QUESTIONED — Michael Kripchak, Democratic candidate for Ohio’s 6th Distrtact seast in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Iva “Ari” Faber, Democratic candidate for Ohio Senate District 30, answered questions during a town hall hosted Saturday by the national advocacy group Mother Forward at Froehlich’s Classic Corner. -- Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — During a town hall Saturday, a national advocacy group of mothers questioned federal and state candidates for public office on issues that concern families, including access to childcare and paid leave.

Hosting its first event in the Steubenville area was Mother Forward, a movement of mothers, childcare providers and other supporters that organizes at the state and federal level to advocate for affordable, accessible and fair-paying childcare, as well as guaranteed paid family leave. Founded in January 2023, the group is active in 15 states, with about 300 members in Ohio, according to local member Katie Holler.

Billed as a non-partisan event, Saturday’s town hall at Froehlich’s Classic Corner invited federal and state candidates in the Nov. 5 general election to discuss childcare and paid leave in Ohio and the U.S., plus how each candidate would aid families and mothers.

Attending candidates included Michael Kripchak, Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives District 6, and Iva “Ari” Faber, Democratic candidate for Ohio Senate District 30. Incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown was represented by Jennifer Lyle, mayor of New Concord.

Also invited but either declined or did not respond were Republican incumbent state Rep. Michael Rulli; Republican incumbent state Sen. Brian Chavez; Bernie Moreno, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate; Don Kissick, Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate, and Republican incumbent state Rep. Ron Ferguson.

“The purpose of this town hall is to elevate the issues that are at the hearts of many mothers and families across the state and across the country,” said Mother Forward’s Lyndsey Agler at the event’s start. “This is a non-partisan town hall, so no endorsements will be made, and we would like to allow our candidates here to share their positions on the issues while allowing our attendees to share stories and ask questions as well.”

In a prepared statement read by Lyle, Brown stated, “I’ve spent my career fighting for the dignity of work. … No group exemplifies the dignity of work better than mothers and childcare workers who help raise the next generation.” He added that women should not have to choose between a job and pregnancy.

Brown said his record of supporting women and childcare providers includes introducing the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023, which would expand federal programs to boost childcare in rural communities; supporting efforts to provide 12 weeks of paid family leave for workers and introducing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide “reasonable accommodation” for pregnant women, such as additional bathroom breaks, light duties or a stool to sit on.

Locally practicing OB-GYN Dr. Rachel Gilman moderated the event, asking candidates first if they support a fully funded childcare system in Ohio and the U.S. Kripchak and Faber answered “yes.” Both also stated they believe the country should have federally mandated paid parental leave.

Gilman noted that the price of daycare has risen at nearly the rate of inflation during the last three decades, with the average cost of infant care being $12,000 per year. Asked about plans to address “runaway” childcare costs, Faber suggested a tax credit for parents that tapers off as a child grows older. Kripchak also spoke of tax credits.

Citing a 26 percent decrease in childcare workers during the last five years, Gilman asked how the candidates would support providing “dignified, livable wages” to those individuals.

Kripchak said this is a symptom of a deeper issue, noting that the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s school funding system is unconstitutional because it relies too heavily on property taxes, which, in turn, hurts schools in economically disadvantaged areas. Faber spoke in favor of raising Ohio’s minimum wage to $15 and supporting childcare employees’ efforts to unionize and rally for better wages and benefits.

The candidates were later asked what can be done about the perceived inequitable funding of Ohio public schools. Kripchak asserted that the Ohio Legislature has done nothing to address the issue, and Faber said another form of tax could be used, such as income or sales taxes.

Gilman said that private equity controls 12 percent of the U.S. childcare industry and claimed that franchise and chain programs have the most “high turnover” while imposing fees on parents to turn a profit.

Asked about how to prioritize education over private profit, Faber said more support is needed for “mom-and-pop shops,” meaning cutting “red tape” in the Ohio Department of Development and establishing a state bank to offer better rates for small businesses. Kripchak said support would come by setting certain requirements for grant funds and tax benefits.

Gilman noted that the U.S. is one of only seven countries in the world without paid maternity leave and one of 83 without paid paternity leave. Additionally, she said, the Family Medical Leave Act guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave, but only 56 percent of Americans are actually eligible.

Asked how much federally or state-funded paid leave they support, both candidates said they stand with Brown’s push for 12 weeks of paid family leave. Kripchak said that’s the “bare minimum,” and states should be allowed to operate on top of that. Faber proposed 12 weeks of paid parental leave on top of 12 weeks of paid FMLA, adding up to nearly six months of leave that for one parent that can be used at any time during the first year of a child’s life.

Asked later why 12 weeks of paid leave is sufficient, Lyle said the timeframe is apparently arbitrary, taking into account the time needed for a mother to physically recover from a pregnancy. Twelve weeks, she added, is typically when babies can be placed into daycare.

FMLA currently requires that workers be employed at a company with 50 or more employees, have worked there for at least 12 months and have logged at least 1,250 hours during the previous year, Gilman said, adding that this discriminates against a large portion of the workforce.

Faber spoke in support of making FMLA available for anyone working 20 or more hours per week at any business with 20 or more employees, regardless of how long they’ve been employed there. Kripchak said he stands behind the proposed Equal Rights Amendment. Additionally, he said he’s “hesitant” to put a 20-hour floor on FMLA, claiming such a barrier could dissuade employers from hiring workers full-time.