House Democrats welcome four members to 134th General Assembly

With the 134th General Assembly officially underway, House Democrats today welcomed freshman members Reps. Willis Blackshear Jr. (D-Dayton), Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus), Daniel P. Troy (D-Willowick) and Monique Smith (D-Fairview Park) to the Democratic caucus.

“Our first term members are ready to hit the ground running. Their experience and expertise make them uniquely qualified to address the issues facing their communities, and I’m excited to work with them in our collective effort to restore Ohio’s promise of better lives, better jobs and brighter futures for all the working people and families who call Ohio home,” said House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron). 

Rep. Willis Blackshear of Dayton will represent the 39th District, and his top priorities are to invest in Southwest Ohio communities, support Ohio’s public schools and make real progress to curb gun violence—something that has been a continued, urgent call from constituents following the mas shooting in Dayton in 2019.

“It is an honor to be representing my community at the Statehouse. Every day I will fight for better paying jobs and higher wages, for quality education for every child, and to end gun violence plaguing our communities. After the mass shooting in Dayton, the people chanted ‘do something,’ and that’s exactly what I plan on doing,” said Rep. Blackshear.

Representing Ohio’s 25th District is Rep. Dontavius Jarrells, a longtime community activist who has fought to give a voice to marginalized communities in Central Ohio for nearly a decade. Jarrells says he will use his new platform to continue advocating for his community to grow wages, jobs and opportunities for working people and families.

“When I first walked into the Ohio Statehouse as a Legislative Commission Fellow in 2010, I could have never imagined I’d be walking back ten years later as State Representative. Since day one, I’ve been committed to building a better Ohio for all of us,” said Rep. Jarrells. “It’s an Ohio where no one is unseen, unheard, or uninspired. Where everyone has access to high-paying careers, not just jobs. An Ohio where a child's zip code doesn't determine the quality of their education. Now, it’s time to turn that commitment into action. From testifying on bills in committees to writing to the Governor, it’s going to take all of us. Together, we're going to build an Ohio we all deserve."

Rep. Daniel P. Troy of Willowick returns to the Statehouse representing the 60th District, an area he represented for seven terms before serving as Lake County Commissioner for 5 terms. Troy says his focus will be on uniting and encouraging bipartisan efforts to turn the corner on the coronavirus pandemic and restore some semblance of normalcy to Ohioans’ everyday lives, to the economy, and to the state’s educational institutions. He also plans to be a strong advocate on senior citizen issues and encourage property tax reform to reduce its burden on them. He has a long history of fighting to protect Lake Erie and will continue that effort, and says he is ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work on crafting what will be the most challenging state budget in recent memory.

"I was proud and honored to have served in the Ohio House, and I am excited and eager to serve once again in this honorable institution. I have spent most of my life in elected public office at the municipal, state and county level, and I am hopeful that the experience and knowledge that I have acquired can help me and my colleagues positively address the daunting challenges that face us and our state," said Rep. Troy.

Newly elected representative for the 16th District, Rep. Monique Smith, says her focus will be on working together to ensure the promise of better lives, better jobs and brighter futures for all Ohioans by investing in families and giving working people access to the tools they need not just to get by, but to get ahead.

“I am honored to serve and represent my community in the Ohio House. By working together, we can create a better Ohio for all, where families can get ahead and build better lives. I will fight every day to ensure a brighter future for all Ohioans,” said Rep. Smith.