John E. Barnes Jr., candidate for state senator 25th district, May 2018 primary election

This information is published as provided by the candidate and has not been modified by The News-Herald.

Name: John E. Barnes Jr.

Political Party: Democrat

Office sought: Ohio Senate 25th District

Age: 59

Date of birth: John 12, 1958

Place of birth: Cleveland, Ohio

Home address: 4896 Green Road

Length of residence in that community: Childhood

Twitter?: @BarnesforOhio

Facebook?: John E. Barnes Jr.

Campaign website?: BarnesForOhio.com

Occupation: Full Time Legislator

Employer: State of Ohio

Elected office experience: State Representative

Non-elected office experience (boards, etc.):

 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (Past and Present)

 Adjunct Professor, Chancellor University, Public Policy and Business

 Albany State University , Albany Georgia – Member, National Advisory Board, Center for Advanced Logistics and Management

 Chancellor University, former Member, Board of Trustees

 Co-Chairperson, Economic Development Committee, The Council of State Government

 Council of State Government Member, National International Committee

 Honorary Degree of Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Chancellor University

Education (Please list only schools you’ve graduated from and list degrees if applicable): Masters of Science Organization Development and Analysis

CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, Weatherhead School of Management

International Program, Center for Organizational and Personnel Psychology

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITY, at Leuven, (Brussels) Belgium

Marital status and name of spouse: Veronica L. Barnes

Do you have children?: James (step son)

Organizations: Mason

Should you be elected, what are three specific areas you’d like to change, address, improve or further research, and how specifically would you go about it?: The Ohio Senate is an extremely important position. I should be elected because I think I can make a positive difference for the people of the 25th Senatorial District (Cleveland Region) and Ohio. I am a strong pragmatic leader with the background and experience to make a difference base on what I call smart politics. Smart politics is honor, dignity, integrity, and commitment that accomplishes relationships that builds institutions of cooperation for not the partisan answer, but the right answer for people. Politics is important, but it should not be an excuse to do anything less than moving forward by achieving incremental progress for people. Specifically, including but not limited to accomplish improvements to education, creating new jobs, economic growth by identifying untapped markets to sell Ohio products and services to the world. This leadership strategy will continue my work to achieve happier, stronger, and healthier lives for all, but also gives people a reason to believe they have a stake in the future.

Whether for past accomplishments or future goals, why should voters elect you?: John E. Barnes Jr., State Senate candidate for the 25th District, has a reputation for getting things done in Columbus. A lifelong Democrat with a 96% Democratic voting record, he believes in “Smart Politics” that builds cooperation and avoids partisan deadlock. John Barnes Jr. has brought dollars to the district for education, job training, transportation and community improvement.

Many people are disaffected and uninvolved in the political process because political deadlock leaves them feeling frustrated with both sides, having seen no progress in their individual lives. Our community is in an urgent situation; people are suffering. We need a senator with the drive and endurance to do the work of the office. Our progress as a community can be no swifter than the readiness of our leaders to serve. Our ability to improve our schools, our progress toward improving the economy, and our ability to create new jobs are all contingent on the readiness of our leaders. John Barnes Jr. has the energy and leadership to represent the 25th District. In a time when many politicians have lost touch with the communities they serve, John Barnes is committed to People First.

I will work hard to give people a reason to believe that government can achieve positive action towards the challenges people are facing. This begins with promoting economic growth, which requires access to capital, skilled workforce, and access to global markets including, but not limited to, the following:

BARNES on JOBS and CAREERS

I will WORK HARD to ensure that State government has a strategy for the creation of jobs and career opportunities for all Ohioans.

This strategy will focus on identifying job opportunities for

Youth Jobs – To serve as an extension of classroom to teach soft skills for “at risk” students;

Entry level Jobs - For young adults with the potential for career ladders;

Mid-Career Jobs – Help those already in the workforce transition from one career to another; and

Jobs for Mature Workers - Helping Seniors sustain a quality of life in this challenging economy.

I will WORK HARD to eliminate the use of negative credit reports as a condition of hiring unemployed workers.

I will WORK HARD to eliminate barriers to employment and opportunity.

BARNES on HONORING SENIOR CITIZENS

I will WORK HARD to increase services for Senior Citizens for Medicaid and PASSPORT Programs.

I will WORK HARD to respond to the job opportunities preferences of transitioning and mature workers.

I will WORK HARD to ensure families get full benefits for raising children under kinship care, including “at risk” issues.

BARNES on EDUCATION

I will WORK HARD for more investment in education that will close the achievement gap for underperforming “at risk” students.

I will WORK HARD for more investment in early childhood education.

I will WORK HARD to advocate for career technical and vocational education to reduce the dropout rate.

I will WORK HARD to make our public colleges and universities more affordable.

BARNES on ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

I will WORK HARD for anti-predatory lending laws to stop unscrupulous and abusive lenders.

I will WORK HARD for entrepreneurial incubators and development of untapped community markets access.

I will WORK HARD for increased sales of Ohio made products in global markets.

I will WORK HARD for more small business collaborations with major Ohio corporations.

I will WORK HARD to promote investment attraction, which will promote job creation and opportunity.

I will WORK HARD to promote infrastructure investment, maintenance potholes,

BARNES on SAFETY AND COMMUNITY SECURITY

I will WORK HARD for a community safety protocol (law) to protect our children from school violence, women against domestic violence, and people from domestic terror in our neighborhoods, by requiring background checks that ensure mentally incapacitated people who are a danger to themselves cannot purchase guns including military assault weapons.

BARNES on HEALTH CARE

I will WORK HARD to sustain Medicaid expansion and achieve accessible and affordable healthcare for all Ohio citizens.

I will WORK HARD to eradicate lead poisoning in housing.

I will WORK HARD modernize State of `Ohio data collection systems to advance research and analytics for disease cures.