Have you heard of the EMILY principle?  The letters stand for “Early Money Is Like Yeast.”  If you favor a candidate for an Ohio public office, you can support that candidate’s campaign, and it won’t cost you a cent.

If you make your donation now instead of waiting for the fall, your donation can have a much greater impact.

Ohio Revised Code 5747.29 permits a taxpayer to claim a credit for contributions made to campaign committees for state office or for a seat on the Ohio General Assembly.  Individuals can claim a credit of up to $50; couples filing a joint return can claim a credit of $100.  The Ohio tax return contains a place to claim the credit; which is available whether or not you itemize deductions.

We’d still encourage members to donate to the OEA Fund for Children and Public Education, but making this extra donation is a no-brainer since Ohio reimburses you for your donation.

This credit doesn’t apply to donations to candidates for federal offices like President and House of Representatives, and it doesn’t apply to local and countywide elections. But it does apply to many Ohio elective office in which OEA has made endorsements, like State Representative, State Senator, Treasurer, Supreme Court, and Ohio Board of Education.

So the deal is simple: you can support the candidate of your choice and the state will give you your money back when you file your 2012 Ohio income taxes.  It’s like having your own personal PAC!

By Bill Lavezzi, NEOEA Executive Director

NEOEA-Retired Members may visit our OEA Campaign 2012 page for links to candidate campaigns.

ByBill Lavezzi, NEOEA Executive Director

Most of us believe strongly in the importance of each vote; and as educators, many of us work hard to impress on our students the importance of participating in our democracy by registering and voting. We need to practice what we preach by making sure that we’re registered to vote.

Voting officials have made a point this year of “purging” inactive voters from the voting rolls. If you have moved or changed your name, or if it’s been a while since you voted, there’s an excellent chance that you need to register in order to vote in this fall’s election. If you know anyone who turns 18 before November 6, he or she can register now and be eligible to vote on Election Day. Mail registration requires that you provide your driver’s license or the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Registrations are open until 30 days before Election Day: this year, mailed registrations must be postmarked by Sunday, October 7.

You can download the Ohio Voter Information Guide at sos.state.oh.us/SOS/upload/publications/election/vig_2012.pdf, and you can get a voter registration form at sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Voters/register.aspx.

Elections Boards in Northeastern Ohio

• Ashtabula: 440/576-6915, www.electionsonthe.net/oh/Ashtabula/
• Cuyahoga: 216/443-3200, http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us
• Erie: 419/627-7601, www.electionsonthe.net/oh/erie/
• Geauga: 440/285-2222, ext. 2030, http://www.co.geauga.oh.us/Departments/BOE/Main.aspx
• Lake: 440/350-2700 or 440/918-2700, www.lakeelections.com/
• Lorain: 440/326-5900 or 5901, www.loraincountyelections.com
• Mahoning: 330/783-2474, http://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DepartmentsAgencies/Departments/BoardofElections/tabid/740/Default.aspx
• Medina: 330/722-9278, http://www.boe.co.medina.oh.us/
• Portage: 330/297-3511, www.co.portage.oh.us/election/index.html
• Summit: 330/643-5200, www.summitcountyboe.com/
• Trumbull: 330/369-4050, www.electionohio.com/trumbull/

The NEOEA-R Organizing Committee, at its April 11, 2012 meeting, voted to adopt a new Sub-Committee structure in an effort to involve  more NEOEA Retired members and build a strong organization of NEOEA Retirees.  Any NEOEA-R member who ais also a member of OEA-R and NEA-R is eligable to serve.  The Sub-Committees are: Involvement and Outreach, Conference, Political Action, Retirement Issues, Membership, Intra-Professional Action, Communications/Editorial Board, and the Delegate Caucus.  Visit the Sub-Committee page for more information or to volunteer.  Download the NEOEA-Retired Sub-Committee Structure.