Candidates
Tara Dyer
Marion City Council, Ward 5
Northwest Ohio, Local
Tara Dyer is a retired teacher who remains active in the Marion community. A board member for Marion Public Health, Tara understands her community’s needs and is committed to helping small businesses thrive, and to creating safe spaces for residents to get a hot meal, access to basic needs, and help finding a job.
The responsibilities of city council members include:
- Establishing policies for effective delivery of municipal services like trash collection, water, and snow removal services.
- Adopting annual city budgets and legislation to address key issues in their community.
- Approving the use and sale of city owned property.
Meet the Candidate
Can you tell our members a little bit about your journey to filing as a candidate?
For several years, I have attended the League of Women Voters candidates nights, read their voter guides, and attended their sponsored events with the hope of gathering knowledge to facilitate the selection candidates “worthy” of my vote and to utilize trustworthy information that I felt would reflect a common interest. Two years ago, as I sat in the audience, I had an epiphany. I came the conclusion that it was time for me to be more than a member of the audience, but to become a more active participant in the political process. So, with petition in hand, I embarked on the journey to become an elected official.
Tell our members about a friend or family member who inspired you to become a leader.
My source of inspiration come from my mother, Mary Emma McDuffie. She instilled Christian values, my love of education, and demonstrated to me everyday what a strong, woman should do and be.
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?
As a former teacher, I am constantly aware of the need to be a lifelong learner, to remain vigilant on the matters that inform our community, state, country, and world. Also, I know that identification of problematic issues as well as presenting strategies to solve them was an asset.
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 vision for my community:
- Develop a skilled labor force by utilizing the resources that exist. (The Ohio State University, Marion Technical College, adult education services, RAMTEC, etc.) to accommodate the work force labor.
- Develop a functional resource/activity center for youth.
- Infrastructure revitalization.
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 drugs and rehabilitation.
Tell us something personal about yourself.
I hate to be “cliche”, but I have developed a “bucket list” for my retirement years. One item on the list was to travel cross country on a train. I crossed that off when I traveled to California with my aunt recently. I eliminated my desire to ride a camel in the desert when I traveled to Dubai. As I crossed this adventure off the list, other really exhilarating desert activities occupied my visit. Remaining experiences I have on the list are: learning how to ride a motorcycle, finally finishing writing my book, and taking lessons to become a helicopter pilot!