Meet Orlando Sonza, Candidate for Ohio’s 1st Congressional District

Ohio’s 1st Congressional District is represented by Democrat Greg Landsman, who is facing Republican Orlando Sonza in his first re-election to the office.

Before Landsman won the seat in 2022, the district had been represented by Republican Steve Chabot since 1995 (except for one two-year term). Then the boundaries changed, making the seat more competitive than it has been in years and paving the way for a Landsman victory.

Learn more about Sonza below, as well as his opponent, Greg Landsman (LINK), and other local races in WVXU’s voter guide.

Applicants were given the same survey questions and a word limit of no more than 250 words to answer each question. Answers have been lightly edited for clarity and style only.

Name of candidate: Orlando Sonza

Party membership: Republican

Campaign website: www.orlandosonza.com

Biography

Orlando Sonza is a proud Ohioan. A second-generation Filipino American, Orlando grew up in New Jersey and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. There, he met his wife, Jessica, and Orlando graduated in the top 10 of his class. After graduation, he and Jessica were both commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Army. Orlando served on active duty as an infantry officer and finance officer with the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

After their honorable discharge from the military, Orlando and Jessica moved to Cincinnati to raise a family. While helping raise their children, Orlando earned his master’s degree in taxation from the University of Cincinnati and his law degree from Georgetown Law. Orlando is an Ohio CPA and served as a prosecutor with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. Orlando currently serves as executive director of the Hamilton County Veterans Services Commission. He and Jessica have four children under the age of 10.

What life or professional experiences make you the best person for this position?

My experience as a West Point graduate and Army veteran, attorney, CPA, former prosecutor, and most importantly, father of four children under the age of 10 and husband to my wife Jessica, shows me every day how Our current system of government is failing. Americans. My professional and personal background also gives me insight and ideas that can help improve the lives of those I will serve and represent in Congress.

My constituents can count on me to uphold the U.S. Army credo of “Duty, Honor and Country” during my service in Congress; it inspires me to put the needs of Ohioans first. This is the only way to truly resolve the bureaucratic gridlock and political quagmire that is preventing Congress from truly helping the people of Ohio.

What concerns or themes are you hearing in conversations with residents in your district? How do you specifically plan to address these issues through legislation or other solutions?

Ohio’s 1st District, and our country as a whole, is heading in the wrong direction under the leadership of the Biden/Harris administration and the policies advanced by my opponent here in southwest Ohio. This poor leadership has led to rising prices for everyday items like gas and groceries, uncontrolled illegal immigration and the influx of drugs into our community, and a lack of integrity from our elected officials. Once elected to Congress, I will fight to end inflation by pursuing fiscal responsibility and reducing government waste, fraud and abuse, secure America by advocating that appropriate resources be allocated to our southern border and restore confidence in our government by restoring the integrity of our government. the office I wish to serve.

Do you think it’s important to work across the aisle? Why or why not? How would you appeal to voters who are not aligned with your party?

It is extremely important to have the willingness and ability to act across the aisle to get things done for our constituents. To do this, it is important to have strong convictions so that you know what can be compromised on and what cannot. Bipartisanship is not about abandoning one’s beliefs, but rather about better understanding one’s goals and values ​​in order to move forward in the often convoluted and complex system of government we currently have.

Although inflation has stabilized, prices remain significantly higher than a few years ago. What can Congress realistically accomplish over the next two years to support people facing high prices?

I think inflation, even if it slows, remains a threat to Americans, especially if the vague platitudes put forward by my opponent result in a new wave of crazy, irresponsible spending that would reignite inflation and push us into a recession. In Congress, I will work to deregulate industries and reduce taxes to allow more competition and naturally lower prices for consumers. I will also work to reduce uncontrolled and irresponsible government spending, which ultimately causes the inflation problem. Responsible fiscal policy plays an important role in directly lowering prices for consumers.

Since October 7, 2023, the United States has provided Israel with at least $12.5 billion in military aid (according to the Council on Foreign Relations). What responsibility, if any, does the United States have in reducing civilian deaths in the Gaza conflict? And has the United States assumed this responsibility?

I want to see the end of the massacre. I believe it is imperative to reduce the number of deaths in Gaza as much as possible. The way to do this is to give Israel the resources it needs to eliminate Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists. In order to end this war, we must support Israel and allow it to exercise its right to defend itself and its people. Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists aim to kill all of Israel’s Jews, which we cannot allow. And to this day, more than 100 hostages are still held captive in tunnels beneath schools and hospitals. Negotiations to end the war will only be productive when these hostages are released.