Deciding to run for office is no small choice. Running for office can require a significant investment of time and money. And in a district drawn like mine — Ohio’s 16th — it requires the perseverance to compete in a region clearly created for the other side to win. This district is a prime example of the harm gerrymandering does to democracy. On top of that, my family is not well-connected and I’m about as far from wealthy as someone can be. So, why did I decide to run in the first place?
I first decided to run mostly because I want to help people. Many others may decide to run for personal gain, or to meet important people, or to accrue their own wealth and notoriety. But I made this decision because when I look at the state of our country today, and think back to the challenges my family and I dealt with throughout our lives, those problems still plague the working class today. Congress repeatedly drops the ball on those issues so that they can pursue their own agenda. They would rather satisfy their own interests and fill their campaign coffers than do their job and serve the people. They forget that they are there to work for the people, to work on legislation that promotes the better good. To lift all boats, not just those that belong to the top 1%, or the special interests that can afford armies of lobbyists. It's time that we in the 16th District had representation that cared about and fought for the people, not themselves. That’s why I’m running for this office.
I'm running because I know how hard it is to get by in today's America. Having struggled with unaffordable healthcare most of my adult life, I understand the importance and value of the ACA, and the life-saving role of Medicare. I know that these are programs that must be defended. Beyond that, they must be expanded to ensure that every man, woman, and child across this country has healthcare. I will not tolerate legislation that seeks to put a dollar value on an American life, saying that caring for our vulnerable is too expensive. And I will not tolerate politicians that say "we can't afford universal healthcare!" while turning around a couple of weeks later to try and give the richest in this country a $2 trillion tax cut, while raising taxes on the middle and working classes.
I'm running because coming from a working-class family as a first-generation college student, I know from first-hand experience how difficult it is to climb out of poverty. I know how crippling student loan debt is to today's college graduates - especially for those who have a similar family background as myself. Trying to make a better life for yourself in this country should not come at the cost of that future you're trying to secure. There is something deeply wrong with the fact that student loans make up over $1.2 trillion in this nation's debt. It is morally despicable that we, as a society, are forcing our young adults into inescapable debt for the crime of wanting an education. I am running so that I can make sure that “can I afford college?” is a thought that never crosses the mind of our high school graduates.
I'm running for office because the changing climate will have a direct impact on my life, and the lives of my kids, and their kids. Dealing with the challenges of climate change presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create new jobs, and establish entire new industries. Industries with jobs that will last for generations, and that can't be outsourced. Instead of sowing doubt among the general population for something every expert agrees on, we should take this chance to make the US — and Northeast Ohio — a leader in clean energy and the #1 manufacturer for those technologies. After all, what’s the worst that could happen? Making our country a cleaner, more energy-independent place?
Most importantly, though, I'm running to put the 16th district first: to keep my door open for the people, and to keep their interests first. If elected, I will be a voice for the people of the 16th district, not the corporations or lobbyists who will try (and fail) to buy my vote. After years with a representative who does not talk to his constituents in a political party actively working to undermine the middle and working classes, it’s about time we had representation that will work for the people, not for itself.
A campaign like mine — which will not take money from corporate interests — must be funded by the people, though. If you can spare $10-15 to help bring real representation to Ohio’s 16th district, please donate at my ActBlue page. Otherwise, you can always learn more about me at my website, or via Facebook or Twitter.