TIFFIN, Ohio — Democratic candidate for Ohio treasurer Seth Walsh brought his campaign to Tiffin last week, telling area residents he wants more of the state’s money invested in Ohio institutions and communities.

Walsh, a Cincinnati City Council member, spoke during a Sept. 22 meet-and-greet with Seneca County residents as part of his campaign’s statewide outreach ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

Much of Walsh’s pitch centered on how Ohio invests and safeguards public money, including the role the treasurer’s office can play in directing state investments toward financial institutions and economic development within Ohio.

“Ohio’s public dollars should serve Ohioans first,” Walsh said. “Today, hundreds of millions of dollars of Ohioans’ money are invested in other countries instead of being reinvested in Ohio-based financial institutions and our community banks.”

Walsh has made that argument a central piece of his campaign for treasurer, proposing that the state make no new investments in foreign countries and instead put more money into Ohio community banks to increase their lending capacity.

The Ohio Treasurer of State serves as the state’s chief investment officer for its investment and debt portfolios, oversees daily cash flows and deposits, and serves as custodian for certain public funds and investment assets. The office also has statutory authority to invest certain state funds.

“We are electing someone in November that oversees enough money that, when properly invested, can actually make a positive impact on our state and can actually live our morals,” Walsh told attendees.

Walsh discusses pensions, public employees

Walsh also used the Tiffin stop to talk about retirement security for public employees, including teachers, firefighters and law enforcement officers.

“Ultimately, we are asking these people to give us the best years of their lives to serve our community,” Walsh said. “We need to make sure that when they decide to retire, they’re protected.”

The treasurer does have a role involving Ohio’s public retirement systems, although the office does not independently make the pension systems’ investment decisions. Under Ohio law, the treasurer serves as custodian for certain pension-system investment assets and carries out transactions authorized by the governing pension boards.

Walsh also discussed agriculture, small businesses and economic development, arguing that decisions made by the treasurer’s office can be used to strengthen communities throughout the state.

From Cincinnati development work to statewide race

Walsh currently serves on Cincinnati City Council. Before joining council, he led the College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, a Cincinnati community-development organization, and previously served as executive director of the Sedamsville Community Development Corporation.

He told Tiffin residents that his experience working on neighborhood and economic-development projects helped shape his approach to public investment and fiscal management.

Seneca County Democratic Party Chairwoman Gina Grandillo said the local party has made an effort during the 2026 election cycle to bring candidates for statewide and federal office to the area so voters can meet them directly.

“We are especially appreciative of statewide candidates who take the time to stop in Seneca County,” Grandillo said.

“Ohioans are struggling, and for the better part of three decades, one party has held tremendous power over the direction of our state,” she continued. “It’s time for Ohioans to have a real conversation about where we go from here. Candidates like Seth Walsh offer a different vision for the future, and we’re grateful he came to Seneca County to share that vision directly with voters.”

Walsh is the Democratic nominee for Ohio Treasurer of State. He faces Republican nominee Jay Edwards in the Nov. 3 general election.