Democratic News

State Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) today called on Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine to respect the 8^th District of Ohio Court of Appeals’ recent decision declaring a 2016 state law outlawing local hiring standards, House Bill 180, unconstitutional.*

“Local hiring standards represent a commitment by cities to combat underemployment and reinvest in local communities. Workers benefit from public construction projects that often include jobs with apprenticeships – clear career paths and quality on-the-job training that pay dividends beyond the duration of a single project,” Sykes wrote in a letter to DeWine.

The City of Cleveland sued the state in 2016 after the Republican-passed bill directly conflicted with the city’s Fannie Lewis law, a local ordinance requiring public construction be completed with at least 20 percent local labor. Akron similarly uses local hiring standards on more than $1 billion in public works projects.

“Ohioans deserve a fair shot at good-paying local jobs because they have a stake in rebuilding the communities where they live and raise their families,” Sykes continued. “By putting money back in the hands of Ohio workers, local hiring ordinances like Cleveland’s Fannie Lewis Law are strengthening local businesses and giving workers the opportunity to get ahead. Without local hiring ordinances, investments would be more likely to flow to out of state companies and workers with no stake in the health and success of our regional economies.”

Sykes said she plans to introduce legislation in the new year that will strengthen Ohio communities’ ability to make decisions about local hiring standards.

House Democratic Leader Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton) today announced changes to the caucus’ leadership team, following Democratic Whip Rep. Nickie J. Antonio’s (D-Lakewood) recently announced campaign for the Ohio Senate. Internal caucus rules require members seeking elected office outside the Ohio House to forgo any official leadership post or duties.

 “I feel confident that our work as a caucus and leadership team during the last three years has better positioned us to influence the discussion at the Statehouse,” said Rep. Antonio. “I have been honored to be a part of that, and I look forward to continuing to serve my constituents and the caucus in every way possible.”

House Democrats nominated and elected state Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) to replace Antonio as Democratic whip. Sykes had been serving on leadership as assistant whip for the past year.

“As we head into the New Year, I am eager to continue our work of standing up for a strong middle class and pushing pro-family policies that let people plan for their future,” said Rep. Sykes.

State Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) was elected as assistant whip to round out the four-person House Democratic leadership team.

“I am honored to play a bigger role in advancing our caucus’ pro-job and pro-worker priorities into 2018 and beyond,” said Kelly. “It’s a great feeling to be a part of a caucus and team who puts working families first.”

Kelly, a freshman lawmaker from the Cincinnati area, brings experience as a local elected official and representative for members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) to the caucus’ leadership team.

“After years of slow growth, drug addiction and limited opportunity, it is important to the people we represent that we head into 2018 with an intense focus and drive to get our state back on track,” said

House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement following the governor’s press conference Monday afternoon outlining his gun safety plan:

Ohio House Democrats today sent a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose calling on him to reverse most of the voter purge that has occurred over the last past several weeks. Errors in the process have been continually revealed and the status of each person on the “last chance” list is still unknown. The deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 7. 

State Reps. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) and Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) today recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 351, legislation allowing tenants to terminate their rental agreement if they are a victim of domestic violence or rape.

House Democratic lawmakers today held a press conference detailing the next steps of their Ohio Promise legislative campaign. Democrats said safety and security issues, including commonsense gun safety, are top priorities as the state legislature returns for its fall session dates.

“Democrats are committed to working together to continue delivering results for Ohio taxpayers that renew our promise of safer schools, safer communities and greater economic security for you and your family at every stage of life,” said Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron).

House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and Rep. Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood) joined Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein and Equality Ohio today to urge action on the Ohio Fairness Act to protect LGBTQ+ Ohioans from discrimination in employment, housing and accommodations.

House Democrats announced the conclusion of their Ohio Promise Town Hall Tour this week, which saw more than two dozen stops in cities across the state over the past two months. In the wake of the mass shooting in Dayton in August, Ohioans all across the state came out to urge action on commonsense gun safety, an issue Democrats say is a top concern heading into the fall session.

Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today released the following statement regarding the Ohio Supreme Court’s controversial split ruling that the state did not overstep its constitutional authority when it sought to block local hiring laws around the state: 

House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today joined Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) at a press conference in the Statehouse to announce the installation of cameras in four additional House hearing rooms, signaling the completion of a major project to offer live coverage of all House committee meetings for the first time, fulfilling a long-time Democratic priority of a more open and transparent committee process.

State Reps. H. Gilson Blair (D-Weathersfield) and Michael O’Brien (D-Warren) today announced a recent conference call with Trump administration officials in response to their repeated attempts to urge the Trump administration to assist them in bringing General Motors back to Lordstown, Ohio.

Ohio Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair and Rep. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) today sent a letter on behalf of the Ohio Democratic Women’s Caucus to UAW President Gary Jones expressing support for the UAW members as they continue to strike. The UAW has been striking since Monday, September 16, after contract negotiations with General Motors failed to reach a compromise.

State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today revealed that a faulty list compiled by the Secretary of State’s office has caused thousands of voters to be purged from the voter rolls. The problem was discovered through public records requests.