Ryan is an inspiration and a needed voice in Columbus. We’re honored to endorse her campaign for Ohio House District 40 and look forward to what she will accomplish.

“I’m honored and grateful to be endorsed by The Matriots, a nonpartisan, women-led organization committed to action in Ohio. As a mother of three, dedicated community volunteer and a professional, I know firsthand that when women are healthy and have opportunity all Ohioans benefit. As a candidate for Ohio House of Representatives for the 40th District, I am fighting for all citizens to have equal access to quality education, healthcare, and economic independence for greater quality of life. I look forward to working with The Matriots to ensure that when women lead, Ohio prospers.“
– Ryan Rebecca Taylor

House District 40 includes the Dayton metropolitan area. 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?

My sister was born with a genetic disability, Mucopolysaccharridosis or MPS, in the late 70s when children were still being institutionalized; my mom chose to raise her at home. My sister was fast, she ran everywhere, and cried a lot. This in combination with having a disability and my protectiveness of her made us a dynamic duo to babysit.  One of my earliest memories happened while we were at a babysitter’s home. The babysitter locked my sister in the bathroom instead of providing care for her. I remember her crying and I being the ever-fierce big sister found a window. I remember the early evening sunlight as I climbed through the bathroom window to get to her knowing that she needed me. That experience defines me. There are difficult times all around us, every day, when I can’t get through the door, I find a window.  My early life experiences of advocating for my sister led me to understand that my calling was to use my life to advocate for others, to work together to improve the quality of life for those who have been challenged, so that we all may have the opportunity to be successful and live a meaningful life.

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

My grandfather, Alvin Neff, was a small business owner, Rotary Club member, and a man of integrity. He always went above and beyond for those around him – a true man of action.  He made sure I had opportunities to travel and receive a good education. He passed away from Alzheimer’s the year my oldest child was born. Campaigning for this House seat, I feel close to him. It has been important to me to carry on his legacy of leadership and service. Through this campaign and our family participation in the community, I teach my children to do the same.

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 vocational rehabilitation counselor, I see that the investment we make in our citizens to help them overcome obstacles, so that they can be independent and employed, is so important.  The impact not to just the person, but their family and broader community is undeniable. Being able to walk next to someone on their journey toward a goal has taught me to not give up hope, to seize opportunities, and know that I can overcome any challenge.  My work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor made me a better teacher. As I train the next generation of counselors and educators, I work to instill a sense of partnership, not charity, within my students so they can be advocates and allies for those they work with.

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?

My daughter will be 25 in 2028 and I would like to see her in an Ohio that has the number of elected women proportional to the number of women citizens. I don’t want her experience to be difficult or different because she is a woman; I want that type of thinking to be done. Women need other women in decision making positions to protect our rights to make medically-informed healthcare decisions and to create an environment that ensures our safety and economic security in society. To create a state where everyone’s voice is valued equally, and a diversity of experiences and perspectives help shape our legislature, is ultimately good for all citizens in Ohio.

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

Ohio’s biggest challenges are education and the opioid epidemic because both issues have immediate and generational impacts on individual citizens as well as our state’s economic well-being. The future of our state is dependent on the health of our communities and the skills of our workforce, so we must have a high-quality educational system and a comprehensive plan to address the issues of addiction that are hurting our children, families, and communities.

Tell us something personal about yourself.

When I was in high school I participated in the Rotary Youth International program and spent a year in Finland. My grandmother, who was reluctant to let me go out of concern over my safety, sent me cash in a card right before Easter. She didn’t know at the time, but I used the money to go on a trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, leaving one of the safest countries on earth to go to visit one of our country’s that had just opened to the West thanks to her generous gift. I spent much of my time at the Hermitage Museum. It was an incredible experience and I’m grateful that my grandparents made it possible. In gratitude for her well-timed Easter gift, I brought her back a Russian nesting doll that still stands on her shelves today.