Ohio Dems have PRIDE! Celebrating Ohio’s LGBTQ candidates of 2018
Meg Connors, Digital Communications Fellow, Ohio Democratic Party
Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate the vast contributions LGBTQ Americans have made to our society, to honor the generations of leaders and activists who have fought for equality and to rededicate ourselves to the work that remains.
This month we have another reason to celebrate. The Ohio Democratic Party is proud to highlight the 11 out LGBTQ candidates running up and down the ticket this year.
Read about them below, support these campaigns then sign up to volunteer with Ohio Democrats this year and help get them elected!
Rick Neal for Congress (OH-15)
Poised to put up a strong fight against four-term incumbent Republican Steve Stivers in November, Rick Neal is seeking to win Ohio’s 15th Congressional District seat. An alumnus of the Peace Corps and a noted humanitarian advocate, Neal has earned endorsements from U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, former Gov. Ted Strickland and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan. He is the first out LGBTQ nominee for federal office in Ohio, and if elected, Neal will become Ohio’s first LGBTQ member of Congress.
When Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, Neal felt a duty to his district to run for Congress.
“The 2016 election was a call to action more than anything else, especially when I saw that Representative Stivers was not going to stand up for us against all of the chaos and the dysfunction and the attacks on our democracy that were coming out of the White House. I knew I had to do something,” Neal said.
Neal wants to fight for better-paying jobs, more affordable health care and real solutions to the opioid crisis — which he says are “things that affect people across the district every day.”
While many LGBTQ candidates feel a unique reluctance to share information about their families and relationships that is not felt by their straight counterparts, Neal says that hiding his family life was never part of his plan.
“There was never any discussion or never any way that we were going to hide who we were. We could have been in an R+50 district; it didn’t matter,” Neal said.
Neal feels that the American people are much more accepting of an LGBTQ candidate than it may seem.
“I think that a lot of people want us to believe that America is divided and that we are hopelessly pitted against each other, and that this polarization that the president and the White House is trying to gin up for their own purposes is the reality, and it’s not,” Neal said.
Read more on Rick Neal’s website
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Nickie Antonio for State Senate
With seven years in the Ohio House of Representatives under her belt as the first out LGBTQ candidate elected to state-level office in Ohio, state Rep. Nickie Antonio is looking to move to the upper chamber of the legislature to represent Ohio Senate District 23.
Antonio has earned endorsements from major organizations including the Human Rights Campaign and EMILY’s List for her leadership in the fight against discrimination. If she wins, not only will Antonio be the first LGBTQ state senator in Ohio, she will also be the first woman to ever hold the seat in Ohio Senate District 23.
“If there is fairness and equality across the board, our communities are stronger.”
Antonio entered politics when she ran for city council in her community after a referendum passed in 2004 added a provision to the Ohio Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. While many of her LGBTQ friends left the state following the referendum, Antonio and her partner Jean decided to stay and fight to make their community more inclusive.
“When a seat became open on the city council, I thought to myself, ‘Oh, I know what I’ll do! I’ll run for office.’ Because it’s kind of the equivalent of no one puts baby in a corner. I said, ‘No one tells me that I’m a second-class citizen,’” Antonio said.
After serving on the city council, Antonio won her current seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. In her upcoming senate election, she plans to focus on what she describes as “bread and butter issues,” including access to good-paying jobs, quality education and health care, which will strengthen communities.
“If there is fairness and equality across the board, our communities are stronger,” Antonio said.
Antonio hopes that voters will keep her legacy in mind when they go to the polls in November.
“I have a reputation for hard work, for getting things done, for being able to reach across the aisle with my colleagues in the majority specifically to get things done when it’s possible,” she said.
Read more on Nickie Antonio’s website
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Melinda Miller for State Senate
A proud native of Columbus, Melinda Miller is ready to continue her lifetime of service to others, but this time as the District 31 state senator. With experience as a waitress, line cook, chef, retail clerk and more, Miller understands the struggle of low-wage work and will fight for District 31’s best interests.
Miller was inspired to run by the people in her community — who she feels still can’t make ends meet despite working incredibly hard. She wants to fight for livable incomes, health care for everyone, quality education, safe homes with clean air, water and soil.
Tired of the Republican-controlled legislature, Miller believes it is time for new leadership in the Statehouse that values all Ohioans. She wants to work together to elect Democrats up and down the ballot who will bring integrity back to our government, stop the relentless attacks on women’s and LGBTQ rights and bring state dollars back to our local communities.
Read more on Melinda Miller’s website
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Zach Dickerson for State Representative
An advocate for bipartisanship, Zach Dickerson describes himself as a moderate who lives in the political middle. After working at LexisNexis for 10 years, Dickerson jumped into politics and has set his sights on the 42nd District seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. Born in a small town called Independence, Dickerson hopes to “be the kind of Democrat that would make my great-grandmother proud.”
Referencing the district’s Republican incumbent Niraj Antani’s extreme partisanship, Dickerson cites his desire to bring more thoughtful policy to the Statehouse as a main reason he decided to run for office.
“The person who represents this district right now is really extreme in his views, and I think we need somebody in there who is going to advocate for smarter, common-sense policy,” Dickerson said.
Dickerson also points to the outcome of the 2016 presidential election as another motivator to become more involved.
“I was sitting on the couch after the 2016 election, I saw everything that happened, and I said, ‘You know, I’m going to be more involved.’”
Read more on Zach Dickerson’s website
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Garrett Baldwin for State Representative
Facing off against incumbent Nino Vitale in November, Garrett Baldwin is the Democratic candidate for the 85th District in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Baldwin grew up in a single-parent family of modest income that occasionally relied on government aid, which inspired him to enter the race for the Statehouse.
“I learned a lot from that experience and how important it is to protect those vital government assistance programs for millions of people in poverty.” — Garrett Baldwin
“Growing up, it was pretty difficult because for the most part of my life, my mom was a single parent, and so my siblings and I learned from her and we saw what she was going through. She was working about 50 hours a week … it was really difficult for us at times. We relied on cash assistance at one point, food stamps at one point, the Medicaid program, and we also went to the food bank … I learned a lot from that experience and how important it is to protect those vital government assistance programs for millions of people in poverty.”
Baldwin’s platform focuses mainly on three issues that he feels are vital to address in the Statehouse: poverty, drugs and education. He also wants to work with his own party and across the aisle — which he believes Vitale does not.
“My opponent has actually not been endorsed by the Ohio Republican Party for years now, and there is one reason why: he doesn’t work with other state legislators … so when (people) see that we have a committee candidate with common-sense goals, that they’re willing to negotiate, willing to work with people, it’s a better option.” — Garrett Baldwin
“My opponent has actually not been endorsed by the Ohio Republican Party for years now, and there is one reason why: he doesn’t work with other state legislators … so when (people) see that we have a committee candidate with common-sense goals, that they’re willing to negotiate, willing to work with people, it’s a better option.”
Follow Garrett Baldwin on Twitter
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Jeremy Blake for State Representative
Jeremy Blake is currently serving as a member of the Newark City Council from the 2nd ward and is seeking to represent Ohio’s House District 71. With a community-first mindset, Blake’s passion for public service sets him apart as a candidate.
If elected, Blake plans to change the way that public schools are funded by increasing funding from the state. Blake also wants to increase support for police and fire departments — a move he said is necessary after devastating GOP budget cuts.
“Serving on Newark City Council, I’ve seen our city has lost millions of dollars because the Republican leadership has just taken cuts to local government funds. The City of Newark is an example where we could hire additional firefighters and additional EMS personnel,” Blake said.
Blake also wants to increase wages for low-earning jobs.
“…we want to work to be able to provide opportunities to people to increase their wages so that they can properly buy food, pay their bills, have a home and be able to, at some point, send their kids off at school.” — Jeremy Blake
“People are working, but people aren’t earning a wage to be able to provide for their families. So I think we want to work to be able to provide opportunities to people to increase their wages so that they can properly buy food, pay their bills, have a home and be able to, at some point, send their kids off at school,” Blake said.
When it comes to being an LGBTQ candidate, Blake sees his identity as a bonus, as it illustrates his willingness to stand up to adversity.
“I think people recognize that, hey, we’ve had adversities and challenges in our lives, and I’m hoping that people see that as an asset … if I’m going to be able to stand out as an openly gay man in Licking County and fight for my own personal convictions, then hopefully they see that as a leader,” Blake said.
Read more on Jeremy Blake’s website
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Rebecca Howard for State Representative
A native of the Buckeye State, Rebecca Howard is no stranger to struggles that many Ohioans face — which is why she’s running for the 53rd District seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. After seeing many of the economic hardships faced by her neighbors in Butler County, she decided to take action and run for office.
I have seen Butler County struggle with economic stresses and watched as workers have been laid off when major manufacturers and corporations have failed or relocated. I have mourned with friends and families who have lost loved ones who gave their all for their country, and I have stood proud watching firefighters, law enforcement officers and first responders go above and beyond the call of duty to serve our communities. I have celebrated the achievements of young athletes, scholars, artists and vocational students in our schools and have assisted families as they have reached out to access crucial services for their special needs children. I have witnessed the breakup of family farms and the remarkable perseverance of those same families doing everything they can to save that agricultural heritage for future generations.
I have seen a lot of changes in Butler County in my lifetime, but the one thing that has never changed is the combination of compassion, courage and strength that the people of this district demonstrate every day, as we strive to make sure that every individual, every family, and every community has every opportunity to succeed. Toward that end, we simply must listen to each other, respect each other, and work together to keep the Ohio 53rd strong!
We can make that happen. Join me on this journey.
Read more on Rebecca Howard’s website
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John McManus for State Representative
John McManus originally moved to Dayton to attend law school — but then he fell in love with the community and decided to stick around.
Now vice president of the Dayton Public Schools Board, McManus is running for House District 41 against Republican incumbent Jim Butler. The Democrat is a former Obama staffer, an adjunct instructor of political science at a local community college and a government teacher at local high schools and colleges.
Looking around at the GOP-led government in both Columbus and Washington, McManus felt an enormous responsibility to run for the Statehouse.
“The state of our country and the state of our state right now is just unsettling to me. And as someone who has given my career to our public institutions, the current state of government every time I look around is just in an unfortunate state,” McManus said.
“I realize that someone like me probably couldn’t have done this 50 years ago.” — John McManus
If elected, one of McManus’ greatest priorities is changing education policy so that communities have greater autonomy over how schools are run.
“What works in Dayton may not work in Oakwood, what works in Oakwood may not work in Dayton … it’s not a one-size-fits-all model,” McManus said.
Fighting the opioid crisis is also a priority for McManus, so he’s suggesting a two-pronged approach: cracking down on drug trafficking and ensuring that treatment is accessible and affordable to those who need it.
Grateful that his community is accepting of the fact that he is out, McManus feels hope for the LGBTQ community and the progress that has been made in Ohio and across the US.
“I realize that someone like me probably couldn’t have done this 50 years ago,” he said.
Read more on John McManus’ website
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Joseph Monbeck for State Representative
An advertising consultant, Joseph Monbeck is seeking the 84th District seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. The eastern Auglaize County resident will face off against Republican Susan Manchester in November.
Monbeck’s greatest motivator to run for office is improving health care, which he credits in part to his time spent as a fellow in 2012 with Barack Obama’s nonprofit Organizing For Action. Monbeck also wants to improve infrastructure, education and jobs in his district.
“Living here in west-central Ohio, I live in an area that has some of the lowest unemployment rates in Ohio … and that’s because a lot of people are having to work two jobs to pay all of the bills, and over the last 15 years as we all know the wages haven’t really risen, and lawmakers have complete control over that,” he said.
Monbeck says that he has distinguished himself from his opponent by running a campaign that is financed exclusively by people.
“My campaign is funded by people only, not by special interests and not by corporations,” Monbeck said.
Like Joseph Monbeck on Facebook
Taylor Sappington for State Representative
Raised in Appalachia, Taylor Sappington serves on the Nelsonville City Council but has set his sights to his next gig — representing District 94 in the Ohio House of Representatives. He was inspired to enter politics by a desire to advocate for those who don’t have a voice in his community.
“These folks deserve an advocate. I wanted to advocate for people like my mom who didn’t have health insurance when she lost her job and couldn’t go to the doctor,” he said.
“When I looked around at the state of things, I said, ‘You know what? I have something to say.” — Taylor Sappington
Sappington decided to make a run for the Statehouse after seeing the effects of the corrupt Republican majority in Columbus.
“After eight years of failed leadership, we have the most corrupt Statehouse in Ohio history. We have folks who might be (going to jail) because of taking free trips and money from payday lenders … with people not able to go to doctors because they don’t have health insurance, and with people driving over crumbling roads and bridges, we really deserve representatives who are really doing something about the issues that regular people face, not just their campaign donors, so when I looked around at the state of things, I said, ‘You know what? I have something to say,’” he said.
Sappington says when his track record on city council is compared to that of his opponent Jay Edwards’ in Columbus, the choice is clear.
“I think our track records speak for themselves. In Columbus, my opponent has accomplished basically nothing. On city council, in just two, three short years, we’ve accomplished a balanced budget, we have increased street projects, we restructured city hall,” he said.
Read more on Taylor Sappington’s website
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Lis Kenneth Regula for Portage County Auditor
When Lis Kenneth Regula’s father passed away when Regula was a teen, he worked hard and took care of his family at home before eventually earning his college degree and starting his career in teaching. A resident of Portage County for 11 years, Regula wants to modernize the office of the auditor, improve efficiency and increase transparency.
An instructor of biology, Regula believes his background in science and academics qualifies him for the position of county auditor.
“The auditor’s position is management and oversight as well as data management … I have to make sure that my statistical analysis, my graphs, my record-keeping, everything that goes into a publication … I have to make sure all of that is perfect.”
The current Portage County auditor, Janet Esposito, has held the office for 24 years. Regula feels that he is the new blood that the county auditor’s office needs.
“If you’re in a job for that long, no matter what the job is, you’re going to have the way you do things, the way you think. You’re not going to be able to bring the fresh perspective, and right now that’s kind of what Portage County needs.”
If elected, Regula will be the first transgender person in the state of Ohio to win elected office.
Read more on Lis Kenneth Regula’s website
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While the Trump Administration continues to further its toxic, discriminatory agenda, change can be made in Ohio in municipal governments, the statehouse and even U.S. Congress — which is why the Ohio Democratic Party is thrilled to celebrate its 11 LGBTQ candidates this Pride Month.
Text OHIO to 909–75 to volunteer with Ohio Democrats this cycle and help to get all of these these great candidates elected this November. (Standard rates may apply).
