Primary 2024: Meet the 7 Columbus-area Democrats vying for the Ohio House District 6 seat
Seven Democrats are battling in the March primary for their party's nomination to Ohio House District 6 on the general election ballot in November.
The seat, currently held by Rep. Adam Miller (D-Columbus), geographically represents parts of Columbus' West Side, including the Hilltop neighborhood, parts of Galloway, and other Far West Side areas, including those that border Norwich Township; part of Franklin Township; part of Perry Township; part of Prairie Township; and Valleyview village.Miller, also a Democrat, isn't running for reelection to his Ohio District 6 seat because he is instead running for a seat in the U.S. House. He was endorsed by Franklin County Democratic Party for his run in the 15th Congressional District, which includes parts of Franklin County and Madison County. In the Democratic primary he faces Zerqa Abid, and the winner will face Republican incumbent Mike Carey in November.
At a January meeting where the Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee endorsed Miller, party leaders decided not to endorse anyone running for his 6th District seat.
Those candidates include: Elijah Williams and Kawther Musa, of Galloway; and Patrick Barnacle, Christine Cockley, Adhanet Kifle, Eli Bohnert, Brandon Barcus, all of Columbus.
The winner of the primary will face unopposed Republican Hussein Jabiri, of Columbus, in the November general election.
Members of the Ohio House of Representatives serve two-year terms and their base salary is $71,099 annually.
Here's more on each of the seven candidates in the contested Democratic race. Voters can cast a ballot early in-person at the Franklin County Board of Elections, via absentee ballot, or at their local polling place on primary election day on March 19.
Brandon Barcus
Age: 32
Residence: Columbus' Hilltop on the city's West Side
Occupation: Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and a cybersecurity policy analyst at Horizon Industries.
Barcus has deep roots in his West Side community, where he lives on the same street as the elementary school he attended growing up. Three generations of his family have lived in House District 6.
"I love my West Side community and have dedicated my life to service to my neighbors, friends and family in our West Side neighborhoods," Barcus said.
Barcus has never run for office before, though he was a legislative aide and staffer for Ohio Reps. Heather Bischoff and Rich Brown.
When it comes to the issues, Barcus believes finances are the biggest problem facing local families, in part due to rising property taxes.
"We need to lift barriers to homeownership so that families can not only afford a home, but afford to stay in their home," he said.
He also said increasing funding for education and vocational programs is crucial to give West Side workers needed opportunities in a changing workforce.
Barcus also pointed to the opioid crisis as an issue plaguing the West Side that needs to be tackled, and said he lost his own father to the drug on the Hilltop.
To fix the community's issues, he said he will fight for expansion of the state's single-family housing development credit and advocate for increased access to treatment, funding and prevention initiatives for opioid abuse.
"I am the only veteran in this race," Barcus said. "I have worn the uniform and am proud to have fought for my country. I’ll fight for our community."
And he knows how, he said, as his legislative experience means he can get started fighting for West Side families on his first day in office.
"I have experience in policy from conception to being signed on the governor’s desk, and most importantly, I know the impact of policy at the implementation level from my social work experience," Barcus said. "I believe that my proven service to others through the military, my proven experience in the Ohio legislature, and my multigenerational ties to this community make me uniquely qualified to fight for West Columbus families."
Patrick Barnacle
Age: 39
Residence: Westgate, on Columbus' West Side
Occupation: Lawyer and software developer at Public Results LLC and Movement Labs LLC
Barnacle said he wants to be a state representative because he has noticed what Ohioans have lost when it comes to elected officials and wants to address the hopelessness and desperation he sees among residents of the 6th District.
"Too many elected leaders have given up to hopelessness on effecting any real change," he said. "This permeates down to city workers and even our law enforcement."
Leaders giving up is what leads to residents feeling desperate, Barnacle said.
"My family and my children are here," Barnacle said. "We believe in the strength of our neighborhood and the people who live here, and we need elected leaders who do, too."
Barnacle, who previously served as a Greater Hilltop Area Commissioner, said he hopes being a state representative would give him a platform to address problems at the state, city and county levels that have led to poor conditions for Hilltop residents.
"West Broad is a great focal point for change, because its jurisdiction extends to Columbus city, to Franklin County via the townships, and through the state as a designated state highway," he said. "If we can uplift West Broad, it will permeate throughout the district."
Barnacle said he hopes to represent everyone in the district and is willing to work across party lines to do so.
"The problems we face are too big to sit in our safe partisan bubbles, and we need someone who will reach out and try to empathize with everyone," he said.
Eli Bohnert
Age: 25
Residence: West Scioto, on Columbus' West Side
Occupation: User experience coordinator at JPMorgan Chase
Bohnert said he feels that the issues that people face in the community are personal to him, and that's why he wants to represent District 6.
Losing his job after the pandemic, Bohnert said he had to choose between paying $500 a month in health insurance premiums or paying for his prescriptions out of pocket. He said he knows what it's like to get his groceries at a food pantry.
And, as a gay man, Bohnert said he knows what it feels like to have the state government directly attack him.
"I'm standing up to say: Enough is enough," he said. "We are all tired of politicians who are more focused on creating culture wars, banning books and abortion instead of fighting to put money back in our pockets."
Right now, Bohnert is in his second term as treasurer and a commissioner on the West Scioto Area Commission. He said the biggest issues facing the district are similar to those across the state: housing, freedom, education, jobs and transportation.
"One of my top priorities is addressing the housing shortage," Bohnert said. "I also feel strongly that our freedom is under attack, particularly abortion rights and LGBTQ+ rights"
Other priorities of Bohnert's are improving funding for public education; finding more educational resources for young people; bringing more career-focused jobs to the district; increasing job training programs; and improving public transportation.
"There are certainly not simple solutions to these problems, which is why I believe collaboration is the only way to move forward," Bohnert said. "On either side of the aisle, we all want to see our constituents thriving. I intend to work with all parties and build relationships across the aisle."
Bohnert said he believes he has the right experience at the right time. At the area commission, he has focused on sustainable development, improving public transit and meeting the housing needs of the growing city, he said.
"I have the experience of working with city, county and community leaders to bring resources to the West Side," Bohnert said.
Bohnert goes door to door in the community often to meet with voters, he said, adding that he takes the stories he hears to heart.
"I feel I am in a position to bring new ideas and new perspectives for the challenges all Ohioans face," he said. "I remain open-minded and listen to all points of view. It’s the only way we are going to see improvements in our state."
Christine Cockley
Age: 28
Residence: Columbus' Hilltop
Occupation: Executive assistant to the president & CEO of the YWCA
Cockley is a lifelong Democrat and said she has known for years she is called to serve her community.
She's volunteered and worked on many campaigns, she said, including her mother's race for Richland County judge and Sen. Sherrod Brown’s 2018 reelection campaign.
"After building a life on Hilltop with my partner, two dogs, and our chickens, I’ve gotten to deeply know the people of this district and the challenges they face every day," Cockley said.
"When our most vulnerable neighbors are in need, our state representative must lead with kindness, understanding and from shared lived experiences. I’m running to be that state representative, to deliver results for my neighbors in House District 6," she said.
Working with Brown taught Cockley the importance of listening with empathy and leading with concrete action, she said.
Cockley believes the biggest issues facing the West Side include access to health care, safe and affordable neighborhoods and an economy that isn't working for working families, she said.
To work toward solving those problems, Cockley said she will work to ensure Ohioans have access to affordable, preventative mental and physical health care; defend the right to abortion; support efforts to build more affordable and mixed-income housing in the district as well as investing in more diverse pathways to homeownership; and propose gun safety measures including universal background checks and red flag laws. She also supports raising the minimum wage, making child care affordable, investing in transportation and ensuring the right to organize with labor unions.
"Above all, we need elected officials in the Statehouse that listen to their constituents, advocate on their behalf and take concrete action," Cockley said.
Cockley said she wants people to know she's faced many of the same challenges they have, such as living with a disability and making ends meet living paycheck to paycheck.
"These lived experiences are the reason I lead with empathy ... combined with my professional accomplishments (they) make me the best candidate to get things done for House District 6," Cockley said. "I’m a resident in this community with deep connections to community leaders across the district and I have the experience to bring people together and deliver results for the West Side."
Adhanet Kifle
Age: 48
Residence: Columbus' Hilltop
Occupation: Technical lead/service line manager at Battelle
Kifle and her family found opportunity and were able to build a better future while she was growing up as a first-generation American in Columbus.
For her, that meant a growing passion for technology that led her to a successful career in computer information systems at Battelle. She believes government helped create educational opportunities and safe housing for her family.
"That’s why I am running for state representative, to build a better future for all of us. To bring the perspective of someone who has lived the American dream and understands future technology to our Statehouse," said Kifle, who graduated from Columbus City Schools' Briggs High School.
Kifle ran in 2016 for state representative in Ohio House District 18 and lost. Now, she believes Ohio is at a crossroads with technology jobs and the opportunities they may offer, like those she found.
As for the issues facing the West Side, Kifle named education, workforce development and livable wages as top concerns. To address education, she plans to support more education and skills training programs; promote STEM education; increase funding for public education on the West Side; and expand access to early childhood education programs.
When it comes to workforce, Kifle would collaborate with local businesses to find out their needs and then create targeted training programs; invest in vocational education and apprenticeship programs; and foster entrepreneurship and small business growth through mentorship and financial incentives.
As for wages, she supports increasing the state's minimum wage and promoting policies regarding income equality and fair labor practices.
"People should vote for me because I am deeply rooted in this community, having been raised in a working-class family that faced its share of challenges," Kifle said.
Kifle said she's dedicated to being a voice for the district.
"By electing me as your state representative, you can trust that I will fight for you every step of the way and work tirelessly to build a brighter future for us all," she said. "I believe in giving back and ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background."
Kawther Musa
Age: 34
Residence: Galloway
Occupation: Federally certified health care navigator at UHCAN Ohio, a statewide health care advocacy organization
Musa did not respond to requests from The Dispatch for comment before the deadline.
According to her campaign website, Musa is committed to public service and issues she cares about including health care access, job creation, affordable housing, education funding, social justice and combatting drug abuse.
She supports expansion of the Affordable Care Act and also plans to support initiatives that promote small businesses, according to www.musaforohio.com.
Previously, she served on the Northeast Area Commission and helped organize Somali National Day and fundraised for many causes.
Elijah Williams
Age: 35
Residence: Galloway
Occupation: Sales, Verizon Wireless
Williams said he is running because he knows that people want a representative who has real experience, not a politician who will say something and not follow through.
"I'm outside, I meet people. ... I actually go door-to-door and talk to people," he said. "I'm running because I feel for my community and whatever they're going through. I feel it. I'm not just saying it, I sympathize with them. I feel like I can make a change."
Williams, a graduate of South-Western City Schools' Westland High School, said he is focused first and foremost on education, and second on accountability. He wants more people to learn to manage businesses and be taught financial literacy in school.
If elected, he plans to improve education by offering more state support to schools and getting more charter schools involved in policy.
"I'm not a politician, I'm a real person that dealt with the same issues everyone deals with," Williams said. "I just want to be able to make a change for all of us together."
dking@dispatch.com
@DanaeKing
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Meet the 7 Columbus-area Democrats seeking Ohio House District 6 seat
