2019 Endorsed Candidates
Columbus
Tiffany White
Columbus City Council
A vote for Tiffany is a vote for a Columbus that belongs to all of us!
Tiffany has been endorsed by organizations including the national Working Families Party, the Baptist Ministerial Alliance, Yes We Can: Columbus Working Families, and the National Association of Social Workers.
Liliana Rivera Baiman
Columbus City Council
As a Council member, Lili will fundamentally challenge the system with big, bold ideas. Lili has often needed to work harder, reach higher, and dream bigger than others in order to get the same opportunities, and she knows what it takes to establish a united front to achieve transformative wins. Here are just a few of her bold proposals:
Lili believes everyone deserves one good job, which means strong unions, higher wages, better benefits, paid parental leave, and universal childcare-including municipal childcare from 6 weeks. She is calling on the City to require community benefits agreements and expand good jobs through insourcing and expansion of city services.
Lili will make sure Columbus works for all of us, especially when it comes to quality education and affordable housing. Lili will prioritize working families over developers. Lili knows tax abatements drain our city budget and public schools of funding and should not go to wealthy corporations who don’t need them.
Lili understands we’re stronger when we’re connected. Columbus residents shouldn’t need a car to thrive. Lili wants to make public transit free, expand traditional bus and bus rapid transit, add light rail, and improve our infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians—to the benefit of residents and the environment.
Lili will protect all of our communities. She is calling for Columbus to become a sanctuary city and is prepared to build the coalition to make that happen. Lili will also work to end the school to prison pipeline and make sure Columbus police departments serve justice not violence.
A vote for Lili is a vote for a Columbus for the many, not the few!
Lili’s campaign has been endorsed by organizations including AFSCME Council 8, IUPAT District 6, National Working Families Party, Columbus Education Association, Chicago Midwest Regional Joint Board, Workers United, Vote Mama, Run For Something, the Democratic Socialists of America, The Matriots, National Association of Social Workers, Bold Progressives, Columbus DSA, Franklin County Greens, Vote Pro Choice, and OSU Young DSA.
Joe Motil
Columbus City Council
Kimberley Mason
Columbus City Schools Board of Education
Kimberley is a CCS parent, south side PTO president, and a committed advocate for our schools. She knows the School Board needs to step up and get to work for our teachers and students. She’s promised to fight for an end to the corporate handouts that take money away from our schools, and to reinvest tens of thousands back into our schools. Kimberley is running to set a standard of real dignity and justice in our schools.
- She wants quality public education to be a city-wide priority. She’s committed to ensuring our schools and neighborhoods are prioritized in the budget, and that all kids are benefiting from the growth and development happening throughout Columbus.
- She will lobby the Statehouse for more resources so we can start delivering on our promises as a district.
- She will lobby against any tax deal that would take money away from our schools, and is committed to making sure luxury developers pay their fair share to invest in our students.
- Kimberley supports the Columbus Education Association’s agenda to build a #ColumbusStudentsDeserve. That means higher pay, smaller class sizes, and an end to corporate tax breaks that hurt our schools.
- As president of the Stewart Elementary PTO, she’s seen the difference it makes when parents and teachers are the ones calling the shots. She increased parent involvement by 10%; she is meeting parents where they are and finding unique ways for them to get involved and ensure their voices are heard.
Kim is a relentless advocate for all students.
- Kimberley knows we can’t foster quality learning environments for our kids and teachers at the expense of their basic human rights. Kim wants school facilities that are clean, safe, and temperature-controlled, a culture of trauma-informed care, and a district-wide commitment to end the school-to-prison pipeline.
- Kimberley knows that kids from different neighborhoods have different needs. In her role as PTO President, Kim has worked with families from all backgrounds and income levels to make sure parents, teachers, staff, and community stakeholders are all working together to create a learning environment that meets the unique needs of each student.
Kimberley is endorsed by Yes We Can, The Matriots, Run for Something, The National Association of Social Workers, the national Working Families Party, and the Baptist Ministerial Alliance.
Other cities
Charlie Wilson
Worthington School Board
Charlie is a fierce advocate for quality schools and has served on the board for 12 years. He is committed to focusing on students’ strengths and passions so that students come to school excited about learning. He insists on increasing the number of school counselors, mental health specialists, and social workers. Charlie promotes policies to reduce racial disparities and suspensions. He supports a $15 minimum wage for all school employees and charter school accountability. Vote Charlie Wilson for Worthington School Board!
Merisa Bowers
Gahanna City Council
Merisa is committed to transparency and government accountability. She plans to stop unnecessary tax breaks for developers and promote environmentally sustainable development. Merisa also seeks to pass laws to ensure fairness in employment and housing for everyone in Gahanna and to implement more equitable appointment processes to increase diversity on boards and commissions. Merisa is also a member of Yes We Can! Vote Merisa Bowers for Gahanna City Council.
Kevin Kemper
Pickerington City Council
Kevin is focused on improving the safety and health of city residents by creating more bike paths and sidewalks, creating a vibrant downtown, and broadening Pickerington’s tax base. He also plans to propose anti-discrimination legislation, the promotion of alternative energy options, and measures to improve police and community relations. Vote Kevin Kemper for Pickerington City Council!
Tezlyn Reardon
Pickerington School Board
Tezlyn is a mother with a son in the Pickerington district, and she is committed to more practical, hands-on learning opportunities, a $15/hr minimum wage for all employees of the school district, and charter school accountability. She will oppose tax abatements that do not benefit the school district. Vote Tezlyn Reardon for Pickerington School Board!
Jeff Buskirk
Grove City City Council
Jeff is primarily committed to combating climate change, recognizing its greatest impact will fall on the poor. In addition to requiring solar panels on all new construction, he will offer rebates for low and middle income residents. Jeff is advocating for low cost housing, improved public transit, more green spaces, and wetland marshes to help clean Grove City’s streams. He also wants to see more police training and accountability. Vote Jeff Buskirk for Grove City City Council!
How to vote:
In-person early voting begins October 8