2026 Community Concerns Questionnaire
The Montgomery County Jail Coalition and Gem City Action assembled this survey for candidates for Montgomery County commissioner by soliciting input from local advocates across a range of issues. We shared the questions with both candidate and requested responses. Although she acknowledged receipt, Margie Christie ultimately declined to submit answers.
Question
What is the responsibility of the county commission on the issue of transparency and accountability at the county jail? If elected, would you support the launch of a public digital dashboard for sharing real-time information about jail operations?
What is the responsibility of the county commission in the area of sexual and reproductive health? Do Ohioans have the right to make their own reproductive health decisions, including abortion, without shame or judgment?
“The County Commission has fiscal oversight of the jails, and is required to fund jail operations. The day-to-day operations of the jail fall on the County Sheriff. I would support the Sheriff maintaining a digital dashboard for sharing real-time information about jail operations; the details of what would be on the dashboard have to be coordinated with the Sheriff.”
“All Ohioans have the right to make their own reproductive health decisions, including abortion, without shame or judgment. My opponent spent her career fighting to restrict access to abortion and reproductive health as executive director of Dayton Right to Life. I am proud to have the endorsement of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio ACT and will always fight to expand access to reproductive healthcare.”
Declined to answer.
“The county commission has an important role to play in ensuring affordable healthcare is accessible to residents across our community. The Human Services Levy has a specific allocation to hospitals to help pay for healthcare for the indigent. Additionally, it allocates millions of dollars annually for mental healthcare through the ADAMHS Board. I have advocated for Federal and State funding to increase healthcare access across our community. This is not an issue that can be solved by any one organization or elected official because it will take all of us working together to achieve real change.
“The county oversees millions of dollars in human services funding that work to address the needs of those living with SPMI.I am proud of th work our human services organizations have done in this space and committed to doing whatever we can to protect those services. Politicians in DC and Columbus continue to gut human services funding and place more burdens on county government. We cannot allow control of the county commission to fall to the same fate that Columbus and DC have experienced. My office is the last thing standing between major cuts to county services which my opponent has committed to enact on Day 1. “
“As your county commissioner, I swore an oath to the constitution and that includes protecting our Fourth Amendment rights. I pledge my office will continue to advocate for policies that will create accountability for lawful and appropriate conduct of law enforcement in our community.”
Margie Christie
What is the responsibility of the county commission when it comes to federal immigration enforcement? If elected, would you support cooperation with ICE, such as detention at the county jail?
What is the responsibility of the county commission pertaining to affordable healthcare services? If elected, how will you work with the city of Dayton, County officials, local hospitals, and community organizations to expand access?
What is the responsibility of the county commission with respect to overseeing how county funds are used in service of people living with SPMI (Severe & Persistent Mental Illness)? If elected, how will you ensure that county tax dollars are directed toward addressing appropriately licensed and functional mental health crisis response and the ongoing housing and care needs of people living with SPMI?
What is the responsibility of the county commission toward the protection of Fourth Amendment rights in regard to use of police surveillance technologies such as Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) as well as pretextual traffic stops? If elected, how will your funding choices reflect accountability for lawful and appropriate conduct of law enforcement in Montgomery County?
Carolyn Rice
“We do not do this currently, and I do not believe the county should house ICE detainees. The county has many things it needs to prioritize, and this is not one of those things I would prioritize if elected.”
Declined to answer.
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Declined to answer.