Two Great Candidates for the August 2nd Primary

By Voter Guide Editor , July 15, 2022 0 Comments

Berea will vote in Ohio’s hotly contested primary for the 16^th house district. The August 2nd Primary pits two well-qualified Democrats against each other. Both candidates are currently serving in the Ohio Legislature and both deserve to be in office. Unfortunately, we can only select one of them.

Gerrymandering changed the legislative maps placing the voting constituents of both Sweeney and Smith into one district. To complicate matters, the maps were designed so the location Sweeney and Smith lived were in Republican districts. Both Sweeney and Bride have moved and now live in the 16th House District.

BRIDE ROSE SWEENEY

Bride Rose Sweeney is a two-term Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives. She serves as Ranking Member of the Ohio House Finance Committee. She attended Saint Joseph Academy and then John Carroll University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts and studied political science, business, and leadership.

Representative Sweeney has been selected by Cleveland.com as its “Democratic Rising Star” for three consecutive years. In 2022, she was recognized by the Ohio Election Officials Association as a leading voice for democracy and voting rights.

You can learn more here.

MONIQUE SMITH

Rep. Monique Smith is a State Representative for Ohio’s 16th House District. This district now includes Berea.

Growing up, Rep. Smith experienced the struggles and instability faced by some families as her mother worked to support two daughters alone while escaping domestic violence. Because of these experiences, Smith will prioritize the kind of support and protections for Ohio’s women and families that helped her to get ahead like full access to health care, affordable childcare and good public schools. Her priorities also include fair/higher wages as well as supporting safer communities through improved gun regulations and justice reforms.

Rep. Smith was born in Ohio, graduated from The Ohio State University and has lived in the Greater Cleveland area with her husband for nearly 20 years. Smith, her husband and two children currently live in Fairview Park.

You can learn more here.

NOTE: DON’T FORGET TO VOTE IN THE AUGUST 2ND PRIMARY!