A 24-year-old philosophy major from Loveland is challenging a two-term Republican incumbent in the race for Ohio representative in the 35th District.

Michelle G. Schneider, R-Madeira, will attempt to defend her seat against Democrat Brian C. Miller, a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati who works as a management trainee for a car rental company.

The two-year state office pays an annual salary of $51,674.

Schneider, a 50-year-old nursing home owner, former Madeira mayor and council member, is running on experience.

"I believe it's important for anybody who wants to go to higher office that they get involved in the grass-roots level and work up through their local governments," Schneider said. "It gives them an understanding of how government works and what the people that they are serving ... expect from their elected officials."

However, Miller, who employs his best friends as campaign manager and speech writer, is confident he can drum up enough support to derail Schneider's quiet campaign, even though political allies have told him "this is the toughest district to run in as a Democrat," he said. The district takes in much of northeastern Hamilton County as well as the eastern half of Warren County.

Miller, a political neophyte, former New Yorker and Sycamore High School grad, said voters can expect a campaign blitz from him two weeks before the election.

"The name will be plastered all over the place, and the hope is that people will just say, 'Who the heck is this guy?' " Miller said.

Miller is going after the district's independents, which he said number about 60,000 voters, compared to roughly 35,000 Republicans and 17,000 Democrats.

He said he won't conduct a smear campaign, but mailings will criticize Schneider's voting record on issues that increased taxes, as well as her co-sponsorship of a bill that limited liability for nursing homes that are sued.

"He's trying to say I have an ethical violation and I don't," Schneider responds.

Schneider defends her support of the bill, saying that an attorney for the House and the Ohio Ethics Commission said her involvement wasn't a conflict despite her role in the nursing home industry.

She said the measure, which was part of a tort reform package, helps keep costs down throughout the industry and consequently saves money for the state.

"In Ohio, 70 percent of the nursing home patients are paid for by the state. Ohio needs to be able to cover nursing home care for elderly people that need it, for a good price," Schneider said.

Miller said his goal in office would be to work toward legislation that makes college education more affordable for Ohio students who attend the state's public universities. He also supports regulations that would guarantee residents a percentage of high-paying jobs from companies who receive tax breaks to relocate in Ohio.

Miller boasts endorsements from Cincinnati Women's Political Caucus, United Auto Workers and the Teamsters.

If she keeps her seat, Schneider appears to be headed for chair of the Retirement Study Council - a watchdog for the state's five public pension funds set up after several incidents of misappropriation. She said she also looks forward to continuing her work with the general assembly's human services and aging committee as well as the finance committee. "All important issues eventually go to the finance committee," she said.

Schneider said she is endorsed by the Ohio Manufacturers' Association, National Rifle Association, Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors, Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Right to Life.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com