Candidates
Sandra Bally
Ashland City Council, At-large
Northeast Ohio, Local
Sandra L. Bally, the only opponent to council member Daniel Lawson, has a zealous nature that would bring fresh ideas to the Ashland City Council. Sandra has previously run for office and has attended every council meeting over the past three years. One of her main goals if elected is to focus on attracting businesses to Ashland and investigating possibilities of alternative energy sources that could help build up the city. Her background in engineering and manufacturing combined with her passion for the community makes her a perfect candidate.
FacebookMeet the Candidate
Can you tell our members a little bit about your journey to filing as a candidate?
I had planned on running for the open city council position in my ward because all of the current council members are male businessmen and I felt that women needed to have more representation on the Council and in the city. I found that there were already two men seeking this position but there was also a Council at Large position up for election. I had a decision to make, and after much thought, decided to run for that Council at Large position which covered not only my ward but the entire city.
Yes, this is a bigger challenge, but I need to keep stretching my beliefs in what I can achieve. I want to be that one person that anyone in the city can contact and have their issue be heard and acted upon. My goal is to make it easier for the citizens of my town to get involved and to know and understand that I am here to serve them as their representative.
Tell our members about a friend or family member who inspired you to become a leader.
My mom was the one person that inspired me on my political journey. At the age of 94 my Mom became politically active. She started writing letters to the editor of our local newspaper regarding changes in our local school district. During the 2016 election she became very afraid of what the United States was becoming. She had lived through the depression, World War II, Vietnam, and September 11th and now she felt unsafe like never before. I felt it too and gave a lot of thought about how I could make a difference. I still feel that I need to do all I can to make a difference in my community and the world.
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?
For over 25 years I worked as an engineer in manufacturing which taught me to understand hard work and dedication. As a single mom I gained the knowledge of how hard it is to just survive and the necessity of being responsible for another human being. As a caretaker for my mother I understand the concerns and needs of our senior residents.
With over 60 years of life experiences I have a lot to offer the members of my community and now have the time to contribute.
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?
During these times there seem to be significant negative changes that affect women. We, as women, must take a more active role in the decisions that are being made. When I am sworn in on our City Council women will still be a minority and we will still never have had a woman Mayor. By 2028 I hope that it will be commonplace to have women serving as City Council members and/or as the Mayor in my community.
Tip O’Neill famously said that “all politics is local.” What are the top-two issues your community or our state face today?
The top-two issues in my community are jobs and abandoned buildings. Our city was hit hard by the 2008 recession and we were left with a number of abandoned factories.
I want to actively promote our town to companies that provide jobs that not only have a future but a living wage. I want a city that is known for good jobs and great schools, where young people stay to raise their families.
Currently the city is razing some of the abandoned buildings but there are many more that need their attention. A decision will be made by City Council regarding what is to be put in their place. I would like to see a committee formed of residents from all wards to build a plan regarding what we need and how to get there.
Tell us something personal about yourself.
I have been collecting pictures of hot air balloons for over 2 decades. My living room is covered with framed balloon artwork in all sizes and colors. It is very colorful, beautiful and peaceful. Recently I discovered jigsaw puzzles of hot air balloons; when finished, I glue them, frame them and make them a part of my collection.
It just so happens that the city I am now a resident of was once considered the balloon capital of the world.