This past week has been special in more ways than one. My son turned 13. To mark the occasion, and to show him firsthand what hard work looks like, we spent Sunday and Monday together shoveling driveways nearby.

It wasn’t just about clearing snow. It was about getting out there, showing him what effort feels like, and connecting with the people who make this community what it is. We had a chance to talk to people from all walks of life: a dedicated special education teacher in the Fairfield schools, a former U.S. Air Force aircraft mechanic who’s served our country proudly, a wife of a firefighter balancing family and finances, and a mother whose child serves on a local school board. These are everyday Ohioans who opened their doors and shared their honest concerns.

One conversation stood out in particular. The special ed teacher expressed deep worry about potential cuts coming to our local schools, echoing what’s unfolding right now in nearby Hamilton City Schools. There, the district is grappling with a massive budget shortfall leading to job losses, the closure of multiple buildings, and outsourcing of programs. All of this stems from inadequate state funding formulas, rising costs, and other pressures that leave districts scrambling. It’s heartbreaking to see educators and families facing these realities, and it’s a warning sign that similar challenges could hit closer to home if we don’t address the root issues.

Across every doorstep the same frustration came through, people feel overtaxed and overstretched. They’re watching essential services struggle while their own wallets get thinner. In Fairfield Township this May, voters will face a tough ballot with multiple levies on the line: school funding, police services, firefighter support, and disabilities services. Not a single person I spoke with planned to vote yes on all four. They’re being forced into impossible choices, what vital service gets funded, and which one has to take the hit? All while their property taxes keep climbing and government at every level seems to demand more without delivering better results.

This isn’t how it should be. Families shouldn’t have to ration support for education, public safety, or those with disabilities because the system is rigged toward endless levies and patchwork funding. We need real, sustainable solutions. Lower taxes overall so people keep more of what they earn, smarter allocation of state resources to actually support our schools and first responders without relying on constant local asks, and an end to government overreach that wastes money and shrinks freedoms.

As your Libertarian candidate for State Representative in Ohio’s 47th District, I’m out here listening—not just campaigning. These conversations remind me why I stepped up. I will stand for less government interference, more individual liberty, and fiscal responsibility that puts families first.

Even in the midst of these talks, small signs speak volumes. On one of the driveways we shoveled, we noticed an American flag flying upside down. I explained to my son it is a recognized symbol of distress under our Flag Code traditions. It was a quiet but powerful reminder that many in our community feel our country and our neighborhoods are under strain from high taxes, funding shortfalls, and policies that aren’t working for everyday people.

I’m grateful to every neighbor who took the time to chat, sign a petition, or simply encourage us along the way. Your stories are what drive me. Teaching my son, and showing all of District 47, that service, hard work, and liberty go hand in hand is what this campaign is about.

If you’re tired of the same cycles of higher taxes and tough choices, join us. Reach out via the contact form, sign up to help collect signatures, or spread the word. Together, we can push for lower taxes, smarter funding, and more freedom for Ohio families.

Let’s change the cycle—one conversation, one cleared driveway, one vote at a time.

Jason Purviance

Libertarian for Ohio House District 47

Email: [email protected]

X: @jasonP4liberty

Facebook: Jason Purviance for State Representative