Training and Experience
Social Worker, Businessman, CPA, Political and Activist Training
Volunteer/Community Service
Church, Political Campaigns, Social Justice Activism, Climate Change Activism
In the face of a glaring imbalance of power, and driven by the principle that "power corrupts”, resolve to restore democratic balance, wrestling control from the Republican Supermajority that has tipped the scales of Ohio's political landscape. First, flip House District 29 to blue. With cooperative efforts & re-election of our 32 Democrats, flipping 7 other house districts will dissolve the Supermajority. With Democrats running in 94 of 99 house districts flipping 8 districts to blue is realistic. Second, throw full support behind the Citizens Not Politicians constitutional ballot restoring a more balanced representation in the house. Lastly, commit to fostering bipartisan legislation, a near impossibility under the current Supermajority.
1. Pass the Citizens Not Politicians constitutional ballot initiative on November 5, 2024, stopping gerrymandering once and for all. The initiative puts Ohio citizens in charge of the district drawing process. The GOP's actions over the last three years have made it clear the GOP cannot be trusted to draw constitutional districts, as the GOP continues to ignore the Ohio Constitution. Only with fair districts will Ohio have fair elections.
2. Pass the Ohio Voting and Elections ballot initiative on November 5, 2024, validating automatic voter registration and same-day registration change, voting by non-electronic and electronic means, providing photo identification, and requiring the state to make accommodations for voters with disabilities.
The citizens of Ohio deserve to have a voice, and to use that voice to magnify why Ohio is a great place to live, work and play, which will encourage small, medium and large businesses to locate here creating good new jobs for our citizens, as well as to retain existing businesses and jobs. That voice must reflect Ohio as an inclusive state. The current Supermajority rhetoric and legislation attacking people of color, the LGBQT community, women’s reproductive rights, and undermining the voice and power of organized labor negatively portrays Ohio as a non-inclusive and unfriendly state. We can do better.
Support pre-school education to give children a head start. Support proper funding of our schools. Support factual teaching of our U.S. and world history. Support age-appropriate books in our school libraries. Oppose book banning perpetuated by a small extremist group in our society. For children still left behind due to Covid, support remedial programs which must be continued and improved. Children should also feel safe in their schools. Bullying must be stopped. Gun violence in our schools and throughout our society must be addressed, including sensible gun safety measures including universal background checks, locking up guns at home, training and registration. In higher education let the educators determine curriculum, not politicians.
Only under extraordinary circumstances should the Ohio general assembly or governor check local government policy. In their power grab, the Supermajority and the governor are intentionally undermining the voice of the local government by suppressing the political will of the Ohio citizens. One example is Governor DeWine’s power grab to unconstitutionally place the Ohio Board of Education under his control, undermining the Ohio Board of Education, with 11 of its 19 members elected by the Ohio citizens to represent them. That effort is currently tied up in the courts. Another overreach by the Supermajority was overriding the governor’s line item veto prohibiting local governments from banning flavored tobacco favored by our youth.
Support Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, private health care, covid vaccines & boosters, and measures to combat the opioid health crisis. Also support efforts to assist with the long-term care of the elderly and disabled, and the LTC providers.
A few of the benefits of the Affordable Care Act include: 1) All insurance plans under the ACA are required to cover specific health issues including chronic disease, mental health, and addiction, 2) it slowed the rise of health care costs, 3) it provided coverage for pre-existing conditions, 4) it eliminated coverage limits, 5) it allowed children to stay on their parents’ healthcare
plans up to age 26, 6) it expanded Medicaid coverage, 7) millions received healthcare for the first time
Climate Change is real. It is caused by the activities of man. There are political hurdles. There is hope & there are solutions. Support the transition to renewable energies, which is the largest business opportunity in the history of the world. It is the equivalent to the industrial revolution, but exponentially more powerful in today’s technological environment. However, in Ohio’s current political environment will support a bi-partisan balanced energy policy that considers all types of energy production. Legislation should also include energy efficiency measures, such as capture & recycling of wasted heat energy from electricity generation & heat intensive processes. Support protecting public properties from fracking & timber extraction.
Government should champion efforts to reduce systemic racism and discrimination, and level the playing field, including addressing health and income disparities such as food deserts, health care, emotional stress, gun violence, unstable housing, job opportunities, and defend the preservation of American black history. Government should support protecting the LGBQT community from extremist attacks. Government should support reproductive freedom. A woman, along with her doctor, has the right to make decisions about her reproductive health.
