Columbus, Ohio – Voters across Ohio will head to the polls on November 3 to elect the state’s next auditor. The race features Republican Frank LaRose, currently Ohio’s secretary of state, and Democrat Annette Blackwell, who serves as mayor of Maple Heights.

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The new auditor will take over from Republican Keith Faber, who is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term and is instead running for attorney general. Both LaRose and Blackwell secured their nominations unopposed in the May primary election.

The Ohio Auditor of State’s office is a significant statewide position, overseeing more than 800 employees and auditing over 5,900 public entities across Ohio. Key responsibilities include investigating the misuse of public funds, identifying potential savings in government operations, and assisting communities experiencing fiscal distress. The auditor also holds one of seven seats on the Ohio Redistricting Commission.

Frank LaRose has served as Ohio secretary of state since 2019, managing elections and business registrations. Before this, he represented parts of Summit and Stark counties in the Ohio Senate from 2011 to 2018. As secretary of state, LaRose established the Public Integrity Division. His priorities for the auditor’s office include aggressively pursuing fraud and expanding performance audits. LaRose aims to standardize financial data from nearly 6,000 public entities and leverage artificial intelligence to detect fraud. He also proposes requiring performance audits for local agencies with significantly higher per-person costs than similar agencies. LaRose is a graduate of Ohio State University and a decorated Green Beret, having received a Bronze Star. He remains a member of the Ohio National Guard.

Annette Blackwell has been the mayor and safety director of Maple Heights since January 2016, currently serving her third term. She made history as the first woman and first Black person elected mayor in Maple Heights. Blackwell’s tenure as mayor includes leading Maple Heights’ recovery plan after the city entered fiscal emergency in February 2015. The auditor’s office released Maple Heights from emergency status in November 2020, and the city has since received multiple state awards for clean audits. Before her mayoral role, Blackwell worked for KeyBank, University Hospitals, Deloitte, and Ryan. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Ursuline College in 2019. Blackwell stated her focus as auditor would be on corruption investigations, taxpayer oversight, and helping communities avoid fiscal distress. She also supports changes to Ohio’s property taxation approach and advocates for fairer maps on the redistricting commission.

Source: NBC4 Columbus — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Codbixiyeyaasha Ohio oo Dooranaya Hantidhawrka Gobolka ee Xiga 3-da Nofeembar: LaRose iyo Blackwell

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Codbixiyeyaasha gobolka Ohio ayaa 3-da Nofeembar u dareeri doona goobaha codbixinta si ay u doortaan hantidhawrka gobolka ee xiga. Tartankan waxaa isku soo taagay Frank LaRose oo Jamhuuri ah, kaasoo hadda ah xoghayaha gobolka Ohio, iyo Annette Blackwell oo Dimuqraadi ah, oo ah duqa magaalada Maple Heights.

Hantidhawrka cusub ayaa bedeli doona Keith Faber oo Jamhuuri ah, kaasoo aan u tartami karin xilka markii saddexaad oo xiriir ah, wuxuuna hadda u tartamayaa xilka xeer ilaaliyaha guud. Labada musharax ee LaRose iyo Blackwell midkoodna ma helin tartan doorashadii horudhaca ahayd ee bishii Maajo.

Xafiiska Hantidhawrka Gobolka Ohio waa xil muhiim ah oo heer gobol ah, wuxuuna maamulaa in ka badan 800 oo shaqaale ah, isagoo sidoo kale hantidhawra in ka badan 5,900 oo hay’adood oo dowli ah oo ku yaalla Ohio. Waajibaadyada ugu muhiimsan waxaa ka mid ah baaritaanka ku takrifalka lacagaha dadweynaha, aqoonsiga keydinta suurtagalka ah ee howlaha dowladda, iyo caawinta bulshooyinka la kulma dhibaatooyin dhaqaale. Hantidhawrku wuxuu sidoo kale mid ka mid ah toddobada kursi ku leeyahay Guddiga Dib-u-qaybinta Degmooyinka Ohio.

Frank LaRose wuxuu xoghayaha gobolka Ohio ahaa tan iyo sanadkii 2019, isagoo maamulayay doorashooyinka iyo diiwaangelinta ganacsiyada. Intii ka horreysay, wuxuu metelayay qaybo ka mid ah degmooyinka Summit iyo Stark ee Senate-ka Ohio intii u dhaxaysay 2011 ilaa 2018. Isagoo ah xoghayaha gobolka, LaRose wuxuu aasaasay Qaybta Daacadnimada Dadweynaha. Mudnaantiisa xafiiska hantidhawrka waxaa ka mid ah la dagaallanka khiyaanada iyo ballaarinta hantidhawrka waxqabadka.

LaRose wuxuu higsanayaa in xafiisku uu xogta dhaqaale ee ku dhowaad 6,000 oo hay’adood oo dowli ah u dhigo qaab isku mid ah, isagoo isticmaalaya sirdoonka macmalka ah si uu u caawiyo baarayaasha inay ogaadaan calaamadaha khiyaanada. Wuxuu sidoo kale soo jeedinayaa in sharci-dejiyeyaasha laga codsado inay waajib ka dhigaan hantidhawrka waxqabadka marka kharashyada hay’adaha maxalliga ah ee qofkiiba ay si weyn uga sarreeyaan kuwa hay’adaha la midka ah. LaRose wuxuu ka qalin jabiyay Jaamacadda Gobolka Ohio, wuxuuna ahaa Green Beret abaalmarinno badan ku guuleystay, isagoo helay Bronze Star. Wuxuu weli xubin ka yahay Ciidanka Ilaalada Qaranka ee Ohio.

Annette Blackwell waxay ahayd duqa magaalada iyo agaasimaha amniga ee Maple Heights tan iyo Janaayo 2016, waxayna hadda ku jirtaa muddadeedii saddexaad. Waxay taariikh ku samaysay iyadoo ahayd haweeneydii ugu horreysay iyo qofkii ugu horreeyay ee Madow ah ee loo doorto duqa magaalada Maple Heights. Muddadii ay duqa ahayd Blackwell waxaa ka mid ah hoggaaminta qorshaha soo kabashada Maple Heights ka dib markii magaaladu ay gashay xaalad degdeg ah oo dhaqaale bishii Febraayo 2015.

Xafiiska hantidhawrka ayaa magaalada Maple Heights ka saaray xaaladdii degdegga ahayd bishii Nofeembar 2020, ka dib markii ay hagaajisay nidaamkeeda xisaabaadka oo ay gaartay ujeedooyinkii waaweynaa ee qorsheeda soo kabashada. Tan iyo markaas, magaaladu waxay heshay abaalmarinno gobol oo isdaba joog ah oo ku saabsan hantidhawr nadiif ah. Ka hor intii aysan noqon duqa magaalada, Blackwell waxay ka soo shaqeysay KeyBank, University Hospitals, Deloitte, iyo Ryan. Waxay shahaadadeeda koowaad ka qaadatay Ursuline College sanadkii 2019.

Blackwell waxay sheegtay in diiraddeeda hantidhawr ahaan ay noqon doonto baaritaanka musuqmaasuqa, la socodka canshuur bixiyeyaasha, iyo caawinta bulshooyinka inay ka fogaadaan dhibaatooyinka dhaqaale. Waxay sidoo kale taageertaa isbeddelka habka canshuurta hantida ee Ohio, waxayna ballan qaadday inay u doodi doonto khariidado caddaalad ah oo ku saabsan guddiga dib-u-qaybinta degmooyinka.

Xigasho: NBC4 Columbus

Ohioans planning to participate in the November 3 midterm elections must register to vote or update their existing registration by October 5 at 9 p.m. This deadline applies to all residents across Ohio, including those in Columbus and Franklin County.

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Voter registration can be completed online or in person. To register, individuals will need to provide their Ohio driver’s license or identification card number, current address, date of birth, full name, and the last four digits of their Social Security Number.

Early voting for the November election is set to begin on October 6. Military and overseas absentee voting has already commenced and will conclude on November 2.

The ballot for the November 3 election features several significant races. Statewide, voters will decide on the next governor, with Republican Vivek Ramaswamy challenging Democrat Amy Acton. The U.S. Senate race pits incumbent Republican Jon Husted against Democrat and former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown.

In addition to these races, Ohioans will vote on Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require photo identification to vote. Some local ballots will also include measures such as school levies and amendments concerning data center construction.

Source: NBC4 Columbus — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Ohio: Wakhtiga kama dambaysta ah ee diiwaangelinta codbixiyeyaasha oo soo dhow

Columbus, Ohio – Doorashooyinka dhexe ee dalka ayaa si degdeg ah usoo dhowaanaya, waxaana dadka degan gobolka Ohio ay haystaan maalmo kooban oo ay isku diiwaangeliyaan si ay uga qaybqaataan codbixinta bisha November.

Si loo codeeyo doorashada Nov. 3, oo ay ku jiraan doorashada guddoomiyaha, Senatarka Maraykanka, iyo xubnaha Congress-ka, waa in la isdiiwaangeliyo. Wakhtiga kama dambaysta ah ee diiwaangelinta codbixiyeyaasha, ama cusboonaysiinta diiwaangelinta hore, waa Oktoobar 5, saacadda 9-ka fiidnimo.

Diiwaangelinta codbixinta waxaa lagu samayn karaa online ama shaqsi ahaan. Si aad online isaga diiwaangeliso, waxaad booqan kartaa website-ka xafiiska Xoghayaha Gobolka. Haddii aad doonayso inaad shaqsi ahaan isdiiwaangeliso, waxaad tagi kartaa xafiiska guddiga doorashooyinka ee degmadaada.

Macluumaadka looga baahan yahay diiwaangelinta codbixinta waxaa ka mid ah: nambarka shatiga darawalnimada Ohio ama kaarka aqoonsiga, cinwaankaaga, taariikhda dhalashada, magacaaga oo buuxa, iyo afarta lambar ee ugu dambeeya ee Lambarkaaga Amniga Bulshada (Social Security Number).

Codbixinta hore waxay bilaabanaysaa Oktoobar 6. Codbixinta maqan ee ciidamada iyo dadka dibadda ku nool ayaa durba bilowday waxaana la soo gabagabayn doonaa Nov. 2.

Doorashadan bisha November waxaa ka mid ah tartanada waaweyn ee gobolka oo dhan. Tartanka guddoomiyaha gobolka waxaa isku haya Vivek Ramaswamy oo ka socda Xisbiga Jamhuuriga iyo Amy Acton oo ka socota Xisbiga Dimuqraadiga. Tartanka Senatarka Maraykanka waxaa ku tartamaya Jon Husted oo ah Jamhuuri hadda haya xilka iyo Sherrod Brown oo ah Dimuqraadi horena u soo noqday Senatarka Maraykanka.

Sidoo kale, dadka degan Ohio waxay u codayn doonaan Qodobka 3 (Issue 3), oo ah wax ka beddelka dastuurka oo u baahanaya aqoonsi sawir leh si loo codeeyo. Qaar ka mid ah codbixinta deegaanka waxaa kaloo ku jiri doona canshuuraha dugsiyada iyo wax ka beddelka la xiriira dhismaha xarumaha xogta.

Xigasho: NBC4 Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new bill introduced this month in the Ohio House of Representatives seeks to ban property tax exemptions for data centers statewide. House Bill 999, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Troy (D-Willowick), would prohibit any state or local agency from granting these tax breaks to data centers.

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Rep. Troy stated that the legislation would not only ban future property tax abatements but also explore the termination of existing ones. He described current property tax incentives for data centers as “unjustified giveaways” and argued that requiring these facilities to pay full property taxes would help reduce the burden on residential property owners.

Rep. Troy has collaborated with state Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson) on efforts to ease property tax burdens for Ohioans. Rep. Thomas echoed the sentiment, stating that if “even the big folks” pay their property tax share, it would lower bills for other property owners.

Tracking property tax abatements for data centers can be challenging because they are typically approved at the local level. However, examples of these incentives are evident in central Ohio. In 2021, Columbus approved a 15-year property tax exemption for a Google data center, an estimated $54 million tax break. In Hilliard, Amazon saved $5.4 million in 2024 by not paying property taxes on its data centers.

New Albany, a significant hub for data centers, often provides property tax abatements for 10 to 15 years to remain competitive with other states. Larger projects in New Albany can receive abatements for up to 30 years, though the city does require a minimum annual payment from these centers based on a specific formula.

A survey published on September 21 by Scioto Analysis, which polled 40 economists from Ohio universities, found differing opinions on the effectiveness of these abatements. Sixty-two percent of economists believe local property tax abatements are effective for attracting new data center development, while 27% disagreed, and five respondents were uncertain.

House Bill 999 goes further than previous legislation, House Bill 646, which considered limiting data center property tax breaks to no more than 50% and requiring enforcement of promises made for tax qualification. House Bill 646 stalled before the summer break due to disagreements over state sales tax breaks.

Ohio also offers a sales tax exemption for data centers that commit to large investments. This exemption is estimated to cost the state $1.6 billion by 2025. In early June, Governor Mike DeWine enacted an indefinite pause on this sales tax exemption for new grantees, although existing agreements remain in effect.

While the Statehouse is scheduled for an emergency session Wednesday to discuss pausing the gas tax, action on data center legislation like House Bill 999 is not expected until after the November election, when legislators return from their break. House Bill 999 is currently awaiting a committee assignment.

Source: NBC4 Columbus — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Sharci Cusub oo Ohio ah oo Doonaya in La Joojiyo Canshuur Dhimista Hantida Xarumaha Xogta

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sharci cusub oo la soo jeediyay bishan gudaha Ohio ayaa doonaya in la joojiyo canshuur dhimista hantida ee xarumaha xogta. Sharcigaan, oo ah House Bill 999, ayaa mamnuuci doona in hay’ad kasta oo gobol ama mid deegaan ah ay siiso canshuur dhimis xarumaha xogta.

Xildhibaan Daniel Troy oo ka tirsan Xisbiga Dimuqraadiga (D-Willowick) ayaa soo jeediyay House Bill 999. Wuxuu sheegay in sharcigiisu uu mamnuuci doono canshuur dhimista hantida ee mustaqbalka, isla markaana uu baari doono in kuwa hadda jira la joojin karo. Xildhibaan Troy ayaa ku tilmaamay canshuur dhimista hantida ee xarumaha xogta inay yihiin “hadayado aan loo baahnayn.”

Wuxuu intaa ku daray in hubinta in xarumaha xogta looga baahdo inay bixiyaan dhammaan canshuuraha hantidooda ay yareyn doonto culayska saaran milkiilayaasha guryaha, isla markaana ay keeni doonto gargaar weyn dhankaas ah. Xildhibaan Daniel Troy wuxuu la shaqeynayay Xildhibaan David Thomas oo ka tirsan Xisbiga Jamhuuriga (R-Jefferson) si loo fududeeyo culayska canshuurta hantida ee dadka reer Ohio.

Raadinta canshuur dhimista hantida ee xarumaha xogta ayaa adag in si guud loo ogaado, maadaama inta badan lagu bixiyo heer deegaan. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, tusaalooyin ayaa ka jira bartamaha Ohio. Sanadkii 2021, magaalada Columbus waxay ogolaatay 15 sano oo canshuur hanti la’aan ah xarun xogta shirkadda Google, taas oo lagu qiyaasay inay tahay canshuur dhimis dhan $54 milyan.

Magaalada Hilliard, shirkadda Amazon waxay kaydsatay $5.4 milyan sanadkii 2024 iyada oo aan bixin canshuurta hantida ee xarumaha xogta. New Albany, oo ah xarun weyn oo xarumaha xogta ah, waxay inta badan bixisaa canshuur dhimis hanti 10 ilaa 15 sano ah si ay ugu tartanto gobollada kale. Mashaariicda waaweyn ee New Albany waxay heli karaan heshiisyo canshuur dhimis ah oo gaaraya ilaa 30 sano, inkasta oo magaaladu ay ka dalbato xarumaha xogta inay bixiyaan lacag sanadle ah oo ugu yaraan ah oo ku salaysan qaacido gaar ah.

Sahamin ay samaysay Scioto Analysis oo la daabacay 21-kii Sebtembar, kaas oo la hadlay 40 dhaqaaleyahan oo ka kala socda jaamacadaha Ohio, ayaa lagu ogaaday in 62% ay u malaynayaan in canshuur dhimista hantida ee deegaanka ay waxtar u leedahay soo jiidashada horumarinta xarumaha xogta ee cusub. Shan qof oo la wareystay ayaa ka warwareegay, halka 27% ay ku raacsanayn in ay waxtar leeyihiin.

House Bill 999 wuxuu ka gudubtaa sharci hore, House Bill 646, kaas oo ka fiirsanayay in la xaddido canshuur dhimista hantida ee xarumaha xogta ilaa 50% oo keliya, isla markaana looga baahdo in la dhaqan geliyo ballanqaadyada la sameeyay. House Bill 646 wuxuu hakad galay ka hor fasaxa xagaaga dheer sababo la xiriira isqabqabsi ku saabsan mustaqbalka canshuur dhimista iibka ee gobolka.

Ohio waxay sidoo kale bixisaa canshuur dhimis iibka ah oo loogu talagalay xarumaha xogta ee ballanqaada maalgashi ballaaran. Canshuur dhimistaan ayaa lagu qiyaasay inay gobolka ku kici doonto $1.6 bilyan marka la gaaro sanadka 2025. Horraantii bishii Juun, Guddoomiyaha Gobolka Mike DeWine wuxuu joojiyay canshuur dhimista iibka ee kuwa cusub, in kasta oo heshiisyada jira ay weli dhaqan yihiin.

Inkasta oo Golaha Gobolka uu qaban doono kulan degdeg ah Arbacada si looga fiirsado joojinta canshuurta gaaska, ma la filayo in wax tallaabo ah laga qaado arrimaha xarumaha xogta ilaa doorashada Nofeembar ka dib, marka sharci-dejiyayaashu ay ka soo laabtaan fasaxooda. House Bill 999 ayaa hadda sugaya in loo qabto guddiga.

Xigasho: NBC4 Columbus

Ohio voters will choose the state’s next attorney general in the upcoming election on November 3. Republican Keith Faber, the current Ohio Auditor, and Democrat John Kulewicz, a member of Upper Arlington City Council, are competing for the position.

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The attorney general serves as Ohio’s chief law officer, representing the state in legal matters and advising the governor, state departments, and the General Assembly. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office employs approximately 1,500 people and oversees various functions, including the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, enforcement of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, management of the state’s debt recovery program, and administration of crime victim compensation programs. The attorney general is elected for a four-year term and can serve up to two consecutive terms.

Andy Wilson currently holds the office, having been appointed by Governor Mike DeWine in May after Dave Yost resigned. Wilson is not seeking election in 2026, and the new attorney general will take office in January.

Keith Faber has served as Ohio Auditor since 2019 and was previously a member of the Ohio General Assembly from 2001 to 2018. He stated that an attorney general “promotes justice” and emphasized his experience as auditor, where he says he convicted over 165 public officials for misuse of public funds. Faber’s campaign initiatives include addressing the drug epidemic, supporting strict border policies, fighting human trafficking, and launching a Health Insurance Denial Resolution Program to assist residents with medical claims.

John Kulewicz has been on the Upper Arlington City Council since 2020. He worked at the Columbus-based law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP from 1981 to 2024, specializing in appellate litigation. Kulewicz describes himself as “a lawyer, not a politician” and an “independent-minded” attorney general. He stated that he believes Ohio needs an attorney general to combat financial crimes, which he views as a significant threat. His proposed initiatives include targeting corrupt politicians, monopolies, scam artists, robocallers, Medicaid providers, and nursing home fraudsters.

Source: NBC4 Columbus — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Doorashada Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee Ohio oo La Qabanayo 3-da Nofeembar: Faber iyo Kulewicz oo Tartamaya

Cod-bixiyeyaasha gobolka Ohio ayaa 3-da Nofeembar dooran doona Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee gobolka. Waxaa xilkan isku haya Keith Faber oo ka socda Xisbiga Jamhuuriga, kaasoo hadda ah Hantidhawrka Ohio, iyo John Kulewicz oo ka socda Xisbiga Dimuqraadiga, oo ah xubin ka tirsan Golaha Magaalada Upper Arlington.

Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee Ohio wuxuu u adeegaa sidii sarkaalka ugu sarreeya ee sharciga gobolka, isagoo matala gobolka arrimaha sharciga ah, sidoo kalena ah la-taliyaha sharciga ee Guddoomiyaha, waaxyaha gobolka, iyo Golaha Guud. Xafiiska Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee Ohio wuxuu shaqaaleysiiyaa ilaa 1,500 oo qof, wuxuuna qabtaa hawlo badan oo ay ka mid yihiin maamulka Xafiiska Baarista Dembiyada (Bureau of Criminal Investigation), dhaqangelinta Sharciga Dhaqanka Iibka Macaamiisha ee Ohio, maareynta barnaamijka dib u soo celinta deynta ee gobolka, iyo barnaamijyada magdhowga dhibbanayaasha dembiyada.

Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud waxaa la doortaa afartii sanaba mar, wuxuuna xilka hayn karaa ugu badnaan laba xilli oo isku xigta oo min afar sano ah. Andy Wilson oo hadda haya xilka ayaa loo magacaabay bishii Maajo ee sanadkan, ka dib markii Dave Yost uu iscasilay. Wilson ma tartamayo doorashada 2026, waxaana Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee cusub uu xilka la wareegi doonaa bisha Janaayo.

Keith Faber wuxuu ahaa Hantidhawrka Ohio tan iyo 2019, wuxuuna hore uga soo shaqeeyay Golaha Guud ee Ohio intii u dhaxaysay 2001 ilaa 2018. Wuxuu sheegay in Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud uu “horumariyo cadaaladda,” wuxuuna xusay waayo-aragnimadiisa hantidhawr ahaan, isagoo sheegay inuu xukumay in ka badan 165 sarkaal oo dawladeed oo ku eedaysnaa musuqmaasuq lacag dadweyne. Ololaha Faber wuxuu diiradda saarayaa wax ka qabashada dhibaatada daroogada, taageeridda siyaasadaha adag ee xuduudaha, la dagaallanka ka ganacsiga dadka, iyo bilaabidda barnaamij cusub oo lagu magacaabo Health Insurance Denial Resolution Program, kaasoo ka caawin doona dadka deegaanka inay fahmaan oo ay xalliyaan arrimaha diidmada caymiska caafimaadka.

Dhankiisa, John Kulewicz wuxuu xubin ka ahaa Golaha Magaalada Upper Arlington tan iyo 2020. Wuxuu ka soo shaqeeyay shirkadda sharciga ee Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP ee Columbus intii u dhaxaysay 1981 ilaa 2024, isagoo ku takhasusay dacwadaha racfaanka. Kulewicz wuxuu isku tilmaamay “qareen, ma aha siyaasi” iyo Xeer Ilaaliye “madax-bannaan.” Wuxuu sheegay in Ohio ay u baahan tahay Xeer Ilaaliye la dagaallama dembiyada maaliyadeed, kuwaasoo uu u arko khatar weyn. Qorshayaashiisa waxaa ka mid ah inuu beegsado siyaasiyiinta musuqmaasuqa ah, shirkadaha keligood ah (monopolies), khiyaameeyayaasha, kuwa wacitaannada otomaatiga ah sameeya (robocallers), bixiyeyaasha Medicaid, iyo kuwa khiyaameeya guryaha dadka waayeelka ah.

Xigasho: NBC4 Columbus