November 13, 2025
Ohio Needs a Reset–Too Many Governments
Class Description
Why is Ohio’s Government so Overpriced Compared to Other State Governments?
Ohio is drowning in local government. Thousands of townships, cities, boards, and commissions—each with their own offices, taxes, and lobbyists—are weighing us down. We’re told this makes government ‘closer to the people,’ but here’s the truth: too much local government just means more bureaucracy, more red tape, and less accountability.
In this session, we’ll pull back the curtain on how Ohio’s tangled web of local government keeps us stuck in the middle of the Midwest—and how we can fix it.
If we want to make Ohio the best state in the nation, we need to shrink the mess, cut the red tape, and put power back where it belongs—with the people, not the bureaucrats. Donovan O’Neil from Americans for Prosperity will join us for this fascinating discussion. Donovan O’Neil will speak from 7:30-8:30 PM.
Eric will join EmpowerU to discuss his time spent at the CIA. In his role as CIAs Directorate of Operations he served as a Case Officer, the agencies most prestigious role—managing cladestine operations in the war ones across Europe.
Hear Eric’s story from Elder High School to the CIA. He will share stories with us about his time in the Air Force and CIA and also tell us about his upcoming run for Congress in 2026 against Congressman Greg Landsman.
Don’t miss this chance to meet a Cincinnati hero! Eric will speak from 7:05-7:30 PM.
Speaker Bio
Donovan O’Neil is the State Director for Americans for Prosperity – Ohio, where he leads a team working to educate, activate, and mobilize individuals toward bold public policy reform. Prior to joining the Stand Together Community in 2016, he worked for Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost, where he promoted local government innovation and advocated for cost saving initiatives in state and local government. He is a graduate of Youngstown State University.
Eric graduated from Elder High School. After high school Eric Conroy answered the call to serve—attending the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado and serving as an intelligence officer overseas. He also holds and MPA from Columbia University. In the Air Force, Eric rose to the rank of Captain, leading intelligence operations for elite Special Operations forces and shaping long-term strategic planning across multiple commands.
During his time overseas, Eric built critical international alliances and briefed top U.S. leaders on national security issues. For over a decade, he led high-risk operations in some of the world’s most dangerous regions—missions that didn’t make headlines, but helped keep Americans safe.
Eric’s missions have taken him far from home, but his heart never left Cincinnati. Now, he’s ready to take that mission to Congress—to fight for working families, and help keep our communities safe. Eric plans to run for Congress against Greg Landsman in 2026.