Why She's Running

Mallory McMaster and her family.

Residents of Ohio Senate District 23 are lucky to have Nickie Antonio, a West Side native, stepping up as a candidate to represent our values in the May 8 primary election. Now in her fourth elected term in the Ohio House of Representatives, Nickie is ready to continue her career as a champion for democratic principles and continue fighting for her constituents as a Senator. 

A strong Democrat, Nickie lives the values she fights for every day. Her experience as a special education teacher and as a leader of a women’s drug and alcohol treatment program gave her the patience and empathy needed to represent constituents in all phases of life – even during times of crisis. She fights for access to senior services, worker’s rights, and women’s rights, and she has overseen the return of millions in capital dollars to Northeast Ohio that have gone on to support education, local infrastructure, and dozens of community projects.

After working her way through school--the first member of her family to attend and graduate from college--Nickie began her successful career fighting for democratic principles. We couldn’t ask for a more qualified candidate for Senate District 23. In addition to serving as the highest-ranking member of the Health and Joint Medicaid Oversight Committees, our neighbor Nickie is also a member of the Finance and Appropriations Committee, the Rules and Reference Committee, and the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee. As past chair of the Ohio Democratic Women’s House Caucus, her ability to work across the aisle resulted in some major legislative wins, including the historic Adoption Open Records Law as well as several critical amendments to major bills. 

Throughout her career, Nickie has never forgotten that she calls our community home. She and her spouse Jean love living in Lakewood, where they raised their two daughters Ariel and Stacey. Nickie deserves my vote, and yours too.

Mallory McMaster

State Representative Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) is honored to be serving her fourth term in the Ohio House of Representatives. House District 13 includes the city of Lakewood in its entirety and parts of Cleveland’s West Side neighborhoods. Representative Antonio is a civic-minded public servant who is concerned with the quality of life of those around her and has been a social justice advocate working for human rights and equality for all people for more than two decades. Antonio is an alumna of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior and Executive Leadership program for State and Local governments. The first in her family to graduate from college, Antonio holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from the Maxine Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from CSU. She is a graduate of Lutheran West High School located in Rocky River, Ohio. Antonio currently serves on the currently serves as Ranking Member of the Health Committee. She also serves on the Finance Committee, Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education, the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee. Rep. Antonio is a member of the Ohio House Democratic Women's Caucus—previously serving as chair—and is the state director for the Women Legislators’ Lobby. Rep. Antonio was also a member of the Democratic Leadership and served as the Minority Whip. Daughters Ariel and Stacey, both Lakewood High School graduates, have made Rep. Antonio and wife Jean Kosmac very proud as the girls engage in their post-secondary pursuits.

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Volume 14, Issue 8, Posted 3:27 PM, 04.17.2018