State Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, is seeking her second two-year term in the Ohio House with Republican Emily Ciccone of Austintown challenging her in the Nov. 5 election.

McNally, a former Youngstown councilwoman, has represented the 59th Ohio House District since January 2023. Because of redistricting, she is running in this election for the 58th District seat with new boundaries.

Should McNally win, she would continue to represent Youngstown, Poland and Coitsville, and would add Austintown, Jackson, Milton, Lowellville and Craig Beach.

Also, the district becomes significantly more Democratic based on partisan statewide voting results during the past decade. McNally’s current district favors Democrats by 3%. The new district favors Democrats by more than 21% based on those same voting results.

Ciccone, a political newcomer, filed as a write-in candidate in the Republican primary and got enough votes to be the party’s nominee on the general election ballot.

Ciccone said her top priorities are to represent the people of the 58th District and not special interests, expand educational choice and access to quality education and support small businesses.

McNally said her top priorities are education and outreach, helping local government agencies and supporting family values.

McNALLY PRIORITIES

McNally said her focus is on education from kindergarten through career employment.

She said she will accomplish that by working with boards of education in her district to enrich them with state assistance as well as focusing “on partnering with workforce agencies, business associations and trade unions to provide alternative education opportunities and career paths for our children.”

Also, McNally said she will continue to work with community leaders to create a regionalized, job-ready workforce.

McNally said she wants to help local government agencies “make sure local money stays local.”

That includes, she said, ensuring all public entities that received American Rescue Plan funds have the ability to enhance those dollars with state grants and programs, partnering with entities such as the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, Economic Action Group and the Western Reserve Port Authority “to spur development.”

McNally said she wants to “bring together the public entities and the quasi-public entities and work towards creating regionalized infrastructure and economic development plans that capitalize on our resources.”

McNally said, “Family values must be at the core of everything we do,” but “it’s more than just family values that we need to hold on to and appreciate. It’s also the value of all we have in this Valley – our rich history, natural resources and our local treasures.”

That means, she said, “bringing program dollars back home and engaging with state agencies to ensure aid and preservation.”

CICCONE PRIORITIES

Ciccone said a main reason she is running is “I believe the people of Mahoning County deserve a representative who not only listens to them, but is one of them.”

She added: “I will work for the people of the 58th District by being accessible, transparent and accountable. Whether it’s standing up for local jobs, protecting parental rights or fighting to improve the education of all children, I am here to represent you.”

Ciccone said she wants parents, and not the government, to have the ultimate say in where and how their children are educated.

“I will work tirelessly to expand school choice options, such as vouchers and scholarship programs, so families have the power to choose the best educational environment for their children,” she said. “I’ll fight for increased support and resources for private schools and homeschooling families to ensure they provide a high-quality alternative to the traditional public school districts.”

Ciccone said she wants to work on legislation that not only strengthens public schools, but holds them accountable for results.

Regarding strengthening the economy, Ciccone said she wants to help small businesses thrive.

“If elected state representative, I will prioritize economic policies that support and protect small businesses, which are essential for a strong local economy,” she said. “I plan to push for tax relief and other incentives that make it easier for new businesses to start and succeed.”