CELINA — Incumbent state Rep. Angie King (R-Celina) is seeking re-election in Ohio’s 84th district against Democratic candidate Arienne Childrey.
King became a well-known figure in Ohio politics when she sponsored House Bill 245, which would prohibit drag performances outside adult-entertainment venues.
The bill inspired Childrey, a transgender woman and founder of the Rainbow Advocacy Network, an LGBTQ civil rights group, to challenge King for the 84th district.
“I felt like we deserved a candidate that would look out for the best interest of all the constituents of the 84th District,” said Childrey, who opposes HB 245 and similar legislation to ban gender-affirming care for minors. “I didn’t feel that was happening under our current representation.”
Childrey wants to eliminate vouchers for private K-12 schools, increase school funding and expand solar and wind power to lower the cost of energy in Ohio. She said the General Assembly is too focused on “culture war” issues, taking time away from other issues like legislation to cap the cost of insulin at $35 or improve staffing in Ohio’s hospitals.
“This is a growing problem in our state legislature that these two bills are sitting in legislative limbo,” Childrey said. “They’re in committee and (lawmakers) haven’t been able to do anything with them, but our state legislature has found time to have hearings about a drag ban.”
King, who is finishing her first term in the General Assembly, entered state politics in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
The realtor and small business owner said she worried about the direction the country was headed amid lockdowns and public health mandates.
“I have four grandchildren. It’s about their future, their freedoms,” said King, who has 20 years of experience in city and county government.
King lists her efforts to simplify state income taxes, eliminate tax on baby products, reform the commercial activity tax and permit K-12 schools to use vans for transportation amid a shortage of certified bus drivers as several accomplishments from her first term.
King says HB 245 was constituent-driven legislation to protect minors from being exposed to adult entertainment in public spaces. “It’s about protecting children and the innocence of our children,” she said.
King points to legislation she worked on to protect consumers from long-term predatory leases, to fix county engineer spending accounts and provide a jury exemption for nursing mothers as other accomplishments unrelated to LGBTQ issues.
If re-elected, King lists legislative efforts to secure Ohio’s energy grid and prohibit foreign adversaries like China from purchasing land near military installations near the top of her agenda for next session of the General Assembly.
The district encompasses Mercer County, southern Auglaize County and northern Darke County.
