BY JEFF SKINNER

Member of the Ohio House of Representatives Sharan Ray, who represents district 66, will be facing a primary challenge, as local pastor and small businessman Gary Fox has decided to throw his hat into the ring. Fox is a Wadsworth local on a mission to restore conservative values which have, in this day of permitting everything, become revolutionary.

According to Fox, He was approached about running due to a growing concern over how Ray has handled her responsibilities in representing the district and their desires.

“I have been approached at running because [Ray] has been very soft, kind of a status quo type of politician, not really fighting for conservative values in Columbus, voting for increasing the budget and when she attempted to torpedo the Issue 1 vote that was sort of the final straw,” Fox said.

According to Fox, Ray voiced opposition to the Issue 1 vote, which would amend the Ohio Constitution to require over sixty percent support for amendments rather than a fifty plus one vote. According to Fox, Ray was a part of the central leadership team and stopped Issue 1 from being on the Ballot in May 2023. This vote came on the heels of a push by Planned Parenthood to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right in the heartland which Ray proposed to place on the ballot with Issue 1, meaning if they both passed, abortion would become a codified constitutional right unable to be overturned without an over 60 percent vote.

Fox is a graduate of Liberty University where he studied U.S. Government and theology, which he feels forms a coherent base for his perception on government policy. As a former pastor and small business owner, Fox believes his perspective on governance echoes what his district wants.

“I see the intersection because I believe the principles of government are rooted in the belief of order, righteousness and is supposed to support freedom,” Fox said.

This understanding of government is something Fox argues has been lacking on several levels across the state and country, but most especially in Ohio’s 66^th district. According to Fox, Ray’s support of the states increased spending presents a threat to the value of the dollar and will stifle innovation.

“It’s all done in the name of benevolence but it’s just not healthy,” Fox said. “This is a red district and [Ray] won last election 65 to 35, but she isn’t governing as a conservative and there is no reason a district as red as Medina county should have a representative who is moderate at best. We want conservative leadership in Columbus.”

One of the more glaring examples of Ray’s more “moderate” leadership has been her support for covid measures across the state. According to Fox, Ray has supported businesses mandating mRNA injections as long as they are FDA approved and has herself posted social media stating her frustration with the virus and encouraging people to “mask up.” It should be noted that NIH database and a number of virologist and immunologists have stated for years prior the dangers of both mRNA injection and face masks. Conversely, Fox represents a contingent of logic in the discussion on businesses and mandates, which will no doubt speak to those untold masses who lost their jobs due to standing up for their own bodily autonomy.

“If you are going to be mandating that people inject themselves with things, they need to be held liable if there is injury or death and if they aren’t willing to take on that liability then they should not be able to mandate it,” Fox said. “You shouldn’t be able to have it both ways and she believes you should be able to have it both ways.”

Should Fox be successful in his run, one of his top priorities will be attacking the state budget, which is disproportionately dependent on federal aid. According to Fox this funding discrepancy puts the state in a disadvantageous position when it comes to whims of Federal edicts.

“Right now, roughly about 25 percent of our budget in the state comes from a Federal source and that is a recipe for disaster because it comes with mandates,” Fox said. “It gives control from Washington D.C. over Ohio and it’s not healthy and there is going to come a day when the funds from D.C. are going to dry up. If that day comes and we are reliant on them for a quarter of our spending it will be a sad day for Ohio.”

Fox is expected to formally announce his bid this coming week. His campaign will face an uphill battle with the fundraising machine that Sharon A. Ray has at her disposal, including from contributors like Jason Stephens. However, Fox’s run may represent s pivot point of political outsiders returning to the forefront to attempt to take back their local jurisdictions from larger machines. Those wanting to know more about Fox’s run for Ohio’s 66^th district can check out his newly launching website, http://foxforohio.com. The site is expected to go live on Monday, June 26.