Appalachian Ohio

Democratic Cincinnati City Councilman Seth Walsh and Republican former state Rep. Jay Edwards are competing to succeed term-limited Republican Robert Sprague as Ohio treasurer, a lower-profile office that serves as the state's chief investment officer and banker overseeing roughly $275 billion in assets, including pension board appointments, the Ohio Checkbook transparency tool and programs like STABLE accounts and Ohio Homebuyer Plus.

Both candidates oppose using Ohio's unclaimed funds to help finance a new domed Cleveland Browns stadium in Brook Park; Edwards wants oversight of unclaimed funds moved to the treasurer's office, while Walsh wants to join litigation challenging the funding mechanism. Both also want to direct more state investment toward smaller communities and credit unions. They diverge on the state's roughly $262.5 million in Israel Bonds holdings, with Walsh opposed to prioritizing investment in any foreign country and Edwards favoring decisions based on financial merit. Walsh has criticized Edwards' past ties to convicted former House Speaker Larry Householder; Edwards says he was not involved in the corruption scheme and was not charged.

Ohio voters will choose between Democratic Cincinnati City Councilman Seth Walsh and Republican former state Rep. Jay Edwards to succeed term-limited Treasurer Robert Sprague. The office oversees roughly $275 billion in state investments, manages pension board appointments, the Ohio Checkbook transparency tool, and savings programs including STABLE accounts, Ag-LINK and Ohio Homebuyer Plus.

Walsh, 35, a former NASA-obsessed community development worker turned council member, wants to invest more state money in small communities, join a lawsuit over using unclaimed funds for the new Cleveland Browns stadium, and oppose state investment in Israel bonds. Edwards, 37, a onetime Ohio University linebacker and ally of imprisoned former House Speaker Larry Householder, wants to shift oversight of unclaimed funds to the treasurer's office, supports Israel bonds based on financial merit, and seeks greater transparency for pension retirees. Both candidates oppose using unclaimed funds for the Browns stadium and pledge to use the low-profile office as a more vocal platform on state spending decisions.

Ohio has begun directly certifying and inspecting addiction recovery residences under emergency rules that took effect Aug. 10, following an executive order from Gov. Mike DeWine. A county-filtered search of the state's recovery-housing registry on Sept. 10 listed 131 residences in Cuyahoga County, part of a statewide total exceeding 1,700, up from 356 in 2022. Officials say that growth has come with more uncertified residences and reports of unsafe conditions, mostly in southern Ohio.

Since Jan. 1, 2025, Ohio law generally bars a recovery residence from operating without state certification or accepted accreditation, and registry status determines whether a home can advertise as recovery housing or receive provider referrals. New rules require on-site inspections before certification, set minimum bedroom space standards, mandate round-the-clock staff availability, and bar noncompliant residences from accepting new residents pending renewal. The emergency rules expire after 120 days unless formalized. Separately, House Bill 58, which would codify state certification requirements and create an oversight task force, remains stalled in a Senate committee after passing the House in February.