, Springboro, Carlisle and Waynesville; Teska, of Clearcreek Twp., is the incumbent and Kurtz is challenging her. The 56th District covers southwestern and central Warren County, including Mason, Lebanon and Turtlecreek, Deerfield and Union townships; Mathews, of Lebanon, is the incumbent and Acharya is challenging him.
Taxes and school funding are central. Kurtz wants property tax reductions and a review of the assessment cycle, along with expanded Homestead Exemption and a shift of school funding burden back to the state, the newspaper reported. He opposes the current school voucher system and seeks a rollback. Teska backed HB 186 and HB 335, which limited certain school district revenue growth; she voted no on the 2026 state budget, citing a 3.9% spending increase and priorities that included public funding for a Cleveland Browns stadium.
Acharya says property taxes should fall while public schools remain fully funded, and she criticizes state spending choices. Mathews supported flat income tax and property tax cap measures, and backs a school funding formula that rewards growing districts.
On data centers, Teska introduced HB 983 in July, which would require voter approval for large projects, bar property tax abatements and impose environmental and financial responsibility standards, according to the report. Kurtz favors a balanced approach and wants abatement brakes and water and air safeguards. Acharya opposes nondisclosure agreements with hyperscale developers but not an outright ban, and wants incentives restricted. Mathews supports nuclear power and the Ratepayer Protection Pledge.
On housing, Kurtz points to taxes, energy, jobs and child care as affordability factors and backs protections against rental spikes and large-scale property buyers. Acharya wants limits on private equity landholding. Mathews says more supply stabilizes prices and rents, and he backed HB 313 and a workforce housing grant program.