Davida Russell is an elected labor official, community activist, and public servant currently serving as Vice President of Cleveland Heights City Council and a candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives. She is also State President of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, Vice President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, Northeast Ohio President of OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4, and Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the North Coast Area Labor Federation, representing more than 180,000 workers across Ohio.

With decades of leadership in labor and public service, Russell previously served for 20 years as president of OAPSE/AFSCME Local 744 and has held numerous state and national labor roles. She is the founder and CEO of the Ohio Alliance for Community Education (Ohio ACE), the state’s largest canvassing and civic engagement organization, and has worked extensively on voter engagement, education, and workforce advocacy.

As a Cleveland Heights councilmember, she has led major policy initiatives including ARPA investments in neighborhood revitalization, small business support, public safety reforms, affordable housing efforts, and the creation of community engagement programs like “You Talk, I Listen.” She has also championed labor rights, racial justice legislation, and infrastructure improvements.

Russell is running for the Ohio House to expand her lifelong work fighting for workers, families, and equitable communities across Ohio. The Matriots are proud to align with Councilmember Russell and her work.