Ohio Democratic Podcast

This week we talk to South Euclid City Councilmember Jason Russell. He is an accomplished city planner and commercial real estate developer and was part of the first class of the ODP "Main Street Initiative." Councilmember Russell discusses his path into urban city planning and local politics, and the successes and challenges facing South Euclid and communities across Ohio today.

This week we spoke with the Mayor of Chillicothe, Luke Feeney, about his experience coming up in politics through the Obama campaign, the Ross County Democratic Party, and lessons learned running his own successful race for mayor of Chillicothe in 2015.

This week we talk to Columbus City Councilwoman Elizabeth Brown about her unique path into public service, her tireless work fighting for comprehensive paid family leave and reproductive rights, and what it means to be a big tent Democratic Party.

This week we talked with the youngest serving member of the Wilmington City Council, Councilwoman Kelsey Swindler. She discusses how local government works for the people, her own path into public service at the local level, and how anyone can get involved in public service and make a real difference from the inside out.

This Memorial Day episode of the Ohio Democratic Podcast we talk with Air Force Veteran and Pataskala Councilwoman Melissa Carter. We discuss what Memorial Day means to Ohio's military families, how to champion local issues in places like Licking County, and how we curb bullying and cyberbulling in the digital age.

This week’s Ohio Democratic Party Podcast features state Sen. Vernon Sykes of Akron, who discusses gerrymandering and redistricting, as well as his experience talking with younger voters in his role as a professor at Kent State University.

For today’s “Mother’s Day” edition of the Ohio Democratic Podcast, we’re catching up with Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper, who gives an update on “The Resistance” in Ohio, talks about the continuing charter school scandal in Columbus and reveals how his mother inspired his political philosophy.

This week’s Ohio Democratic Podcast features Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn, who discusses how he created an innovative program to combat the opioid epidemic in Ohio and how his faith informs his Democratic values and shapes his commitment to public service.

This week we spoke with Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune. "My mother had so many doors shut in her face because she was a 'she' or because she was an older American, over the age of 40 at the time. And were it not for the kinds of civil rights, equal rights, human rights protections that were in place at the time, that helped give her a chance. That's the Democratic Party. Democrats have been the flag bearers of human rights and civil rights protections and its still needed today ever bit as much as it was needed then."

This week’s Ohio Democratic Podcast features state Sen. Sean O’Brien, talking about how agriculture, economic development and tourism rely on preserving Ohio’s environment, to ensure we protect clean air and clean water, but also great state parks and hiking trails and ultimately, Ohio jobs.

This week we’d like to do something a little different and take a moment and share a short clip from our upcoming 2017 Legacy Dinner in Columbus, OH on Saturday, April 22. John Glenn served his country in two wars, launched our nation into the space age and then returned home to represent the people of Ohio for four terms in the U.S. Senate. No one in this country epitomized the nobility and patriotism of public service more than Ohio's very own John Glenn. You can learn more and get tickets at: go.ohiodems.org/tribute

This week's podcast highlights Columbus City Councilmember Jaiza Page. Councilmember Page is a passionate public servant dedicated to improving the Columbus neighborhoods she grew up in. She's a fighter for young people and currently chairs the Recreation and Parks, Housing and Zoning committee. We also discover that she played professional American football for the Columbus Comets as part of the Woman's Football Alliance.

For this week’s podcast we spoke with Franklin County Recorder Danny O’Connor about his successful run for office in 2016. O’Connor is the youngest executive in Franklin County history. You’ll hear about his belief in good governance and public service, how his office is supporting veterans and small business owners -- and why we need more people of all stripes to run for office in 2017, 2018 and beyond.

Connie Pillich learned in the Air Force that no matter what the challenge, if you work together and face it head on, you can make a difference. On this week's podcast the former state representative discusses her military service, her record of fighting for veterans and military families, and how we reclaim patriotism as a Democratic value.

This week features Senate Democratic Leader Joe Schiavoni, who discusses how he has been fighting for more accountability for the charter school industry, which receives more than $1 billion every year from Ohio taxpayers.

Mayor Nan Whaley is a fighter for the working people of Dayton. Hear about her work championing universal pre-K and paid family leave, the many things she's proud of and the challenges still being tackled in the Birthplace of Aviation.

This week’s podcast features state Rep. Emilia Sykes, who discusses House Bill 1, her legislation to modernize Ohio’s domestic violence laws. Sykes’ bill advanced out of the House this week, and now it’s heading to the Senate. It’s time to join the rest of the country in protecting victims of abuse and bring Ohio’s domestic violence protections into the 21st Century.

With Ohio at the epicenter of the heroin and opioid epidemic, this week we talk with Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus, who discusses how local elected officials are working to save lives, and what we can and should be doing in the months and years ahead to address this growing crisis.

Rising star and State Representative Kathleen Clyde talks about the recent March on Washington, women's health, voting rights, fair districts for 2018, and how all of us can make a difference in the months ahead.

Rep. Stephanie Howse, newly-elected president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, discusses how Americans can try to reclaim civility in political discourse, even in the age of Trump, as well as how activists can get more involved in the process and what role the OLBC will play in state and national politics over the next few years.