The Matriots are delighted to endorse Tavia in her candidacy for Ohio House District 35. She is a strong, needed voice in the Statehouse and we know she will continue to work hard to support women and families in Ohio.

House District 35 includes the Akron 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?

The day after the presidential election of 2016, I decided that I had to do more to help Ohioans on a larger scale because people would soon be hurting. I left my job as a Juvenile Court magistrate six months later and never looked back. I took a significant pay cut, but I am right where I need to be.

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

My mother is one of the strongest people I have ever met. My earliest memories go back to being raised by this single mother of two, living in the projects of South Central Los Angeles. She told me that education is a winning lottery ticket and can take you as far as you want to go.

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?

My job as a Juvenile Court magistrate provided me a chance to help families and to grow up with my own little family. When I first became a magistrate, our children were little and my marriage was taking the daily beating of child-care issues, juggling finances and trying to achieve work-and-life balance. I learned that sacrifice builds a strong foundation to weather life’s storms.

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 Ohio is to make as many allies of women as possible so that I can be a part of improving life for Ohio families.

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

The opiate crisis and education funding are Ohio’s largest problems. Unfortunately, if we do not keep the Medicaid expansion, healthcare will eclipse both of those.

Tell us something personal about yourself.

I love math and art mixed together. So a lot of my hobbies involve solving puzzles or creating 3-D origami.