Kelly Hunter Kalagidis

Scientific evidence and technical expertise are valuable tools God has given us to understand the natural world, steward resources wisely, and protect human life. In policymaking, data and expert input should serve as a practical guide to help us address complex challenges in health, energy, and technology with wisdom and care. However, technical data alone cannot replace ethical leadership. As elected leaders, our responsibility is to weigh expert advice against core moral principles—such as protecting fundamental freedoms, serving the vulnerable, and maintaining economic fairness. Experts inform the options, but leaders remain directly accountable to God and the people for the final decisions and their trade-offs. When communicating uncertainty or changing evidence, I believe in radical honesty and humility: Truthfulness: Acknowledge upfront what the data shows and where the limits of current knowledge lie. Humility: Admit when new information requires adjusting course, explaining clearly why the policy is changing so people are treated with respect rather than managed. Clarity: Translate technical concepts into plain, truthful language that builds public trust rather than confusion.

God calls us to be wise stewards of His Creation and faithful protectors of our neighbors. Rapid technological growth should never compromise our grid, drain our water supply, or burden hardworking families. To balance AI growth with community stability, I support three key priorities: Protect Local Resources: Data centers must fund their own utility upgrades and recycle water so residents don’t face higher bills, dry wells, or power outages. Uphold Local Control: Over 100 Ohio communities placed moratoriums because their voices were ignored. Local towns must keep the final say over what gets built in their backyards. Corporate Accountability: No tax breaks without binding commitments to local jobs and complete off-setting of their resource strain. True progress honors both economic opportunity and our moral duty to protect our homes, families, and resources.

Government research funding should serve as a tool for human flourishing, life-saving innovation, and practical economic strength—not administrative waste or ideological agendas. To ensure research dollars truly serve Ohioans, I support three simple priorities: Practical, Life-Saving Results: Direct funds toward medical cures, advanced manufacturing, and energy independence that directly improve lives and strengthen local jobs. Strict Taxpayer Accountability: Demand full transparency, merit-based grants, and clear benchmarks so public money delivers real results rather than administrative overhead. Moral and Ethical Integrity: Ensure all publicly funded research respects human dignity, protects the sanctity of life, and maintains strong ethical guardrails. Targeted research investments must reflect both fiscal responsibility and our moral duty to serve our neighbors.

A wise workforce policy balances national security and legal order with the Christian principle of stewarding talent and treating law-abiding neighbors with fairness. To address shifts in international STEM talent and protect Ohio’s economy, I support three key priorities: Invest in Local Talent First: Ohio must expand STEM education, trade programs, and apprenticeships to ensure our own students are equipped to fill high-tech workforce gaps. Keep Proven Talent Here: Foreign students who learn in Ohio, follow our laws, and contribute to vital research should have clear, merit-based pathways to stay, work, and strengthen our local economy. Firm Security with Clear Rules: National security and intellectual property protection are vital. Vetting must be thorough, but rules should be clear and fair so law-abiding students are treated with dignity. True stewardship means cultivating local talent while welcoming the global expertise needed to keep Ohio competitive.