Black Caucus makes key endorsements for Espy, Brown, Sykes

staff@olbc1967.org

March 20, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                           Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Endorses Espy, Sykes, Brown

Hudson and Williams

Columbus - The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) has endorsed various statewide and legislative candidates for the 2006 Primary and General Elections. 

 Ohio Supreme Court - Ben Espy

Ben Espy is a practicing attorney with 38 years of legal experience and service as an Assistant Ohio Attorney General, Air Force lawyer, Ohio state senator, city council member, and community leader.  In the Ohio Attorney General's office he prosecuted organized crime as Chief of the Division of Criminal Activities, and served as Deputy Chief of the Civil Rights Division.  Espy has participated in hundreds of trials and has practiced before the Ohio Supreme Court.  He was the first African-American to be the top leader of one of the Ohio General Assembly's four legislative caucuses.  

 State Auditor - Barbara Sykes

State Representative Barbara Sykes has dedicated her life to protecting the fiscal interests of all Ohioans at the local, county and state levels of government.  She served as the Deputy Auditor of Administration for Summit County for 12 years.  She is the president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and is the highest ranking Democrat on the Human Services Subcommittee of Finance and Appropriations.  Sykes pledges to provide honest oversight of taxpayer dollars by rebuilding the trust of Ohio's citizens.  She will work to create meaningful partnerships that will maximize the use of state funding and improve the performance of government agencies.

US Senate - Sherrod Brown

Sherrod Brown's experience and leadership has spanned 30 years.   As a State Representative, an Ohio Secretary of State and as a member of the United States Congress, Brown served as a champion for social and economic justice for all Ohioans.  He has provided consistent support and advocacy for protecting voting rights, raising the minimum wage and finding solutions that benefit everyone and not just the privileged few.  As US Senator, Brown will push to maintain funding for Head Start and Even Start that dramatically improves student performance in lower income communities. 

State Representative, 60th House District (Youngstown) - Rufus G. Hudson

Youngstown City Councilman Rufus Hudson will bring extensive experience and qualifications to the race for State Representative.   He has over 20 years of community and civic involvement in the Youngstown community, and has worked closely with businesses and commerce for economic development and Enterprise Zone development.      

State Representative, 11th House District (Cleveland) - Sandra Williams

As the Community Liaison and Legislative Aide to State Representative Annie L. Key, Sandra Williams has gained leadership experience and extensive knowledge about the issues and opportunities facing the 11th House District.  She will focus her service in the Ohio General Assembly on education reform, improving access to affordable healthcare, and accelerating economic development    

The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus is comprised of the eighteen African-American legislators who serve in the Ohio General Assembly.  Fourteen serve in the House of Representatives and four serve in the Senate.  OLBC members hold minority leadership positions in both the House and Senate.

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