— Awards:

• -Won Second Place Award for Best in Criminal Justice reporting-Society for Professional Journalists, 2018.

  -Named one of 15 Women in Business to Watch 2006

  -Nominated for the Cincinnati Business Couriers 2004 Forty Under 40 award

  -C-Change Leadership Class 2006 Awarded

  -2004 Chapter of the Year under my Leadership as President (National Black MBA Association)

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

We need checks and balances in our government. Our system of governance was designed so that no branch of government could abuse its power. The wealthy have enough representation in Washington, DC. We need legislators who understand the needs of the constituents in our district.

As a small business owner who was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth and did not have the wealth of my parents in supporting my business, I have had to work hard to attain the things I have. Like many people in our district, my story has been one of struggle. I understand the difficulties that people in our district face, because I have faced those difficulties.

When I ran for congress in 2018, I nearly lost my home after the loss of my husband left me and my daughters struggling, and in the midst of trying to recover from that loss, I suffered another significant loss in my income. When my banking institution refused to refinance my mortgage, while under a consent decree to modify mine and others impacted by the economic downturn, they instead sold my loan (along with thousands of others) to a foreclosure mill. I was able to fight and save my house, and I was able to restore my mortgage to good standing. My story is not unique. Millions of American suffer similar circumstances, as a result of economic downturns, loss of loved ones, and due to high medical bills and a lack of affordable health care.

I am running because I understand and care about the issues that average working families in the 8th district face. It bothers me when I drive across the 8th district and meet families living in abject poverty, and in some cases where there are two parents living in the home, and not making enough to meet basic food, housing and health care needs.

For over 25 years, I have been on the frontlines fighting for the needs of working people. Up to now, the 8th district has been underserved by self-interested politicians, who have served to protect the interest of big corporations, big banks, big pharma, and large commercial farmers. We need Representatives who will advocate for policies that benefit women, such as the Violence Against Women's Act, while 63% of those living in poverty in our district are women. I will advocate for financial aid funding for college students, and work to reduce the college debt burden on parents and children.

Our constitution guarantees equal protection to all citizens, and I believe that every child in this country should have the opportunity to succeed based on merit, not on whether they were born to wealthy parents. I believe that veterans who honorably served our country and were injured in active combat deserve to be taken care of when they return home. While some legislators believe it is not compassionate to feed the poor, provide care to our seniors, to the sick, and to our veterans, they believe it is okay to bankrupt our government providing tax breaks to the rich and restructuring our financial system to the benefit of big banks and financial institutions in patronage to big donors. These policies result in higher costs for borrowing to purchase homes, to start and operate businesses, and to secure higher education for our children. When our legislators consistently vote against the interest of the people who elected them to serve their interests, and they propose and support the fewest number of bills in DC, they should be removed. I believe the people of the district deserve better outcomes. The median household income in our district is below the national median income, and this has not improved under current leadership. It is time for representation of the people, for the people and by the people.