On Oct. 5, Republican Mike Kahoe and Democrat J. Noah Spinner faced off in a public debate at the East End’s Goodyear Hall in Middlebury. The event, hosted by the Akron Press Club and co‑sponsored by the Akron Beacon Journal, the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, Signal Akron and Ideastream Public Media, gave voters a chance to hear each candidate’s positions on Medicaid, public‑school funding and property‑tax reform.
Candidate backgrounds
Spinner, a graduate of Cuyahoga Falls High School, entered the race after his late wife, Shelby Lynne Stevens Kennedy Spinner, died of colorectal cancer in April 2024. He described the personal struggle of affording chemotherapy and other living costs, noting that he and his wife had to fight the state to secure Medicaid and disability benefits. Spinner framed his candidacy as a fight for families who must choose between health care and basic expenses.
Kahoe, a lifelong Northeast Ohio resident, first entered public service in 2019 when he was elected to the Revere school board, becoming the youngest elected official in Ohio. He later served on the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center board and worked on statewide workforce, education and economic‑development initiatives. Kahoe said he is running to stop the out‑migration of residents by creating good jobs and affordable housing.
Key issues discussed
Medicaid and health‑care costs – Spinner recounted his family’s battle with insurance companies and state agencies, urging the next representative to protect Medicaid eligibility and curb rising health‑care expenses. Kahoe did not directly address Medicaid but emphasized the need for a strong economy to help families afford health care.
Public‑school funding – Both candidates agreed that Ohio’s schools have suffered under decades of funding erosion. Spinner cited the 1997 DeRolph decision, which declared the state’s school‑funding formula unconstitutional, and called for a return of full funding to the state’s budget. Kahoe highlighted CareerTech programs, arguing that more career‑technical education and resume‑building for graduates will better prepare students for the workforce.
Property taxes and housing – Kahoe proposed increasing the supply of workforce housing for young people and working families, banning corporations from buying single‑family homes, and expanding state energy production to lower utility rates. He said these steps would make homes more affordable and keep residents in Northeast Ohio.
Public safety – Kahoe stressed support for law‑enforcement and the need to incarcerate violent criminals, while Spinner focused on broader community well‑being through better schools and health care.
Debate format and audience participation
Questions were submitted by attendees, entered into a random drawing, and answered in two‑minute slots. Moderators Cheryl Powell (Beacon Journal Executive Editor) and Andrew Meyer (Ideastream Public Media deputy news editor) allowed one‑minute rebuttals but did not take live audience questions. Each candidate concluded with a one‑minute closing statement.
What’s at stake
The District 31 seat has been open for the first time since 2019 after incumbent Bill Roemer announced he would not seek re‑election. The district covers much of northern and western Summit County, including Norton, Barberton, Copley, Fairlawn, Peninsula, Cuyahoga Falls and Bath Township. Voters will decide which vision—Kahoe’s focus on job creation, workforce housing and law‑and‑order, or Spinner’s emphasis on health‑care access and fully funded public schools—will guide the next state representative.
The debate underscored the importance of local engagement in shaping policy that directly affects families, schools and neighborhoods across Summit County.
Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.
