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Undeterred by loss, ex-trustee sets sights higher
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - January 13, 2010)
Undeterred by loss, ex-trustee sets sights higher
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
The first Democratic candidate has thrown her hat into the ring for what appears to be a wide open race for the 98th Ohio House District.
Former Claridon Township Trustee Mary Briggs filed petitions Monday to seek the state representative seat now held by Rep. Matthew Dolan, R-Russell.
Mr. Dolan publicly has announced that he is be moving to Cuyahoga County to seek the county executive position in a restructuring of government there. Filing deadline for the race is Feb. 18.
Ms. Briggs, who lost a re-election bid for Claridon trustee in November, said she comes from a family dedicated to serving the public from both sides of the aisle.
"I believe in representative government," Ms. Briggs said. "In saying that, I would like to announce my candidacy for state representative of the 98th District to represent and protect the interests of all Geauga County and 19 precincts in northeast Cuyahoga County and to be their voice in Columbus."
She said her filing Monday will put her in the May 4 primary with other Democrats who may file.
Ms. Briggs said she was considering running for the seat regardless of the outcome of her trustee re-election bid. She said she wanted to run for the state office, because she believes that Mr. Dolan was not fulfilling his responsibility to the people of his district. "He didn't represent his constituents on many important issues," she said.
Ms. Briggs said she plans to serve the residents of the 98th District in the same manner she represented township residents for three terms as trustee.
"Since first elected trustee in 1993, I have honorably served my township, my county and my state," she said. "I have been a part of solving issues for my constituents and many others outside of my jurisdiction.
"While I am a lifelong Democrat, as a public servant, I have and will continue to represent the people regardless of party affiliation, age, sex or race."
Referring to the right to bear arms, she said she is a "Second Amendment Democrat," who takes her oath to protect the U.S. and state Constitutions.
Ms. Briggs said she has many issues she would like to address if elected, including hidden taxes, unfunded mandates, septic-system regulations, oil- and gas-well drilling and the protection of townships as an efficient form of government.
"I have experience, knowledge and history of actively working on these issues through participating and serving on a wide variety of boards and organizations," she said.
Ms. Briggs served three terms as Claridon Township trustee. She also served as vice chair for the Geauga County Homeland Security terrorism task force, Geauga-Trumbull solid waste policy committee, Geauga County Health District advisory board, Geauga County 911 committee, Geauga County emergency management executive committee and Chagrin River Watershed Partners Inc. She also served as first vice president of the Northeast Ohio Township Association, the Ohio Township Leadership Program and served two times as a member of the Presidential Electoral College.
"I was born and raised in Geauga County and chose to make this area my home," Ms. Briggs said. "As a teenager, I was attending college with the parents of my West Geauga classmates and became a homeowner before my 19th birthday, which gave me more of a significant sense of responsibility than most people my age."
Ms. Briggs said she started a home-repair business in her 20s and now lives on a 40-acre horse farm.
"I come from a family dedicated to serving the public from both sides of the aisle," she said.
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