DELAWARE — Two candidates are seeking the seat for Ohio House of Representatives District 60: Democrat Shelby Kimball and Republican incumbent Republican Brian Lorenz.
Voters will decide the race in the Nov. 3 general election.
Lorenz, 53, served on Powell City Council from 2010 until his appointment to the Ohio House in 2023. He was Powell’s mayor from 2016 to 2017.
He was officially sworn into the District 60 seat in May 2023 after the death of state Rep. Kris Jordan that February. In November 2024, Lorenz defeated Democrat Rachael Morocco to win a full two-year term.
Lorenz defeated Peggy Guzzo in the May Republican primary, receiving 77.2% of the vote. If reelected, he would serve his second full term.
Kimball, 34, said she served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard for nearly a decade.
As a state advocate for the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias, Kimball works to elevate the voices of patients and caregivers and improve access to specialized health care, according to her campaign website.
Kimball defeated Eli Wenzel in the May Democratic primary, receiving 53.1% of the vote.
Delaware Source sent each candidate the same list of questions. Their responses, which have been edited for length, appear below.
Experiences that prepare you for District 60
Kimball said her military background has shaped her into the leader she is today.
“Military service taught me discipline, accountability, and how to lead in spaces where I wasn’t always the favorite voice in the room,” Kimball said. “I learned how to respectfully challenge decisions, identify gaps, and speak up when something wasn’t working.
“Most importantly, I learned that leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about having the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable.”
She also credits her time as a state lead for the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias advocating directly with Washington D.C. lawmakers “to advance legislation and give a voice to individuals and families affected by congenital conditions.”
“I’m also a mother of four,” Kimball said. “I understand the challenges of raising a family, managing a household, navigating healthcare, and advocating for my children’s education and well-being.
“I coach youth sports, volunteer in our schools, and remain actively involved in my community. These aren’t experiences I’ve learned about through policy briefs. They’re experiences I have lived.”
After repeatedly watching state legislature “disregard the will of voters,” Kimball said she reached her “breaking point” and thus decided to enter the District 60 race.
“I didn’t enter this race because I wanted a political career,” she said. “I entered because I believe public service is a responsibility, and when the people in power stop listening, it’s time for someone willing to challenge them to step forward.”
Being the incumbent representative, Lorenz pointed to that as a key experience he’s been campaigning on.
“I bring experience doing the work this office requires: passing legislation, securing resources, helping constituents and representing Delaware County in state budget decisions,” Lorenz said.
“My three decades as a city and regional planner gave me practical experience with growth, housing, transportation and infrastructure. I understand how state decisions affect local budgets, neighborhoods and families because I have worked on those issues from both sides.”
Lorenz added that he sought this office to give the District 60 communities “an experienced advocate in Columbus.”
“Since taking office, I have supported historic increases in local school funding, voted for property tax relief and helped enact Braden’s Law and Keith’s Law,” he said. “My work on suicide prevention and men’s wellness reflects that same commitment to protecting families.
“I believe Delaware County residents should guide their communities’ future. I am proud to have the support of local elected officials who know my work and trust me to be their partner at the Statehouse.”
Top two legislative priorities
Lorenz said his two priorities are “protecting taxpayers and securing a fair share of state education funding.”
He said both require “local control.”
“On property taxes, I will pursue an expanded homestead exemption and stronger protections against sudden, unaffordable increases,” Lorenz said. “Residents should not be priced out of homes they have spent decades paying for. Reforms must also preserve essential services and local voters’ authority over local levies.
“On education, I will build on the funding increases I have already supported. The 2023 budget brought a 75% increase in Olentangy’s state funding,” Lorenz continued. “I will pursue changes to funding limits that disadvantage growing districts and make sure state support reflects enrollment and the actual cost of educating students.”
He said his goal is to achieve a stronger state contribution that takes pressure off local taxpayers while keeping local decision making.
“Delaware County’s parents, educators and elected school boards deserve a strong voice in our schools,” he said.
Kimball said her two legislative priorities are providing meaningful property tax relief and fully funding Ohio’s public schools.
“Families across Delaware County are feeling the strain of rising property taxes, and homeowners deserve some breathing room,” she said. “At the same time, our public schools deserve the resources necessary to provide every child with a quality education, regardless of their ZIP code.
“We should not have to choose between the two.”
Kimball said she supports fully implementing and maintaining “the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan.” She said she’d utilize accurate data and updated costs to make sure the state pays its fair share.
“I do not support eliminating property taxes without a responsible plan to replace the funding that schools, emergency services and other essential local services depend on,” Kimball said.
“Doing so would create serious consequences for the very communities we’re trying to help. I also recognize that increasing state school funding does not automatically reduce existing property tax levies.
“That’s why I would pursue additional relief at the state level, including targeted property tax credits and expanded relief for seniors and homeowners on fixed incomes, while working with local governments and school districts on sustainable solutions.”
Kimball said her goal is for Ohioans to be able to afford staying in their home and ensuring every child has access to a well-funded public education.
Potential changes to Ohio’s property tax system
Beyond her previous comments on property taxes, Kimball said she’d also support expanding the Homestead Exemption particularly for seniors and individuals on fixed incomes.
“[I’d also explore] state-funded property tax credits to provide more immediate relief,” she said.
“Our goal should be a fairer, more sustainable system that allows Ohioans to afford to stay in their homes while ensuring our communities have the resources they need to thrive.”
Kimball added that by increasing the state’s share of public education funding and providing state-funded tax relief, the burden on homeowners will decrease without putting the burden elsewhere.
“My priority is ensuring families can afford to stay in their homes while our schools, first responders, and local services continue receiving the resources they need,” she said.
Lorenz said a higher property appraisal should not automatically produce a tax bill a family can’t afford.
He explained how he has already voted to “curb tax spikes, improve oversight and provide homeowner relief.”
Lorenz said he’d like to support this work with an expanded Homestead Exemption, particularly to help seniors stay in their homes.
“My experience in local government also means I understand what those revenues support: classrooms, emergency response, safe roads and other services residents rely on,” Lorenz said. “Before adopting additional changes, I would insist on district-specific financial analysis and a credible plan for maintaining essential services.
“The state should shoulder a fairer share of education costs, and residents should retain authority over local levies,” he said. “I will defend Delaware County’s ability to determine its own priorities. Responsible reform must protect household budgets, essential services and local accountability.”
Public education funding
Lorenz highlighted previous budgets for public education to explain why the state needs to provide dependable, fair funding that reflects student needs, enrollment growth and “the actual cost of education.”
“The 2023 budget provided more than $126 million for Delaware County schools over the biennium, including a 75% increase in Olentangy’s state funding,” Lorenz said. “That budget continued implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan. My commitment to fair funding is backed by votes and dollars coming home to our communities.
“I also supported $300 million in statewide investments in career and technical education facilities and equipment. Through the equipment grant program funded by that budget, nearly $3 million was awarded to Olentangy Schools and the Delaware Area Career Center: $2,333,216 for Olentangy and $649,545 for DACC.”
Lorenz added that he supports parents’ ability to have educational options, including “private-school scholarships with meaningful financial transparency and accountability for public dollars.”
However, the tradeoff he highlighted was the allocation of limited resources across competing needs.
“We must protect the state’s commitment to public education, evaluate scholarship spending honestly and make sustainable commitments,” Lorenz said. “State funding should strengthen our schools while preserving the authority of local school boards and the involvement of parents.”
Kimball also pointed to fully funding the Fair School Funding Plan. However, she differed from Lorenz on private school funding.
“I oppose continuing to divert public education dollars to private schools while our public schools struggle to meet their needs,” Kimball said. “That includes examining taxpayer-funded transportation for private-school students, establishing meaningful income caps on voucher eligibility, and requiring greater transparency and accountability for how public dollars are spent.
“Public funds should come with public accountability,” she said. “We cannot continue demanding more from our public schools while allowing private institutions receiving taxpayer dollars to operate under different standards.”
Kimball also implored officials to take seriously the recent ruling that made Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional.
“Our responsibility as lawmakers is to uphold the Ohio Constitution, not find ways around it,” she said.
“When I joined the military, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution. That obligation did not end when I was medically retired, and it will continue to guide me as a state legislator.”
Kimball also highlighted the fact that resources are not unlimited, and that responsible budgeting is important to provide property tax relief and school funding.
Delaware County growth and the state’s involvement
One action Kimball said she’d support for infrastructure growth in Delaware County is increased state funding in transportation.
“[Increased state funding] particularly along heavily traveled corridors like US-23, while ensuring that future projects are evaluated for their long-term benefits, costs, and impacts on surrounding communities,” she said.
“We need to be proactive rather than waiting until our roads and infrastructure are overwhelmed.”
Adding to this, Kimball said local zoning, land use and the character of Delaware County’s communities should remain with local municipalities and their residents.
“The state should provide resources, coordination, and support, not dictate how every community grows,” Kimball said.
“Responsible growth means balancing economic development, housing affordability, infrastructure capacity and the preservation of the communities and agricultural land that make Delaware County such a desirable place to live.”
Successful growth requires infrastructure, careful planning and public input, Lorenz said.
“Housing decisions affect roads, utilities, schools and emergency services, and those consequences must be considered together,” he said.
He added that he’d support targeted state infrastructure grants, documented road safety, intersection and utility needs.
“That same principle applies to data centers. I have voted twice to remove tax abatements for data centers because these companies should pay their fair share,” Lorenz said.
“They should cover the costs of the power, water, roads and other infrastructure they require. Delaware County families should not have those costs shifted onto them through higher taxes or utility bills.”
Lorenz also thinks local municipalities and residents should control zoning, housing density and individual development.
Finding reason in those you disagree with
Lorenz said residents who think that property tax relief may undermine schools and public safety services is a reasonable concern.
“Families want affordable tax bills and dependable services, and they deserve a serious plan for both,” Lorenz said.
“That concern reinforces my position that tax reform must include a credible funding plan. I support examining the effects on individual districts, protecting essential services and increasing the state’s responsibility for school funding.”
He said this concern is why public input matters.
“School treasurers, township trustees, municipal officials and residents understand the consequences for their communities,” Lorenz said. “My experience in local government helps me ask practical questions about how a proposal will work after it becomes law.”
Kimball said folks actually agree more than they disagree in her experience knocking on doors during her campaign.
“Whether someone identifies as a Republican, Democrat, or Independent, I consistently hear the same concerns: rising property taxes, the cost of living, and the increasing cost of healthcare,” Kimball said.
“One concern I’ve heard, particularly surrounding property taxes, is that homeowners need immediate relief, but they also don’t want to lose the schools, emergency services, and other resources their communities depend on,” she added.
“Those conversations have reinforced my belief that property tax reform must be both meaningful and responsible. It’s why I support increasing the state’s share of public education funding while also pursuing direct relief for homeowners.”
Evidence that changed your thinking on an issue
Control of Crime is a class Kimball took at The Ohio State University last fall. She said it examined criminal justice policies from the Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton presidential administrations and their impacts on communities.
“That class was eye-opening because it helped me connect the dots between the intentions behind legislation and the real-world impacts those policies can have, sometimes for generations,” she said.
“It changed the way I evaluate public policy. I began looking beyond what legislation claims to accomplish and asking who it actually helps, who it may unintentionally harm, and what the long-term consequences could be.
“Good intentions alone don’t make good policy. We have a responsibility to ensure the laws we pass actually accomplish what we intend without creating unnecessary harm along the way.”
Lorenz pointed to the 2021 death of Olentangy student Braden Markus as a sobering lesson on online exploitation from both a parent and public servant perspective.
“At the time, all four of my children attended Liberty High School, and each knew someone close to Braden,” Lorenz said. “What happened prompted difficult conversations in our own home and underscored how quickly an online threat can become a crisis.
“That experience broadened how I think about protecting young people. We must address the predators targeting them while strengthening prevention, awareness and access to help.”
Lorenz jointly sponsored Braden’s Law, which is now in effect, “to establish felony penalties for sextortion and help families obtain critical digital information.”
How will you represent folks who didn’t vote for you?
Lorenz said he represents all of District 60 and that his office doesn’t ask party affiliation when someone needs help.
“Working across the aisle is already part of my record. Every piece of legislation I have passed has received bipartisan support,” Lorenz said. “From Braden’s Law to Keith’s Law, I have brought people together to protect families and address real needs in our community.
“A concrete example is the concern residents have raised about safety along State Route 315 and Riverside Drive. I have sought residents’ feedback and contacted law enforcement about enforcement and safety concerns.”
Lorenz said his next steps with this project are to bring residents, ODOT, the county engineer, law enforcement and local official together to find improvements.
“That approach reflects my belief in local control: residents and local officials should help shape the solutions, with the state providing resources and coordination,” Lorenz said.
“I am proud to have the support of local elected officials, and I will continue working with them and colleagues across the aisle to deliver for everyone I represent.”
Kimball said she’ll serve everyone in District 60, regardless of if they voted for her, her opponent or not at all.
“Since February, I’ve spent countless hours knocking on doors and speaking with residents across the political spectrum,” she said.
“Throughout those conversations, I’ve heard from people who feel disconnected from their elected officials, who don’t know who represents them, or who feel their concerns have gone unheard. That is something I want to change.
“Representation requires more than showing up during election season. It requires being accessible, listening, and remaining accountable to the people you serve.”
For property taxes, Kimball wants to bring homeowners, school officials, local leaders and residents with different perspectives together to find common ground. She said she’d then work with lawmakers from both sides to create solutions that reflect those conversations.
“My military service taught me that you don’t have to agree with everyone to work together toward a common mission,” she said. “I will carry that same approach into the Statehouse. I won’t dismiss a good idea because it comes from a Republican, nor will I automatically support one because it comes from a Democrat.
“The people of District 60 deserve a representative who is present, accessible, and willing to listen, even when the conversations are difficult. I am running to represent people, not a party.”
