Candidates
Jara Bonner
Milford Exempted Village Board of Education
Southwest Ohio, Local
As a longtime poll worker for Clermont County, Jara has witnessed the power of the voting booth for local offices. Jara firmly believes that effective legislation can not only save the community but can empower them into the future. A longtime educator for the local school district, her candidacy for Milford Exempted Village School Board is a culmination of her passion and commitment to excellent public education. If successful, Jara hopes to be a strong voice for parents, single parents, and other public education advocates on the school board. She believes that giving back to the community by representing them in public office will be giving back to the people who supported her. Introducing initiatives to better support women who have lived experiences similar to hers and increasing resources available to empower the young girls in the district are just a few things Jara hopes to do if elected.
Jara for MilfordMeet the Candidate
Can you tell our members a little bit about your journey to filing as a candidate?
I am continuously challenging myself to find different opportunities to volunteer/give back to my community. Local and state politics are very important to me, I enjoy working the polls as a Poll Greeter and I am one of many Precinct Captains for Miami Township. I felt that it was time for me to step out again and try something new. I wanted to become more involved with my local school district and a few close friends asked me if I ever thought about running. My first response was “me?” but as I thought more about it my response changed to “why not me?” I am excited to see what the future holds for me!
Tip O’Neill famously said that “all politics is local.” What are the top two issues your community faces today and how do you plan to address them?
Covid-19 mask policies. Our community is sharply divided, no decision will appease everyone but I hope we can calm the waters by providing more transparency on the transmission numbers and offering clear consistent guidance.
A personal goal of mine is to empower parents to advocate for their children. Some parents are intimidated by schools as a whole( building leadership, teachers etc) I want to parents to know that their voices are important and they are their child’s first advocate.
What stands out in our values as most important to you and your experience (or expected experience) in public office? Our values are:
∙ Economic empowerment
∙ Equity and independence
∙ Dominion over our bodies
∙ Access to education
∙ Safe communities in which to live and raise our families
It’s so hard to pick just two! All of the values are so important to me, but to put it in the context of education I would have to say access to education, and equity and independence. All students must have access to quality education no matter who they are or what their socioeconomic factors are. We ensure a quality education in part making it equitable for our families, by reducing barriers to learning and providing resources to students to set them up for success!
What does a Matriots PAC endorsement mean to you and your campaign?
This endorsement means so much to me and my campaign, to be recognized and supported by such a powerful group of women is amazing! The work of the Matriots PAC is incredible and I am truly honored to receive the endorsement.