Lauren is an inspiring woman and candidate, and we are proud to endorse her. Her experiences as a veteran, mother, and community advocate make her uniquely qualified to represent Ohioans and lead to economic prosperity and justice for all.

Senate District 29 includes Stark county and the cities of Alliance, Canton, Louisville and Massillon. Click here to find the elected officials in your district. 

Meet the Candidate

Can you tell our members a little bit about your journey to filing as a candidate?

The decision to run for office was a hard one, but I knew I needed to run. I have three kids. I was the breadwinner of my family. At the time, I was working for the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities. They gave me a choice: quit my job or quit the campaign. Nevertheless, I persisted. In the past, I devoted my life to make my country and my community better. I’m devoted to doing the same in Stark County.

Tell our members about a friend or family member who inspired you to become a leader.

My grandma had a hard upbringing in East Liverpool, Ohio. She met my grandfather after moving to the Canton area. She married and had five children. She later lost her husband and her children lost their father. She became a single mom. In the 1950s and 1960s, at a time when not many women were working, she had multiple jobs to support her family. She is the definition of a Strong Woman. I am grateful to have her as a role model in my own life. Her story influences the way I think about my community. She was a wonderful person. She may not be famous, but the good she did in her community was strong and persistent. I want to be that type of leader.

Some of you are military veterans, some small business owners, some professionals, some mothers and grandmothers, some homemakers. How did one of these experiences shape who you are as a person and leader?

I am a Navy veteran and a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. I spent nine years in the Navy and had two wartime deployments. Those experiences mean a lot to me; they shape who I am. Part of the vision of the United States Naval Academy is to develop leadership not just in military but in public service. We did not care about what party the other belonged to; we had a shared goal. I think we need more shared goals in today’s politics. I always say, those who served before are the best equipped to serve again.

The Matriots PAC has a goal to see 50% of all elected offices in Ohio held by women by 2028. What is your vision for Ohio in 2028?

Better education, better jobs, and better healthcare. Ohio’s education system has been ruled unconstitutional for decades. Not only that, the ECOT scandal has brought to light the worst aspects of Ohio’s education system: for-profit enterprises that are taking advantage of our children and weakening public education. Women care about these issues. I believe that if women hold 50% of elected offices, we will see these problems addressed.

Tip O’Neill famously said that “all politics is local.” What are the top-two issues your community or our state face today?

Stark County needs better, affordable healthcare. After leaving the military, I volunteered with the Packard Institute. We didn’t know it at the time, but this was the beginning of the opioid epidemic. I watched this issue worsen while living in Stark County, even affecting my own friends and family. I am determined to find a solution once elected. This has gone on too long.

In addition, we need more mental-health resources in our schools. Last year, our county had a different type of epidemic: many students at Stark County School Districts committed suicide. It was such a serious issue that the Centers for Disease Control came to our community to investigate. Strengthening our healthcare services in Stark County is the right thing to do.

Tell us something personal about yourself.

Some of you might not know, I have three boys! I have an eight-year-old and twin two-year-olds. My eight-year-old calls himself my “back-up campaign manager.” He helps at our phone banks by calling voters and talking about me. Voters love it! My twins help in a different way: they keep me grounded in my family. They often talk to each other in their own special language. They help me laugh when the campaigning gets hard or stressful. They remind me why I’m running: for their future.