COLUMBUS, OH — This year, the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund announced the largest and most comprehensive slate of local candidate endorsements in the organization’s history. An overwhelming majority of OEC Action Fund endorsed candidates were elected to local office across the Buckeye State, including every endorsed mayoral candidate.
“The OEC Action Fund congratulates our elected climate candidates across Ohio. The need for local action on climate change and a healthier environment has never been more clear. These candidate-elects will help ensure Ohio communities have clean air, clean water, and access to vibrant parks for years to come,” said OEC Action Fund President Heather Taylor-Miesle.
Additionally, all of OEC Action Fund’s five endorsed park levies were passed by voters. “Access to nearby nature is critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities. We thank voters in Delaware, Hamilton, Lake, Licking, and Muskingum counties for their support of their respective park levies,” said Taylor-Miesle. Since its foundation, the OEC Action Fund has supported the acquisition of over $1 billion in public lands funding through its park levy support.
ELECTED CANDIDATES
ALLEN COUNTY
Sharetta Smith - Mayor of Lima
CUYAHOGA COUNTY
Justin Bibb - Mayor of Cleveland
Stephanie Howse - Cleveland City Council, Ward 7
Kerry McCormack - Cleveland City Council, Ward 3
Michael Polensek- Cleveland City Council, Ward 8
Kahlil Seren - Mayor of Cleveland Heights
Tom Bullock - Lakewood City Council
Tristan Rader - Lakewood City Council
Riley Alton - Olmsted Township Trustee
Ifeolu Claytor - Shaker Heights City Council
Michael Dylan Brennan - Mayor of University Heights
Brian King - University Heights City Council
DELAWARE COUNTY
Christina Drummond - Powell City Council
FRANKLIN AND FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Kevin Kemper - Pickerington City Council
FRANKLIN, FAIRFIELD, AND LICKING COUNTY
Stacie Baker - Reynoldsburg City Council
Kristin Bryant - Reynoldsburg City Council
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Nick Bankston - Columbus City Council
Lourdes Barroso de Padilla - Columbus City Council
Shannon Hardin - Columbus City Council
Trenton Weaver - Gahanna City Council - Ward 4
Melanie Houston - Grandview Heights City Council
Tina Cottone - Hilliard City Council
Kathy Adams - Upper Arlington City Council
Katherine Brewer - Worthington City Council
Beth Kowalczyk - Worthington City Council
David Robinson - Worthington City Council
FRANKLIN AND LICKING COUNTY
Andrea Wiltout - New Albany City Council
HAMILTON COUNTY
Aftab Pureval - Mayor of Cincinnati
Jeff Cramerding - Cincinnati City Council
Reggie Harris - Cincinnati City Council
Mark Jeffreys - Cincinnati City Council
Greg Landsman - Cincinnati City Council
Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney - Cincinnati City Council
Meeka Owens - Cincinnati City Council
Victoria Parks - Cincinnati City Council
HARDIN COUNTY
Sean Beck - Ada Village Council
LORAIN COUNTY
Cory Shawver - Lorain City Council - Ward 7
LUCAS COUNTY
Margo Puffenberger - Maumee City Council
Wade Kapszukiewicz - Mayor of Toledo
Nick Komives - Toledo City Council
MONTGOMERY AND GREENE COUNTY
Jyl Hall - Kettering City Council
SUMMIT COUNTY
Nicole Kowalski - Hudson City Council
WARREN COUNTY
Kristin Malhotra - Deerfield Township Trustee
WOOD COUNTY
Nick Rubando - Bowling Green City Council - Ward 1
APPROVED PARK LEVIES
Preservation Parks of Delaware County
Great Parks of Hamilton County
Lake Metroparks
Licking Park District
Muskingum Valley Park District
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The OEC Action Fund, a 501c4 organization, seeks to protect and enhance the environment, economic viability, and health of all Ohio communities by expanding access to public lands, advancing critical environmental priorities, holding policy makers accountable, and electing environmental champions.
For a full list of the OEC Action Fund’s 2021 endorsed candidates, park levies and ballot initiatives, please visit: https://candidates.oecactionfund.org/
For press inquiries, please contact ebacha<at>theoec.org
