Sprague to seek reelection as Ohio treasurer

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, a Findlay native, will seek reelection to the post in 2022. Sprague, who is now serving his first term as Ohio's 49th treasurer of state, announced his bid for reelection Thursday at a private kickoff fundraiser held in Findlay with Bob Paduchik, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party. Ohio's treasurer serves as the state's chief financial officer and banker, with the duty to safeguard taxpayer money. The treasurer serves a four-year term. Sprague was appointed to represent the 83rd District in the Ohio House in 2011 and was elected to the post in 2012. He was then reelected as the district's representative in 2014 and 2016. The 83rd House District includes Hancock, Hardin and a portion of Logan counties. He was elected state treasurer in 2018. Sprague served as auditor and treasurer for the city of Findlay prior to his election as a state representative. "We've worked hard and I have enjoyed being able to serve in this capacity, and look forward to continuing the programs we've started," Sprague said. He said his first run for the state office was a challenge. "Coming from a small town, it was a little harder. We're planning on working even harder this next cycle, and now, we're more organized and more disciplined," he said. As state treasurer, Sprague has leveraged the authority of the office to improve "Ohio and the lives of its residents through trusted stewardship, wise investment and bold innovation," he said. For example, his "Family Forward" initiative seeks to ease the financial burden placed on families who want to adopt children. According to the Public Children's Services Association of Ohio, more than 19,000 children may be in Ohio's foster care system by 2022. The program allows prospective parents to work with an eligible lending institution to apply for a loan through Family Forward. Once the loan is approved, the treasurer's office deposits funds with the lending institution at a below-market rate. The lending institution then passes the interest savings on to the borrowers via a reduced interest rate. Family Forward's reduced interest rate will mirror similar rates made possible through the treasurer's existing linked deposit loan programs, including Ag-LINK, ECO-Link, GrowNOW and ReEnergize Ohio. During his tenure as state treasurer, Sprague also launched the ResultsOHIO initiative, which established an infrastructure within the treasurer's office to evaluate and support programs aimed at combatting social and public health challenges. Sprague said his frustration as a state representative, with Ohio's attempts to address the opioid epidemic, was the driving force behind the launch of ResultsOhio. He said Ohio needs new, innovative ideas — "from the ground, up, data-driven and results-oriented" to address its challenges. The first projects to be recommended by ResultsOhio are now under review by the state Legislature. They include a mobile vision clinic to serve Ohio's Appalachian counties; a program to lower infant mortality in Cincinnati; a program to permanently lift people out of poverty in Columbus; and an idea to help members of the National Guard graduate with less student loan debt.An announcement on the selected programs could come next week, he said. Of course, part of being a good financial steward, Sprague said, is "taking care of your own budget and your own house." Over the past two years, Sprague has worked to modernize the department. Sprague's office also initiated an update to the "Ohio Checkbook," merging the functions and data previously hosted through OhioCheckbook.com and the Ohio Interactive Budget website. He said the merger cut his department's budget by $1 million, while providing Ohioans with greater transparency with both state revenue and spending. His office has also worked to improve financial literacy throughout the state, both with an awards program and by partnering with the Ohio State University to create a "real money, real-world" curriculum. Grant: 419-427-8412