A key player in the Aug. 2 primary campaign between former state Rep. John E. Barnes Jr. and term-limited state Rep. Kent Smith to become the Democratic nominee for the Ohio State Senate’s 21st District is … the district itself.
Thanks to state legislative maps imposed by a federal judicial panel In the aftermath of interminable Ohio legislative redistricting wrangling, the number of Democratic state senators representing Cuyahoga County will likely be reduced from three to two. And the 21st state Senate District traditionally anchored in Cleveland — and which has sent a Black state senator to Columbus since 1967, most recently state Sen. Sandra Williams of Cleveland, who recently stepped down – has been bifurcated and its Cleveland components diluted. Both Barnes and Smith consider these decisions to be unconstitutional and believe they will significantly reduce Cuyahoga County’s influence at the Ohio Statehouse. Another large slice of Cleveland is part of a revamped 23rd Senate District, now represented by Democrat Nickie Antonio of Lakewood.
The Ohio Senate Districts for the Cleveland/Akron area that are being used for the 2022 elections.
Barnes, 64, of Warrensville Heights, believes his nomination will ensure continued African American representation for the 21st District, and emphasizes his consensus-building skills.
Smith, 55, of Euclid, agrees that whoever wins the 21st District will need to play a larger than normal role in Columbus, but he maintains the district’s voters are looking for the candidate who will best represent the viewpoints and values of the district’s heavily Democratic residents.
Both candidates bring a strong background of experience in the Statehouse.
Smith is in his fourth and final term in the House, having first been elected in 2014. Before that he served on the school board in the Euclid City School system for 12 years.
Barnes served two stints in the House, first from 1999 until his resignation in 2002, and then four terms from 2011 through 2018. He is proud of his role in helping to bring $300 million to Cleveland for construction of the Opportunity Corridor, including a $60 million set-aside targeted at providing jobs for minorities and women.
But it is Smith whom we believe will most effectively be able to deliver his district’s message in the heavily Republican Senate, and it is he who receives our endorsement.
Most importantly, in the endorsement interview with members of the cleveland.com and Plain Dealer editorial board, Smith was eloquent in outlining the challenges ahead for the legislature in the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade’s constitutional right to abortion.
Smith clearly sees perilous politics ahead as the legislature wrestles with what tack Ohio will take on the abortion question, and he advocates getting “a constitutional amendment to protect abortion as health care in Ohio” on the ballot. He believes such a referendum would be broadly supported statewide and approved by voters. Barnes agrees on the need for abortion rights in Ohio but his preferred solution would be to first gather experts and stakeholders together to talk about best moves forward.
Smith is ready to act, including to champion crucial utility regulatory reform and alternative energy innovations in the state Senate, strongly supporting the Cleveland Icebreaker wind-energy demonstration project that would be a first on the Great Lakes.
Asked about his ability to work with Republican colleagues, Smith pointed to bills he co-sponsored with GOP state Reps. Jamie Callender of Concord Township in Lake County, Gayle Manning of North Ridgeville, and former Rep. Rick Carfagna of Delaware County.
Smith’s background also equips him to be effective in issues affecting schools. He helped pass legislation doubling the budget of the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and is proud of his efforts to advance school funding reform in the state budget and to add summer meal programs for schoolchildren.
Smith argues that he has the vision, energy, and skills to serve the voters of the 21st District well. We agree.
On the Aug. 2 ballot, Democratic voters in the 21st Senate District should nominate Kent Smith to represent them in the Ohio Senate. The winner will face Republican Mikhail Alterman in November. Early voting in the Aug. 2 primary begins today.
To verify your state Senate district, use the “Find my District” feature on the Secretary of State’s website.
On July 5, 2022, the editorial board of The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, as part of its endorsement process, interviewed former state Rep. John E. Barnes Jr. of Warrensville Heights and current state Rep. Kent Smith of Euclid, the two Democratic candidates for an open seat in the 21st Ohio Senate primary on Aug. 2. The 21st district has been reconfigured for this election, encompassing a number of East Side and inner-ring suburbs along with parts of Cleveland. Listen to audio of this interview below.
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