This is day two of our spotlight on union members who have decided to run for the Ohio general assembly. Candidates spotlighted on day one, can be found here.
It should be noted that the districts listed below are new as a consequence of the legislative redistricting process that happened last year.
House district 37 - Tom Schmida (D)
Tom is a member of OFT and has been President of Cleveland Heights Teachers Union for 20 years. Tom started his teaching career at Wiley Junior High School in 1972. He taught social studies there until 2005, when he became a social studies teacher at Cleveland Heights High School. He will be facing an incumbent Rep of former district 42, Kristina Roegner in November. Rep. Roegner voted against the middle class when she cast he vote for SB5 and HB153.
House district 45 - Teresa Fedor (D)
Rep. Teresa Fedor currently represents district 47. A member of OFT, she attended the University of Toledo, received a Bachelor of Science in Education and spent 18 years as a classroom teacher. She has no opponent in the primary of the general election. You can read more about Rep. Fedor, here.
House district 47 - Jeff Bunck (D)
Jeff is a member of OEA. Jeff is a retired high school government teacher and said the Republican attempt to thwart collective bargaining sparked his decision to run for a seat in the Ohio House against a GOP incumbent in suburban Toledo. The debate will still be fresh in the minds of voters next year, he said.
"It will level the playing field a whole lot even in gerrymandered districts like the one I'm running in," said Bunck, who's 59 and never run for office before.
With no opponent in the primary will be facing incumbent Rep. Barbara Sears who was a vote in favor of SB5 and HB153.
House district 57 - Matt Lark (D)
Matt Lark is now running unopposed in the primary and will face incumbent Rep. Terry Boose who voted for SB5 and HB153, and against the middle class. Matt is a member of OEA, and has spent the last twenty years working as a high school science teacher in Ohio. The first six years of his career were with the Toledo Public School system while the last fourteen years he has worked at Norwalk High School. Matt is currently the President of the Norwalk Teachers Association. You can learn more about Matt LArk, here.
House district 58 - Bobby Hagan (D)
Rep. Hagan was first elected to District 60 in 2006, but is running for re-election in District 58 in 2012. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. He is unopposed in the primary and general election, as incumbent Terry Boose has decided to run for reelection in district 57.
Tomorrow we will highlight 5 more union members who are running for the Ohio general assembly.