State Senator Keith Faber

Working Hard for the Citizens of Our District

A Public Servant’s Perspective

Ohio, like most of the nation, has been no stranger to the economic rollercoaster that has spanned the beginning of the 21st Century. Beginning with the recession caused by the warrantless attacks that our nation faced on September 11, 2001 and the recovery that followed, all the way to the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the recession of 2008, Ohioans have been tossed about in an unpredictable economic storm.

Throughout my life, I have always felt a strong calling to care for others and leave our community better than it was when we inherited it. As Americans, we have been immensely blessed to be citizens of a nation, which, at it’s founding, instilled the principles of liberty, justice, and opportunity into its very DNA. As the father of young children, I know that it is now our responsibility to ensure these blessings for those who will come after us. It is for that reason that I joined the state legislature in 2001 as a State Representative and it is the reason that I serve in the Ohio Senate today.

Over the past five years, my work on behalf of the people of the 12th Ohio Senate District has taken me more than 100,000 miles. In 2012 alone, I’ve attended more than 170 committee hearings, senate sessions, and leadership meetings as well as conducted more than 415 meetings with constituents or on constituents’ behalf. I’ve been to more than 25 parades and fairs and presented more than 360 Presidential Commendations throughout our district. Frequently, constituents call my office seeking assistance in navigating the state-government or needing help locating specific personal assistance. This year, my office has worked with more than 70 of these constituents on an individual basis to ensure that the people I represent receive the best-possible customer service from their state government. In total, over the past two years, my office has fielded more than 1,500 concerns over the phone and made contact in writing with more than 1,500 constituents regarding legislative inquiries.

Since becoming your State Senator, I have travelled across our district countless times to spread the message of a smaller, more responsible government and a pro-business, pro-growth economic policy. Some may ask what good has come from all these meetings and travel, but the good is not hard for me to see. These meetings have given me the opportunity to speak individually with countless Ohioans and to take action on their concerns. Whether it is on their front porch, in a town-hall meeting, or just around the district, each conversation helps to me better understand our region and better serve my constituents in the Statehouse.

It can be difficult and frustrating to measure progress while still in the moment, but after time, you can look back and begin to see what your efforts have produced. As we near the end of the legislative session, I would like to do just that. When I took my seat in the 129th General Assembly nearly two years ago, the unemployment for the 7 counties of our district stood at 10%. This rate has free-fallen 3.7 points, and now, the unemployment rating for those same 7 counties is down to 6.3%.

While progress isn’t always visible as quick as we might prefer, it’s clear that we have repositioned the state on the right track and we’re again making real progress toward a more prosperous Ohio. From the elimination of an $8 billion budget deficit and the improvement of Ohio’s credit rating to the elimination of the death tax and the lowering of the state’s income taxes, we have taken many positive steps from the Statehouse towards making Ohio a better place to live, work, and raise a family. It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of the 12th District in the Ohio Senate and I am looking forward to what we will accomplish during the next General Assembly.

Senator Faber represents Ohio’s 12th Senate District, which includes Allen, Champaign, Mercer, Preble, and Shelby Counties, as well as portions of Auglaize and Darke Counties.  He currently serves as President Pro Tempore of the Ohio Senate. Learn more at www.ohiosenate.gov/faber.