Meet the Ohio veterans running for office
After fighting to protect our country in the U.S. military, these brave veterans came home to their communities and decided to continue the fight — but this time by running for office.
Lauren Friedman
Candidate for Ohio Senate District 29
Town: North Canton, Ohio
Briefly describe your background: I am a lifelong resident of Stark County. I graduated from the United States Naval Academy and spent nine years in active duty and deployed twice during operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. I returned to Stark County and for 11 years worked first-hand with Stark County residents who are the worst off.
What inspired you to run for office? One of the goals of the United States Naval Academy is to develop leaders both in the military and public service. I was motivated to run because I was simply tired of entitled, self-serving career politicians. I’ve served my community in the military and in public service 20 years, and I will bring the same sense of duty and determination to Columbus.
If elected, what are your top three priorities? Education, jobs, health care.
Ohio’s education system has been unconstitutional for 20 years. Not only is fixing our education the moral thing to do, but it will prepare our students for professional careers and strengthen Ohio’s economy.
Many Ohioans struggled to make it through the recession. We’ve come a long way since, but Stark County is still struggling. We can do more to incentivize business to move to our county to provide the good paying jobs we deserve. My experience working in social services in Stark County has fortified my belief that quality, affordable health care is essential to our community. Affordable, quality health care strengthens our economy and allows people to achieve their education and career goals. I will support any legislation that strengthens or expands health care coverage.
What’s your campaign’s theme song? The Fight Song of the Naval Academy! It may not be our official song, but hearing it takes me back to the Naval Academy. It reminds me why I’m running for office and what it takes to serve.
How has being a veteran influenced your policy platforms? The transition from military to civilian life was hard for me. It put me in the shoes of many Stark County residents who struggled during the recession, and who continue to struggle. That struggle is not exclusive to veterans, and it highlights unmet needs for many members of our community. If we are not taking care of people who have sacrificed for our country, then we are obviously falling short on meeting the needs of others as well.
Joe Helle
Candidate for Ohio House of Representatives, District 89
Town: Oak Harbor, Ohio
Briefly describe your background: US Army Airborne Infantry Veteran, 2004–2011; Iraq 2006–2007, Afghanistan 2009. Small business owner; Past Regional Manager Team Rubicon, USA; Father of two daughters; Mayor of Oak Harbor since January 2016.
What inspired you to run for office? A lack of leadership, representation and communication from our elected office at all levels motivated me to become more involved, and eventually run for election. Ohioans deserve better.
If elected, what are your top three priorities? I will work to improve the health of Lake Erie, provide affordable health care for all, and restore local government funds to alleviate the burden from local tax levies.
- Lake Erie is, without question, our state’s most important natural resource. It also tops the list economically, bringing in $1.3 billion dollars in 2016. That equates to over 13,000 jobs. With toxic algae blooms looming ahead, we are still left waiting for action that will keep our livelihoods in tact. Lake Erie deserves more attention – and as representative I will make the lake’s survival a day-one goal.
- The House and Senate are attacking our most vulnerable residents by restricting Medicaid. While the legislature debates de-funding Planned Parenthood and restricting the reproductive rights of women, our communities and families struggle daily. I will protect Medicaid and I will stand up for community healthcare centers that provide low cost care to women.
- Our taxes have gone up, despite what our leaders in the Ohio Statehouse want you to think. By voting to “cut taxes” and reduce local government funds they have shifted the burden onto our communities. Every shortfall in funding any of our local organizations and schools has to be replaced. I will use my experience as mayor to restore these funds and alleviate this burden on small communities.
What’s your campaign’s theme song? “Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang” by Silver
How has being a veteran influenced your policy platforms? Veterans understand what real leadership is, and what it means to serve country and community over self. The selfless service instilled in me from the Army has carried over to all areas of my life, and our people deserve leaders willing to place our communities and people over political aspirations and self.
Pavan Parikh
Candidate for Judge in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Town: Cincinnati, Ohio
Briefly describe your background: I was born and raised in Cincinnati to a mother who escaped apartheid in South Africa and a father who moved to the U.S. from India to pursue his education and better life. After graduating from law school and beginning my career in Arizona, I returned to Ohio in 2010 where I found myself working in research and election law with the Ohio Democratic Party. I started my own practice in 2011 and went to work for a common pleas judge before accepting the position of chief legal counsel for the Ohio Senate Minority Caucus, where I worked for four years. During that time, I joined the U.S. Army Reserve as a judge advocate and I currently still serve as a Captain with the 9th Legal Operations Detachment. I returned to Cincinnati in 2015 to work in-house with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, a $100 billion financial institution. Since returning home, I have stayed involved in the community volunteering my time with many legal and non-legal organizations, and I serve as an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and Xavier University.
What inspired you to run for office? I’m the type of person who tries to fix problems when I see them and we have problems in our local courts. The courts need an infusion of innovation and new ideas to ensure that everyone is truly equal under the law. I believe my extensive and wide-ranging legal and non-legal experiences provide me with a perspective that is sorely lacking in local government and I think it is my responsibility to try and effect change in government if I think I’m the best person for the job.
If elected, what are your top three priorities? I want to work to increase accessibility, transparency and empathy in my courtroom.
- Accessibility means that we will not waste anyone’s time by ensuring that court starts on time and that everyone is only there when they need to be there. We will strive to run an efficient courtroom that values the time of victims, police and attorneys.
- In my court we will guarantee transparency by informing attorneys of why rulings occur so they can better represent their clients. We will also find ways to engage the community through outreach.
- Finally, we will ensure that empathy is a guiding principle of our criminal justice ethos. My court will not hesitate to impose punishment when warranted but we will recognize that every case has its own unique set of circumstances that must to consider. Every case will be contemplated with fidelity to the law but also with a consideration of circumstance.
What’s your campaign’s theme song? I don’t think we have a theme song per se, but I’m not sure there is a better song than “Sabotage” by Beastie Boys for when you need to get ready to take on the world.
How has being a veteran influenced your policy platforms? Everything in the military is based upon a sense of duty and respect. The salute is a sign of respect. Addressing individuals by rank or as “Sir” or “Ma’am” is a sign of respect. We need to return a sense of respect back to our civilian organizations that mirrors what we see in our military institutions. Right now in our judicial system, respect is demanded, but not given with the same fervor. I think we need new leadership that prioritizes the service part of being a civil servant and treats everyone that comes into contact with the court with a sense of dignity and respect.
Want to follow along with the songs Ohio Democrats are listening to?
Check out the Ohio Democratic Playlist on Spotify — we’ll be updating this playlist with more songs from our candidates.
