Voters Guide: Turner vs. Esrati in race for Montgomery, Greene seat in Congress

All candidates for local, state and federal office were sent the same series of questions by the Dayton Daily News. Our goal was to help voters make informed choices in the Nov. 8 election (early voting for which began Oct. 12).

The redrawn 10th U.S. Congressional district covers all of Montgomery and Greene counties, plus much of south and central Clark County. This race is between incumbent Republican Mike Turner and Democratic challenger David Esrati. The candidates’ answers are below, in their own words. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

David Esrati

Residence: Dayton

Organizations, boards, previous elected positions: Historic South Park, President, VOB-108 founder and XO, Montgomery County Democratic Party Precinct Captain and Ward Leader, Cincinnati Ad Club

Education: Bachelors of Science, Wright State University, US Army, enlisted, 05B1A4P (communications, morse code, Paratrooper)

Current employment: Chief Creative Officer, The Next Wave Marketing Innovation : owner

Why are you seeking elected office: Jan 6, 2021 made it clear that our country is divided and we need new leadership with new ideas. We need honest people who are good communicators, who can work with others to move our country forward. I believe in age limits for elected officials and appointed judges (70) and taking the money out of politics.

Why should voters elect you: Mike Turner hasn’t had a town hall in 20 years, he’s funded by 19 out of state Billionaires and is out of touch with the working class. I’ve been a Community Activist, Citizen Journalist, Neighborhood leader, and change agent in Dayton for the last 30 years. I know how to communicate with constituents and engage them daily (I’ve been doing daily (M-F) interactive livestreams on Youtube at 4pm for months now- and will continue once elected). I have new ideas on how to streamline government, tax collection, government funding, health care, and even our courts. It’s time to have leaders that work for us, not just for the base. People that know me will always say I’m the most honest person they know.

If elected, what will be your top three priorities? Restore Roe-v-Wade Nationally. Choice is a decision between a woman and her doctor.

Create a donor registration system to report in real time and make it clear who is buying your representative.

Responsible gun ownership.

What specific plans do you have to address those top priorities? Work with more senior representatives to help them craft more cohesive, understandable messaging. Find support to build a true national open source voter information system so that we can take the money out of politics. Teach others in Congress how to effectively communicate using modern technology to keep in touch with constituents.

Anything else you would like voters to know? Our government was built on trust and respect, it seems to have been squandered by people more interested in holding onto power, than using it for good. We need to build new systems for transparency and efficiency using modern technology to engage and lead for the people by the people. I’ve set up 2 non-profits over the last 5 years to explore new ways to elect people and to govern transparently. See www.modernpolicy.org and www.reconstructingdayton.org I see a different future for elections and how voters are informed and represented. It scares the pants off the establishment which has run party politics like a “friends and family plan.”

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Michael R. Turner

Residence: Dayton

Organizations, boards, previous elected positions: Representative of Ohio’s 10th Congressional District 2003-Present; Mayor of Dayton 1994-2002

Education: BA- Ohio Northwestern University; MBA- University of Dayton; JD- Case Western Reserve University; Doctorate of Liberal Studies- Georgetown University

Current employment: Representative of Ohio’s 10th Congressional District

Why are you seeking elected office? Improving and working for the Miami Valley region is my top priority as the Representative of Ohio’s 10th Congressional District. You cannot drive through this district and not see some area in which I have impacted the community. Whether it’s the Schuster Center, Riverscape, the baseball stadium, the mound development in Miamisburg, or the emerging developments in Trotwood and West Carrollton, I am active in starting and funding countless projects to improve the community.

Why should voters elect you? My priority is to continue to work for you. The geographical lines of a district map do not impede the economic impacts from spreading beyond into the greater region which is why I work for the greater Miami Valley region and is seen by the countless projects I have had the honor of working with and funding.

However, my work advocating on behalf of the region in Congress is far from over. As a senior member on the House Armed Services Committee and Lead Republican on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have the unique ability to match our national defense needs with Ohio’s capabilities on all fronts. When I was first elected, there were 19,000 people inside the fence at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and today there are over 33,000 jobs at Wright-Patt and we continue to grow them.

If elected, what will be your top three priorities?

-Continuing growth at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

-Economic development and job creation around the region

-Working to tame the inflationary impact of Biden’s economic policies

What specific plans do you have to address those top priorities? We must reign in the out-of-control spending policies by this administration, expand energy production for American energy independence, and make sure our border is secure. We must ease the transition from unemployment to employment by creating a smoother, less drastic difference in benefits. This would not only combat the inflationary pressures felt by individuals having to pay more, but would incentivize people to re-enter the workforce, growing the overall economy.

I will continue to pursue cutting edge, innovative technology for Wright-Patt that improves our national defense capabilities while making Wright-Patt a premier location for future defense missions.

Anything else you would like voters to know? My office can advocate on behalf of constituents with federal agencies, helping with everything from IRS issues to veterans to the U.S. Postal Service. It’s truly the most fundamental work my office does - helping individuals navigate the bureaucracy of government.