Jake Kielmeyer, a lifelong Wood County resident, entrepreneur, and community advocate, has announced his candidacy for Ohio State Representative in District 75.
Kielmeyer said he is running to bring bold, community-first leadership to the State House, fighting for families, workers, and seniors of Wood County who he says have been left behind by Columbus politicians beholden to special interests and the wealthiest Ohioans.
The campaign will officially kick off on April 15, from 5-7 p.m., at Juniper, 145 S. Main St. in Bowling Green. The event is open to the public. Additional information about the campaign, including volunteer opportunities and donation details, will be available at jakeforohio.com, as well as on the campaign’s Instagram, @jakeforohio, and Facebook page, Jake for Ohio.
“I believe we can make a better Ohio. Wood County is facing real challenges, and we need leadership that puts our families, communities, and businesses first — replacing the divisive and extreme politics that are unrelated to our everyday lives. I’m running because I believe that, by working together, we can defend our fundamental American freedoms, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that every resident has a fair shot at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Kielmeyer was born and raised in Bowling Green, where he played t-ball at Carter Park and attended Bowling Green City Schools. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Pre-Business Law from Bowling Green State University.
Following graduation, Kielmeyer founded Nostalgia Therapies, a memory therapy startup. He later served as an associate product manager at an education technology company in Denver, Colorado, where he managed a suite of digital products and accounts that he said generated more than $2.3 million in annual revenue.
When the pull of home proved stronger than the allure of his career in Colorado, he returned to Wood County, where he now works at a business brokerage startup by day and as a waiter at a local restaurant by night.
Kielmeyer said the challenges facing Wood County are urgent. Jake understands that Wood County residents need affordable housing, healthcare, public utilities and groceries to be able to provide for their families.
As a state representative, Kielmeyer said he will fight to build strong local governments and will support restoring Local Government Funds, which is a designated share of state revenue distributed to local entities. These funds sustain essential services including police officers, EMTs, firefighters, public parks, public libraries, developmental disabilities and mental health boards, and services for veterans and seniors.
Kielmeyer also supports full implementation of Ohio’s Bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP) signed into law in July 2021, ensuring public schools receive equitable and sustainable funding. He said lawmakers have not fully funded the plan, leaving districts to rely heavily on local levies.
Kielmeyer also advocates modernizing Ohio’s energy infrastructure and strengthening renewable energy development. He supports removing regulatory barriers to solar projects. Wood County is home to major solar manufacturing operations, including three First Solar facilities, a research and development center, and the Pilkington Glass plant in Northwood.
Kielmeyer supports reform for the regulatory agency, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). In 2019, House Bill 6 authorized a $1.3 billion bailout for nuclear power plants and later became tied to a $61 million dark-money scandal involving First Energy. It is the biggest bribery scandal in Ohio history. He believes PUCO Board members should be elected and be required to file full financial disclosure statements to ensure public transparency and accountability for ratepayers.
“My race is about ‘we the people’ — people on the frontlines, people trying to get ahead, and people who want a better life for their children,” Kielmeyer said. “Wood County deserves a public servant focused on the common good, not a politician. I will be their voice for change.”
Link:
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