Running a grassroots campaign for Garfield Heights City Council, Renae Bolton is ready to lead with passion, purpose, and positivity. She sets her standards high and will work to achieve them. Bolton aims to be instrumental in effecting real change in Garfield Heights for both the residents in Ward 6 and the city. She believes in empowering women to seek future careers that promote financial independence. Bolton uses her voice to advocate on behalf of the needs of women, even when wrestling with imposter syndrome. Bolton knows her key to success is prioritizing the needs of the residents she would be serving and is eager to have City Council better reflect her city’s diverse community.

Bolton for Garfield Heights

Meet the Candidate

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

As a mom of 6, I started off being deeply involved in and committed to the Garfield Heights City Schools. That has been a 16-year process and included stepping up as a Room Mom, reading partner, and PTA Vice President of Fundraising. Two years ago, a Council member suggested that I start attending City Council Meetings. Then, the pandemic hit and everything was remote so I was able to call in or Zoom in and was able to attend many more meetings. My eyes were then opened to a whole new world of “what is going on in my city??” It became increasingly apparent that people in our community needed to step up and get involved in our local government, so I did.

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?

The top two issues facing my community are unity and safety. Creating a sense of unity in our community can resolve so many of the issues we are facing. It can also help to heal wounds that are still festering in our city. Our city has had major racial unrest, particularly over the past few years. Black people and other people of color are on pins and needles waiting for the next hammer to fall. People currently in positions of authority in our city don’t care about minorities and the disenfranchised or, if they do care, they don’t care enough to step outside of their comfort zones to effect any real change. Creating unity will help every resident of my ward feel that this is a safe space for each one of us. It will also go a long way in helping to foster companionship and camaraderie, which will be used to promote community policing and neighborhood watch. We need to get back to a point where we care for one another. Building a sense of community is where that starts.

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

The values that I anticipate will be the most impactful for my experience once I am on City Council would be both equity and independence and safe communities. I have often felt that a local government is unable to accurately care for its residents if that government does not adequately reflect the citizens residing there. My goal in running for City Council is to move our local government to a place where the board looks like the people they represent. Additionally, as a mom of 6, I want my family to grow in a safe community. 

What does a Matriots PAC endorsement mean to you and your campaign?

The Matriots PAC endorsement means everything to me. The first endorsement application that I filled out and endorsement interview that I had was with The Matriots. Being invited to interview for the endorsement felt like I was being taken seriously. As the only woman running in my race, it felt like I was finally being seen. This endorsement itself moved even higher and confirmed for me that I was doing what I should be doing. It showed me that I was now backed by a strong organization that believed in what I was working toward and was willing to step up and walk alongside me during the process. It has meant everything!