Ramaswamy pledges biggest property tax cut in Ohio history at Toledo town hall

Republican candidate for governor Vivek Ramaswamy held a town hall Monday at Chevy’s Place in Toledo, outlining his platform and taking questions from voters. Joined by his running mate, state Senate President Rob McColley, and Republican nominee for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District Derrick Merrin, Ramaswamy addressed rising property taxes, education and data centers.

“Do you believe in free enterprise, or do you believe in socialism? Do you believe in success, or do you believe in failure? Do you believe in rampant crime on the streets, or do you believe in law and order?” Ramaswamy said.

On property taxes, Ramaswamy pledged a historic cut.

“By this time next year, when I come back to Toledo, we will have enacted the biggest property tax cut Ohio has ever seen in our history, the biggest property tax cut in any state in the United States of America,” Ramaswamy said.

He also pledged to pursue Medicaid fraud. When an attendee asked if he was committed to that, Ramaswamy responded.

“We can get serious about prosecuting Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse. That’s exactly what we’re going to do starting in January, and keep the billions that we save,” Ramaswamy said.

Ramaswamy was asked about controversial data centers.

“If a data center does not benefit the local community, it’s not going to get built,” Ramaswamy said.

His proposed policy would require free electricity for local communities, ban property tax abatements and NDAs with local governments, and strictly regulate water runoff.

“If they’re going to get built, put them on abandoned industrial sites,” Ramaswamy said.

Outside the event, Ohio Democrats held a counter-protest.

“Affordability is accountability, and that’s why we’re here,” said state Rep. Erika White, D-Springfield Township.

White said the protest was meant to push back against Ramaswamy’s platform and draw attention to kitchen-table economic concerns.

“Which party has been in charge of the state, and how has that helped them get ahead in this economy? And if it’s no longer working, then it’s not ads, it’s about who then are you going to hold accountable to move you ahead for affordability?” White said.

Ramaswamy said his conservative policies will spur job growth and economic success starting on day one.

“When we wake up on the morning of November 4th, we will be well on our way to being the state that the rest of the country actually looks up to,” Ramaswamy said.

Ramaswamy did not take questions from reporters following the event.

According to a recent Bowling Green State University poll, he trails Dr. Amy Acton 48% to 45%. Election Day is six and a half weeks away.