1. Establish District and Neighborhood Community Assemblies

Create permanent resident-led assemblies where community members can identify problems, develop solutions, review proposed government actions, and communicate directly with City Council.

Assemblies can address:

• Housing.
• Infrastructure.
• Transportation.
• Public services.
• Environmental concerns.
• Food access.
• Public health.
• Community development.
• Neighborhood safety.

2. Make Government Participation Accessible

Government should adapt its processes to the realities of residents’ lives.

Community participation should include:

• Evening and weekend meetings.
• Accessible physical locations.
• Virtual participation.
• Translation and interpretation.
• Disability accommodations.
• Accessible materials.
• Childcare support when feasible.

Residents should not have to choose between participating in government and working, caring for their children, or meeting their basic needs.

3. Establish Participatory Budgeting

Create a process through which residents directly influence designated portions of municipal spending.

Residents could determine priorities for:

• Parks.
• Street and sidewalk improvements.
• Community gardens.
• Public spaces.
• Transportation improvements.
• Environmental projects.
• Neighborhood infrastructure.
• Community programs.

4. Establish Community Review of Major Development

Before major projects involving public land, significant development, corporate incentives, infrastructure changes, or substantial public expenditures receive approval, residents should have access to information and opportunities to participate in the decision-making process.

Community review should examine:

• Environmental impacts.
• Housing impacts.
• Traffic impacts.
• Infrastructure requirements.
• Public costs.
• Community benefits.
• Potential displacement.

Development should strengthen existing communities rather than displace residents or transfer public resources toward private interests.

5. Create Community Advisory Councils

Establish representative councils that provide direct recommendations to city government.

Representation should include:

• Renters.
• Workers.
• Youth.
• Disabled residents.
• Seniors.
• Immigrant communities.
• LGBTQ+ residents.
• Environmental advocates.
• Small businesses.
• Neighborhood residents.

6. Establish Public Oversight Structures

Create independent community oversight mechanisms for major municipal programs, expenditures, contracts, and government actions.

These structures should have clear responsibilities, public reporting requirements, and accessible processes for residents to raise concerns.

7. Make Government Information Accessible

Residents should be able to understand how government works and how public resources are used.

The city should provide:

• Plain-language budget summaries.
• Accessible public records.
• Searchable government databases.
• Transparent contracting information.
• Clear explanations of legislation.
• Public records of government decisions.
• Accessible information for people with disabilities and language barriers.

Residents should not need specialized political, legal, or financial knowledge to understand their own government.

8. Create a Public Policy Feedback System

Develop an accessible system where residents can provide feedback about:

• City services.
• Infrastructure.
• Government programs.
• Legislation.
• Community concerns.

Feedback should be documented, reviewed, and publicly tracked.

Residents should be able to see what recommendations were made, what government did in response, and why certain recommendations were not adopted.

9. Expand Civic Education

Support programs teaching residents:

• How local government works.
• How municipal budgets are created.
• How legislation is developed.
• How residents can participate.
• How to access public records.
• How communities can organize around policy issues.

Political participation should not depend on already understanding complicated government systems.

10. Protect Community Organizing

Protect residents’ rights to peacefully protest, organize, form community organizations, advocate for legislation, criticize government, and demand political change.

Grassroots organizing is a fundamental component of democracy.

11. Build Community Economic Power

Community sovereignty must extend beyond political participation.

The city should prioritize policies that strengthen locally owned businesses, worker cooperatives, community organizations, farmers, community agriculture, and other forms of local economic ownership.

Public investment should strengthen the local economy rather than creating unnecessary dependence on large corporations.

12. Build Toward Statewide Community Sovereignty

As Governor of Ohio, I would expand these principles beyond Toledo and establish statewide systems for participatory governance.

This would include:

• Regional citizen assemblies.
• Statewide participatory budgeting programs.
• Stronger public records protections.
• Transparent state contracting.
• Community review of major state projects.
• Expanded civic participation.
• Stronger public oversight.
• Greater community influence over state investment.

13. Establish Regional Citizen Assemblies

Create opportunities for Ohio residents to participate directly in discussions surrounding major statewide issues, including:

• Housing.
• Healthcare.
• Infrastructure.
• Environmental policy.
• Energy.
• Transportation.
• Economic development.
• Public services.

Assemblies should include residents from diverse communities rather than relying exclusively on traditional political institutions and professional stakeholders.

14. Expand Participatory Budgeting Across Ohio

Develop statewide programs supporting communities that want to give residents direct influence over designated public expenditures.

15. Strengthen State Transparency

Pursue reforms strengthening:

• Public records access.
• Government contracting transparency.
• Agency accountability.
• Public reporting requirements.
• Disclosure of major public expenditures.

Public resources should remain visible and accountable to the people.

16. Reduce Corporate Influence

Pursue reforms addressing lobbying influence, conflicts of interest, revolving-door relationships, and other mechanisms through which concentrated private wealth can exert disproportionate political influence.

Government should be accountable to residents rather than structured around access for those with the greatest financial resources.

MUNICIPAL LIMITATIONS

A Toledo City Council member cannot independently rewrite state or federal law, control federal agencies, create statewide programs, or eliminate every source of political influence.

City Council can, however:

• Pass local ordinances.
• Influence municipal budgets.
• Establish community assemblies.
• Create advisory and oversight structures.
• Expand public participation.
• Improve government transparency.
• Conduct municipal oversight.
• Protect grassroots organizing.
• Create participatory budgeting systems.
• Build local economic power.
• Establish Toledo as a model for community-controlled governance.

The purpose of this initiative is to use the authority available at the municipal level to begin shifting political power toward residents while creating a framework that can eventually be expanded throughout Ohio.

CONNECTION TO OTHER POLICIES

Economic Democracy
Political power is inseparable from economic power. Communities cannot exercise sovereignty when wealth and ownership are concentrated outside the communities themselves.

Local Business Economy
Supporting locally owned businesses, cooperatives, farmers, and community enterprises strengthens economic independence and keeps public investment within communities.

Government Transparency
Residents cannot oversee government when information about public decisions and spending is inaccessible.

Housing and Land Sovereignty
Community participation must extend to decisions about development, housing, land use, and displacement.

Environmental Justice
Residents should have a direct role in decisions affecting their air, water, land, and environmental health.

Human Rights
Democratic participation must extend to communities that have historically been excluded from political power.

EXPECTED BENEFITS

This initiative would:

• Increase resident participation in government.
• Expand community control over public resources.
• Reduce barriers to civic participation.
• Strengthen government accountability.
• Increase transparency.
• Give residents greater influence over development and public investment.
• Strengthen local economic independence.
• Build stronger relationships between communities and government.
• Reduce the political advantages created by concentrated wealth.
• Create stronger systems for community-led problem solving.

SUCCESS MEASURES

Progress would be measured through:

• Number of residents participating in community assemblies.
• Diversity of residents participating in decision-making.
• Number of community recommendations submitted.
• Number and percentage of recommendations adopted.
• Amount of funding allocated through participatory budgeting.
• Number of community-led projects completed.
• Number of major projects receiving community review.
• Public accessibility of government information.
• Public satisfaction with government transparency.
• Participation rates in civic programs.
• Number of community advisory and oversight structures established.
• Public reporting on how resident input influenced government decisions.

Community sovereignty will ultimately be measured by whether residents have gained actual influence over the institutions, decisions, and resources that shape their lives.

1. Expand Local Voter Participation

Support accessible civic education and public information concerning:

• Voter registration.
• Election dates.
• Registration deadlines.
• Local government responsibilities.
• Ballot issues.
• Voting procedures.

Residents should have access to accurate information about the elections and government decisions affecting their communities.

2. Make Municipal Elections More Accessible

Advocate for greater accessibility through:

• Accessible polling locations.
• Transportation assistance.
• Language assistance.
• Disability accommodations.
• Clear election information.
• Accessible digital resources.

3. Pursue Ranked-Choice Voting

Advocate for the adoption of ranked-choice voting for municipal elections where authorized by law.

Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates according to preference rather than selecting only one candidate.

The system can provide voters with greater choice and reduce the pressure to vote strategically when multiple candidates are running.

4. Expand Youth Civic Participation

Create opportunities for young residents to participate in civic life through:

• Youth advisory councils.
• Civic education.
• Community forums.
• Public policy discussions.
• Youth-led organizing.

Young people are directly affected by government decisions and should have opportunities to participate in shaping their communities.

5. Protect Political Expression and Organizing

Protect residents’ rights to:

• Protest peacefully.
• Organize.
• Advocate.
• Form political organizations.
• Participate in political movements.
• Criticize government.
• Petition elected officials.

Political participation should not expose residents to retaliation for exercising protected democratic rights.

6. Increase Transparency Around Political Influence

Expand public access to information concerning:

• Lobbying activity.
• Corporate influence.
• Development negotiations.
• Public contracts.
• Political contributions.
• Conflicts of interest.

Residents should be able to understand who is attempting to influence government and how those relationships affect public decisions.

7. Establish Independent Redistricting Reform

As Governor, pursue an independent redistricting system designed to represent communities rather than protect political parties or incumbents.

The system should prioritize:

• Independent oversight.
• Transparent mapping processes.
• Public participation.
• Fair representation.
• Public access to proposed district maps.

District boundaries should not be manipulated to weaken the political influence of particular communities.

8. Implement Ranked-Choice Voting Statewide

Pursue a transition toward ranked-choice voting for state and local elections where legally authorized.

The goal is to create elections where voters have greater choice and candidates must build support across broader portions of the electorate.

9. Expand Automatic Voter Registration

Pursue automatic voter registration systems for eligible residents through appropriate government interactions while preserving individual choice and applicable privacy protections.

Potential registration points include:

• State identification services.
• Public assistance programs.
• Educational institutions.
• Other qualifying government systems.

10. Expand Early Voting and Election Accessibility

Pursue expanded access to:

• Early voting.
• Absentee voting.
• Accessible polling locations.
• Language assistance.
• Disability accommodations.
• Clear election information.

Election systems should be designed around the realities of voters’ lives.

11. Strengthen Campaign Finance Reform

Pursue reforms that reduce the disproportionate political influence of wealthy donors, corporations, and concentrated private interests.

Reforms should include:

• Stronger disclosure requirements.
• Greater transparency.
• Conflict-of-interest protections.
• Public financing options.
• Stronger enforcement of campaign finance laws.

Political influence should not be determined primarily by the amount of money a person or organization can spend.

12. Protect the Right to Organize

Protect the ability of Ohio residents to peacefully protest, organize communities, advocate for legislation, form political movements, and participate in civic campaigns.

Grassroots organizing is a central component of democratic participation.

13. Expand Representation

Pursue policies that reduce barriers to political participation and representation for historically excluded communities, including:

• Communities of color.
• Disabled residents.
• Working-class communities.
• Immigrant communities.
• Rural communities.
• LGBTQ+ residents.
• Young people.

Government should reflect the communities it serves.

MUNICIPAL AND STATE LIMITATIONS

Some electoral reforms require action beyond Toledo City Council and may require action by the Ohio Legislature, election authorities, federal government, or Ohio voters through constitutional amendments.

A City Council member cannot independently change statewide election law or federal voting requirements.

City government can, however:

• Expand civic education.
• Improve local election information.
• Advocate for election reform.
• Support accessible participation.
• Protect political expression and organizing within municipal authority.
• Increase transparency around local political influence.
• Build public support for democratic reform.

As Governor, the scope of authority would expand substantially, allowing the administration to pursue statewide reforms within executive authority while working with the Legislature, election officials, local governments, and Ohio voters where additional authority is required.

CONNECTION TO OTHER POLICIES

Community Sovereignty and Participatory Democracy
Democratic access provides residents with the ability to exercise political power through elections and civic participation.

Government Transparency
Residents cannot hold elected officials accountable without access to information about government decisions, spending, and political influence.

Economic Democracy
Political equality is weakened when concentrated wealth creates disproportionate access to political power.

Racial Justice
Voting access and political representation are directly connected to racial equality and the ability of historically excluded communities to exercise political power.

Disability Justice
Accessible elections are necessary for equal participation in democracy.

Human Rights
Political participation is a fundamental component of a democratic society.

EXPECTED BENEFITS

This initiative would:

• Increase voter participation.
• Reduce barriers to voting.
• Strengthen political representation.
• Expand civic participation.
• Increase election transparency.
• Reduce the influence of concentrated wealth.
• Strengthen government accountability.
• Expand political participation among historically excluded communities.
• Give residents greater influence over their government.

SUCCESS MEASURES

• Progress would be measured through:

• Resident satisfaction with democratic access and participation.

• Voter registration rates.

• Voter participation rates.

• Accessibility of election services.

• Reported barriers to voting.

• Participation in civic education programs.

• Implementation of ranked-choice voting where authorized.

• Public access to election information.

• Transparency surrounding political influence.

• Diversity of participation in elections and civic institutions.

• Representation of historically excluded communities.

1. Establish a Toledo Indigenous Affairs Commission

Create a permanent Indigenous Affairs Commission within Toledo government composed of Indigenous residents, representatives from Indigenous nations connected to the region, Indigenous organizations, cultural leaders, and other appropriate community representatives.

The commission would participate in discussions involving:

• Land use.
• Water.
• Environmental protection.
• Infrastructure.
• Cultural preservation.
• Historical preservation.
• Community development.
• Public programs.

2. Create a Permanent Indigenous Representative Position

Establish a designated Indigenous affairs position within municipal government to provide a direct connection between Indigenous communities and city leadership.

This representative would:

• Communicate directly with Indigenous nations and organizations.
• Participate in government discussions affecting Indigenous interests.
• Bring Indigenous priorities before city leadership.
• Coordinate government-to-government relationships.
• Review proposed policies for potential impacts on Indigenous communities.
• Help establish long-term partnerships.

This position would supplement, not replace, elected representation or tribal governments.

3. Establish Indigenous Participation in Environmental Decisions

For major municipal decisions involving:

• Water systems.
• Lake Erie.
• Environmental restoration.
• Public land.
• Infrastructure.
• Conservation.
• Development.

the city should establish formal processes for Indigenous representatives to participate before decisions are finalized.

4. Protect Indigenous Cultural Heritage

Support:

• Indigenous history education.
• Cultural events.
• Indigenous-led educational programs.
• Language preservation.
• Public recognition.
• Partnerships with Indigenous organizations.
• Protection of culturally significant places and resources.

Indigenous history should be treated as part of the continuing history of the region rather than something confined to the past.

5. Support Indigenous-Led Conservation

Work with Indigenous nations and organizations on environmental initiatives involving land, water, conservation, ecological restoration, and climate resilience.

Indigenous communities should have opportunities to lead environmental projects rather than being included only after plans have already been developed.

6. Establish Government-to-Government Relationships

Create formal channels for communication between Toledo government and tribal governments.

These relationships should recognize tribal nations as governments and should focus on cooperation, mutual respect, sovereignty, and shared responsibilities.

7. Establish an Ohio Indigenous Affairs Council

As Governor of Ohio, I would establish a permanent statewide Indigenous Affairs Council composed of representatives from Indigenous nations, Indigenous Ohio residents, scholars, cultural leaders, environmental representatives, and other appropriate participants.

The council would have a formal role in reviewing and developing state policies affecting Indigenous communities.

8. Create an Indigenous Affairs Office Within the Governor’s Administration

Establish a permanent Indigenous Affairs position or office within the Governor’s administration.

This office would:

• Advise the Governor.
• Coordinate with tribal governments.
• Review policies affecting Indigenous communities.
• Facilitate government-to-government relationships.
• Coordinate Indigenous participation across state agencies.
• Monitor implementation of Indigenous policy commitments.

9. Require Indigenous Participation in Major Environmental Decisions

For major state decisions involving:

• Water.
• Mining.
• Energy development.
• Infrastructure.
• Public lands.
• Conservation.
• Environmental restoration.

establish formal Indigenous review and participation processes.

10. Expand Indigenous Environmental Governance

Increase Indigenous participation in:

• Lake Erie protection.
• Water policy.
• Conservation planning.
• Climate adaptation.
• Ecological restoration.
• Land management.

Indigenous ecological knowledge should be recognized alongside scientific and technical expertise when developing environmental policy.

11. Strengthen Indigenous Education and Cultural Preservation

Support:

• Indigenous history education.
• Language revitalization.
• Cultural preservation.
• Indigenous-led educational programs.
• Public cultural initiatives.
• Partnerships with Indigenous educators and organizations.

12. Establish an Indigenous Economic Sovereignty Program

Develop state programs supporting Indigenous communities in pursuing economic development according to their own priorities.

Support could include:

• Community ownership.
• Sustainable development.
• Indigenous entrepreneurship.
• Cultural enterprises.
• Local economic development.
• Environmental stewardship.

Economic development should not require Indigenous communities to sacrifice cultural identity, political sovereignty, or environmental protections.

MUNICIPAL AND STATE LIMITATIONS

A Toledo City Council member cannot independently alter tribal sovereignty, treaty obligations, or the legal authority of tribal governments.

The city also cannot substitute municipal structures for tribal governments.

City government can, however:

• Establish permanent Indigenous representation.
• Create local Indigenous affairs institutions.
• Build government-to-government relationships.
• Include Indigenous representatives in local policymaking.
• Incorporate Indigenous perspectives into environmental planning.
• Protect culturally significant places within municipal authority.
• Support Indigenous-led cultural and community programs.
• Advocate for stronger Indigenous rights.

At the state level, the Governor can expand these relationships across state agencies and establish permanent structures for Indigenous participation while respecting the independent sovereignty of tribal nations.

CONNECTION TO OTHER POLICIES

Community Sovereignty and Participatory Democracy
Indigenous representation recognizes that communities should have political power over decisions affecting their lives.

Environmental Justice
Indigenous leadership strengthens the protection of land, water, ecosystems, and communities.

Water Sovereignty
Indigenous perspectives and leadership are essential to developing a system that treats water as a shared responsibility rather than a commodity.

Democratic Access and Electoral Justice
Political participation must include communities that have historically been excluded from government decision-making.

Community Economic Sovereignty
Indigenous communities should have the ability to pursue economic development according to their own priorities.

Human Rights
Respect for Indigenous political and cultural rights is a fundamental component of human rights.

EXPECTED BENEFITS

This initiative would:

• Establish direct Indigenous participation in government.
• Strengthen government-to-government relationships.
• Respect tribal sovereignty.
• Improve environmental decision-making.
• Protect Indigenous cultural heritage.
• Increase Indigenous political representation.
• Strengthen protection of land and water.
• Support Indigenous-led conservation.
• Expand Indigenous economic opportunities.
• Reduce government decisions made without affected communities.

SUCCESS MEASURES

Progress would be measured through:

• Public awareness of Indigenous history, rights, and sovereignty.

• Creation of permanent Indigenous representation structures.

• Number of Indigenous representatives participating in government decision-making.

• Formal government-to-government relationships established with tribal nations.

• Indigenous participation in environmental and land-use planning.

• Indigenous-led conservation initiatives supported.

• Protection of culturally significant places and resources.

• Expansion of Indigenous cultural and language programs.

• Indigenous participation in state policymaking.

• Indigenous economic development programs established.

Commitment to Indigenous Sovereignty and Community Partnership

This initiative is built on the understanding that Indigenous nations and Indigenous communities are not a single group with one shared perspective. Each nation, community, and individual has their own history, priorities, traditions, and political goals. This policy does not attempt to speak on behalf of Indigenous peoples or define what Indigenous communities need.

The role of government should not be to create solutions for Indigenous communities without Indigenous leadership. The role of government should be to create lasting structures where Indigenous nations and communities have direct authority, representation, and participation in decisions affecting their people.

This initiative recognizes that Indigenous sovereignty exists independently from municipal and state governments. Creating Indigenous representation within government is not intended to replace tribal governments, treaty rights, or the self-determination of Indigenous nations. Instead, it is intended to strengthen relationships between governments and ensure Indigenous perspectives are included in decisions where government actions may affect Indigenous communities.

This policy rejects the historical practice of treating Indigenous peoples as symbolic representatives rather than as political partners. Indigenous participation must move beyond occasional consultation and toward ongoing partnership, shared decision-making, and accountability.

Any government structure created through this initiative must be developed in collaboration with Indigenous nations, Indigenous organizations, and Indigenous community members. The specific forms of representation, authority, and partnership should be shaped by those directly impacted.

This commitment applies especially to decisions involving land, water, environmental protection, cultural resources, infrastructure, economic development, and public policy. Indigenous communities must have a permanent role in shaping decisions that affect their futures.

Indigenous sovereignty, cultural preservation, and self-determination are not special interests. They are fundamental principles of justice, democracy, and human rights.

1. Establish Community Resilience Hubs

Create neighborhood resilience hubs located in accessible community spaces such as:

• Libraries.
• Community centers.
• Schools.
• Recreation centers.

These hubs could provide:

• Emergency supplies.
• Cooling centers during extreme heat.
• Warming centers during winter emergencies.
• Charging stations.
• Internet access.
• Emergency information.
• Community coordination spaces.

Resilience hubs would provide reliable locations where residents can access resources before, during, and after emergencies.

2. Modernize Emergency Communications

Emergency information should reach every resident regardless of language, disability, or access barriers.

The city should expand emergency communication through:

• Multilingual alerts.
• Accessible formats.
• Text messages.
• Phone notifications.
• Email alerts.
• Radio communication.
• Social media updates.
• Community-based information networks.

Residents should receive timely and understandable emergency information.

3. Strengthen Stormwater and Flood Infrastructure

The city should invest in infrastructure that reduces flooding and protects neighborhoods.

Priorities should include:

• Improved storm drains.
• Green infrastructure.
• Flood mitigation projects.
• Wetland restoration.
• Tree planting.
• Climate-resilient infrastructure improvements.

Preventing damage before disasters occur protects residents and reduces long-term costs.

4. Develop Neighborhood Emergency Response Networks

Create voluntary community preparedness programs where residents can receive training in:

• First aid.
• Emergency communication.
• Disaster response.
• Community coordination.
• Support for vulnerable neighbors.

Communities with strong local networks are better able to respond before outside assistance arrives.

5. Improve Winter Emergency Preparedness

Winter weather should not prevent residents from accessing healthcare, employment, education, transportation, or essential services.

The city should improve winter response through:

• Faster snow removal on residential streets.
• Priority clearing around schools, hospitals, bus stops, and accessible routes.
• Better coordination with emergency services.
• Public tracking of snow removal progress.
• Improved communication during winter storms.

6. Improve Railroad Emergency Planning

Rail transportation failures can create serious emergency barriers when blocked crossings delay residents and emergency responders.

The city should:

• Identify frequently blocked crossings.
• Coordinate with railroad companies.
• Improve emergency routing plans.
• Advocate for state and federal solutions addressing excessive rail blockages.

Emergency response should not be delayed by preventable transportation barriers.

7. Expand Mutual Aid Coordination

Support partnerships between government, community organizations, and neighborhood groups to strengthen emergency response.

Mutual aid networks can assist with:

• Food distribution.
• Emergency supplies.
• Community communication.
• Resident check-ins.
• Recovery support.

Government should recognize and strengthen the role communities already play in protecting one another.

8. Create a Statewide Climate Adaptation Plan

As Governor of Ohio, I would establish a statewide resilience strategy addressing climate-related risks.

The state should prepare for:

• Flooding.
• Extreme heat.
• Severe storms.
• Agricultural impacts.
• Water challenges.
• Public health emergencies.
• Infrastructure stress.

9. Modernize Ohio Infrastructure

Ohio should invest in infrastructure capable of meeting future challenges.

Priorities should include:

• Water systems.
• Electric grid resilience.
• Flood protection.
• Bridges.
• Roads.
• Public buildings.
• Emergency infrastructure.

Infrastructure should protect communities rather than leave them vulnerable.

10. Expand Emergency Shelter Capacity

Emergency shelters should be prepared to serve all residents.

Shelters should be:

• ADA accessible.
• Located throughout communities.
• Stocked with essential supplies.
• Accessible to vulnerable residents.
• Pet-friendly whenever possible.

Emergency response should consider the full needs of residents and families.

11. Strengthen Public Health Emergency Planning

Ohio should improve preparation for:

• Disease outbreaks.
• Air quality emergencies.
• Heat-related illness.
• Drinking water contamination.
• Public health crises.

Public health preparedness is a core part of community resilience.

12. Support Local Governments

The state should provide resources, technical assistance, and funding to help municipalities improve emergency preparedness.

Local communities should not be forced to carry the full financial burden of preparing for statewide and climate-related challenges.

MUNICIPAL AND STATE LIMITATIONS

A Toledo City Council member cannot independently control federal emergency programs, rewrite state emergency laws, or create statewide disaster systems.

City Council can, however:

• Invest in local infrastructure.
• Establish resilience hubs.
• Improve emergency communication.
• Support neighborhood preparedness.
• Coordinate with community organizations.
• Advocate for regional, state, and federal solutions.
• Strengthen local emergency planning.

As Governor, the ability to coordinate statewide infrastructure, climate adaptation, public health planning, and emergency response systems would expand significantly.

CONNECTION TO OTHER POLICIES

Environmental Justice
Communities facing the greatest environmental risks must receive protection and investment.

Infrastructure
Resilient infrastructure prevents avoidable disasters and protects residents.

Water Sovereignty
Emergency preparedness requires protecting reliable access to clean water.

Transportation Justice
Reliable transportation systems are essential during emergencies.

Community Sovereignty and Mutual Aid
Strong communities are built when residents have the resources and power to support one another.

Public Health
Emergency preparation protects physical and community health.

EXPECTED BENEFITS

This initiative would:

• Save lives during emergencies.
• Reduce disaster-related costs.
• Improve infrastructure resilience.
• Protect vulnerable residents.
• Strengthen neighborhood preparedness.
• Improve emergency communication.
• Increase community capacity.
• Reduce recovery times after disasters.
• Build stronger relationships between residents and government.

SUCCESS MEASURES

Progress would be measured through:

• Number of community resilience hubs established.
• Participation in emergency preparedness programs.
• Emergency response times.
• Reduction in flood-related damage.
• Percentage of critical infrastructure upgraded.
• Residential snow removal performance.
• Reduction in emergency delays caused by transportation barriers.
• Accessibility of emergency communication systems.
• Public health preparedness improvements.
• Resident satisfaction with emergency response systems.

A resilient community is not defined only by how it responds to disaster. It is defined by whether it prepared, protected, and invested in its people before disaster arrived.

1. Establish a Toledo Cooperative Development Program

Create a city-supported program helping residents establish worker-owned and cooperative businesses.

The program could provide:

• Cooperative business education.
• Technical assistance.
• Legal assistance referrals.
• Financial guidance.
• Connections to cooperative organizations.
• Access to existing economic development resources.

The goal is to make cooperative ownership more accessible to workers and residents who want greater control over their workplaces.

2. Support Cooperative Business Conversions

Many locally owned businesses close or are sold to outside corporations when their owners retire.

The city should support programs that help employees purchase and collectively operate existing businesses.

A locally owned manufacturing company approaching closure, for example, could transition into employee ownership rather than being sold to an outside corporation.

This can:

• Preserve jobs.
• Keep wealth local.
• Preserve community institutions.
• Give workers ownership and decision-making power.

3. Establish Ethical Municipal Procurement

Toledo spends public money on contracts, vendors, services, and purchases.

The city should review procurement policies to prioritize, where legally permissible:

• Local businesses.
• Worker-owned businesses.
• Minority-owned businesses.
• Community-serving organizations.
• Environmentally responsible businesses.

The objective is to keep more public money circulating within Toledo and strengthen businesses rooted in the community.

4. Create Community-Owned Development Opportunities

The city should evaluate vacant and underused public or otherwise available properties for community-serving purposes.

Potential uses include:

• Cooperative businesses.
• Community centers.
• Community food systems.
• Affordable housing.
• Public spaces.
• Small business incubators.

Land and buildings should be evaluated as community resources rather than being treated exclusively as speculative assets.

5. Expand Community Land Trusts

Support community land trusts that separate land ownership from housing ownership and help protect housing from speculative investment.

The city can support:

• Acquisition of vacant properties.
• Partnerships with nonprofit organizations.
• Affordable housing preservation.
• Community-controlled development.
• Long-term housing affordability.

6. Hold Corporate Economic Incentives Accountable

Public incentives should come with enforceable expectations and measurable public benefits.

The city should evaluate economic development agreements based on:

• Jobs created.
• Wages paid.
• Local hiring.
• Community investment.
• Environmental impacts.
• Housing impacts.
• Public costs.
• Long-term community benefits.

Public resources should not be transferred to private interests without accountability to the people who provide those resources.

7. Establish an Ohio Worker Cooperative Development Authority

As Governor, I would pursue the creation of a statewide organization dedicated to expanding worker ownership.

The authority could provide:

• Cooperative education.
• Startup assistance.
• Technical expertise.
• Legal support.
• Business transition assistance.
• Financing connections.

8. Create a State Cooperative Investment Fund

Establish a public investment fund supporting:

• Worker cooperatives.
• Community-owned businesses.
• Local manufacturing.
• Sustainable agriculture.
• Community infrastructure.

Priority should be given to projects that create stable employment, retain wealth locally, and provide measurable community benefits.

9. Create a Worker Ownership Transition Program

Ohio businesses facing ownership transitions should have pathways for employees to collectively purchase and operate those businesses.

The state should help workers access:

• Cooperative conversion assistance.
• Business financing.
• Technical support.
• Legal resources.
• Ownership education.

The goal is preventing viable local businesses from disappearing or being absorbed by large corporations because their owners are retiring.

10. Explore Public Banking

I support evaluating the feasibility of public banking in Ohio as an alternative mechanism for directing public financial resources toward public priorities.

Any public banking system should include:

• Strong financial oversight.
• Public transparency.
• Independent accountability.
• Community participation.
• Clear protections against conflicts of interest.

11. Rebuild Local Manufacturing

Ohio should pursue a manufacturing strategy centered on workers, local communities, and sustainable production.

Priorities should include:

• Worker-owned manufacturing.
• Local supply chains.
• Sustainable industry.
• Technical education.
• Public investment.
• Community economic development.

The objective is not only bringing manufacturing back to Ohio. It is building industries in which workers and communities receive a greater share of the wealth created through their labor.

12. Expand Community Ownership of Essential Systems

The state and municipalities should evaluate whether public, cooperative, or community ownership can improve affordability and accountability in essential systems such as:

• Water.
• Energy.
• Transportation.
• Broadband.
• Housing.
• Healthcare infrastructure.

Any transition should include public financial analysis, transparent decision-making, and direct community participation.

MUNICIPAL AND STATE LIMITATIONS

A City Council member cannot:

• Eliminate capitalism.
• Force privately owned businesses to become cooperatives.
• Nationalize private companies.
• Control private investment decisions.
• Unilaterally establish statewide economic programs.

City Council can, however:

• Establish local economic programs.
• Control municipal spending priorities.
• Change procurement policies.
• Support cooperative development.
• Manage public property.
• Establish community development programs.
• Create incentives.
• Conduct oversight of economic development agreements.
• Advocate for state and federal reforms.

As Governor, the administration would have greater authority to establish statewide economic development programs, coordinate public investment, propose legislation, and direct state resources toward worker and community ownership.

FUNDING STRATEGY

Community economic democracy programs could be supported through:

• Existing economic development funds.
• Federal economic development grants.
• Redirected or restructured corporate subsidies.
• State investment programs.
• Cooperative financing mechanisms.
• Public financing tools.
• Partnerships structured around measurable public benefit.

The state and city should audit existing economic incentives and determine whether public investments are producing measurable benefits for residents.

CONNECTION TO OTHER POLICIES

Community Sovereignty
Economic power is a component of community power. Communities should have greater control over the resources and economic decisions affecting them.

Worker Power and Economic Democracy
Workers should have opportunities to participate in ownership and workplace decision-making.

Housing Liberation
Housing should be treated as a human necessity rather than primarily as an investment vehicle.

Food Sovereignty and Community Agriculture
Local food systems can retain wealth within communities while strengthening food security.

Environmental Justice
Economic development should not require communities to accept pollution, environmental destruction, or unsafe working conditions.

Water and Energy Sovereignty
Essential resources should be evaluated according to public need, affordability, and community control rather than profit alone.

EXPECTED BENEFITS

This initiative would:

• Keep more wealth circulating within communities.
• Expand worker ownership.
• Strengthen local businesses.
• Preserve locally owned enterprises.
• Reduce dependence on outside corporations.
• Create more democratic workplaces.
• Increase community economic resilience.
• Encourage long-term local investment.
• Strengthen local manufacturing.
• Expand community ownership.
• Increase accountability for public economic development spending.

SUCCESS MEASURES

Progress would be measured through:

Measurable public benefits produced by economic incentives.

Number of worker cooperatives created.

Number of workers gaining ownership.

Number of businesses converted to employee ownership.

Amount of local procurement spending.

Amount of community-controlled investment.

Number of locally owned businesses supported.

Number of jobs created or preserved.

Business survival rates.

Amount of wealth retained within local communities.

Community participation in economic development decisions.

1. Establish a Municipal Spending Audit

The city should conduct comprehensive reviews of municipal spending and financial commitments.

The audit should examine:

• Government contracts.
• Vendor agreements.
• Public-private partnerships.
• Consultant spending.
• Administrative expenses.
• Tax incentives.
• Development agreements.
• Public financing arrangements.
• Municipal programs.
• Infrastructure expenditures.

The purpose would be identifying wasteful spending, ineffective programs, duplicated services, unnecessary contracting, and agreements that do not provide public value.

Audits should produce public reports explaining:

• How money was spent.
• Which programs achieved their goals.
• Which contracts remain effective.
• Which expenditures should be reduced or restructured.
• Where public resources could be redirected.

Residents should not have to rely on private investigations or complicated records requests to understand how their money is being used.

2. Review Corporate Subsidies and Development Incentives

The city should review all economic development incentives provided to corporations and private developers.

Every subsidy should answer:

• How many jobs were created?
• What wages are being paid?
• How many jobs went to local residents?
• How long will the public benefits remain?
• What investment did the company provide?
• What public costs were created?
• What community return was produced?
• Did the company fulfill its commitments?

If a corporation receives public support but fails to provide promised benefits, the agreement should be reconsidered.

Future agreements should include:

• Clear performance standards.
• Public reporting.
• Enforcement provisions.
• Clawback requirements when legally available.
• Community benefit requirements.
• Timelines for completing commitments.

Public money should not function as an unrestricted gift to corporations.

3. Require Measurable Community Benefits

When the city provides tax incentives, land, infrastructure support, development assistance, or public financing, agreements should include measurable benefits for residents.

Potential requirements include:

• Local hiring.
• Living wages.
• Apprenticeship opportunities.
• Environmental standards.
• Community investment.
• Affordable housing contributions.
• Support for local businesses.
• Public access improvements.
• Infrastructure improvements.
• Worker safety standards.
• Protections against displacement.

Community benefits should be written into agreements before public resources are distributed.

The public should be able to see which commitments were made, which deadlines apply, and whether the company fulfilled its obligations.

4. Establish Participatory Budgeting

Residents should have a direct role in deciding how portions of municipal spending are allocated.

The city could designate a percentage of discretionary funds for community voting processes. Residents could identify priorities and vote on projects involving:

• Infrastructure.
• Parks.
• Community spaces.
• Food programs.
• Neighborhood improvements.
• Street and sidewalk repairs.
• Environmental projects.
• Community gardens.
• Transportation improvements.
• Public facilities.

Participatory budgeting would give residents greater control over public resources and create a public record showing how community priorities influenced spending decisions.

5. Create a Transparent City Budget Portal

The city should create an accessible public database showing how public money enters and leaves the municipal budget.

The portal should include:

• Revenue sources.
• Spending categories.
• Government contracts.
• Vendor payments.
• Development incentives.
• Tax abatements.
• Public-private partnerships.
• Public investments.
• Program budgets.
• Financial performance reports.

Information should be presented in plain language and organized so residents can search by department, contractor, program, neighborhood, and spending category.

Residents should be able to follow public money without needing specialized financial or legal knowledge.

6. Publish Corporate Incentive Performance Reports

The city should publish regular reports on corporations receiving public assistance.

Reports should identify:

• The corporation receiving support.
• The amount and type of assistance.
• The stated purpose of the agreement.
• The number of promised jobs.
• The number of jobs created.
• Wage levels.
• Local hiring outcomes.
• Community investments.
• Environmental commitments.
• Whether the company fulfilled its agreement.

Companies that fail to meet commitments should face public review and any lawful enforcement measures available under the agreement.

7. Strengthen Public Oversight of Financial Agreements

Major municipal financial agreements should receive public review before approval.

This should include agreements involving:

• Public land.
• Major development.
• Corporate incentives.
• Infrastructure commitments.
• Public financing.
• Long-term service contracts.
• Public-private partnerships.
• Significant public expenditures.

Public review should examine:

• Financial costs.
• Long-term obligations.
• Community benefits.
• Environmental impacts.
• Housing impacts.
• Potential displacement.
• Worker protections.
• Alternatives to the agreement.

Residents should have access to information before decisions are finalized.

8. Protect Essential Services During Fiscal Reform

Any restructuring of public finance must protect funding for services that communities depend on.

Healthcare

Funding protections should include:

• Medicaid.
• Public health programs.
• Mental healthcare.
• Preventive care.
• Community health services.

Education

Funding protections should include:

• Public schools.
• Higher education.
• Career training.
• Workforce development.
• Student support programs.

Infrastructure

Funding protections should include:

• Roads.
• Bridges.
• Water systems.
• Sewer systems.
• Public transportation.
• Sidewalks.
• Public facilities.

Environmental Protection

Funding protections should include:

• Lake Erie restoration.
• Pollution enforcement.
• Clean water programs.
• Environmental monitoring.
• Public health protections.

Community Services

Funding protections should include:

• Housing programs.
• Childcare.
• Food security.
• Community development.
• Emergency assistance.
• Support for vulnerable residents.

Tax restructuring should not move forward without a clear plan for protecting these services.

9. Develop a Statewide Fiscal Analysis Before Eliminating the Income Tax

The elimination of Ohio’s state individual income tax would occur gradually and only after comprehensive fiscal analysis.

The state should examine:

• Current income tax revenue.
• Revenue collected from corporations.
• Tax expenditures.
• Corporate incentives.
• Public debt.
• Essential service costs.
• Infrastructure obligations.
• Long-term budget projections.
• Alternative revenue sources.
• Economic effects on communities.

The state should identify how much revenue would be lost and how that loss would be addressed before implementation begins.

A responsible transition requires:

1. Comprehensive fiscal analysis.
2. Identification of replacement revenue.
3. Protection of essential programs.
4. Legislative approval.
5. Gradual implementation.
6. Public reporting.
7. Ongoing review.

Eliminating a revenue source without replacing necessary funding would place communities at risk.

10. Eliminate Ineffective Corporate Subsidies

As Governor, Runa would review Ohio’s tax abatements, corporate incentives, development subsidies, and public financing agreements.

The central question would be:

Does this provide measurable public benefit?

If a subsidy fails to produce public value, the state should pursue lawful reforms and redirect resources toward public needs.

The review should consider:

• Job creation.
• Wage levels.
• Local hiring.
• Corporate investment.
• Environmental effects.
• Public infrastructure costs.
• Community displacement.
• Long-term tax revenue.
• Corporate compliance.

Economic development should strengthen communities instead of allowing corporations to extract public resources without accountability.

11. Close Corporate Tax Loopholes

Ohio should examine ways corporations reduce their tax obligations through:

• Accounting structures.
• Special exemptions.
• Regulatory loopholes.
• Complex corporate arrangements.
• Preferential treatment.
• Inconsistent enforcement.

The goal would be ensuring corporations that benefit from Ohio’s infrastructure, workforce, public education system, transportation network, and public services contribute fairly.

The state should publish information about major tax expenditures and explain why each exemption exists, who benefits from it, and whether it produces a public return.

12. Explore Public Enterprises

Ohio should explore public enterprises that generate revenue while providing essential services.

Potential areas include:

• Energy.
• Broadband.
• Transportation.
• Utilities.
• Infrastructure.
• Public facilities.

Public enterprises could allow revenue generated through essential systems to return to communities instead of flowing primarily to private shareholders.

Any public enterprise should include:

• Public oversight.
• Transparent financial reporting.
• Strong labor standards.
• Environmental protections.
• Affordable access.
• Community benefit requirements.
• Clear accountability structures.

Public ownership should serve residents and workers.

13. Establish Pollution and Resource Fees

The state should examine fees on activities that create public costs.

Potential areas include:

• Industrial pollution.
• Environmental damage.
• Excessive resource extraction.
• Contamination.
• Public cleanup obligations.

The principle is direct:

Industries that create public costs should contribute toward addressing those costs.

Revenue from these fees could support:

• Environmental restoration.
• Pollution enforcement.
• Public health programs.
• Clean water projects.
• Community cleanup.
• Environmental monitoring.

The state should prevent corporations from shifting the costs of harmful activity onto residents.

14. Explore Land Value-Based Revenue Models

Ohio should explore property-based revenue models that prioritize productive land use and reduce incentives for speculation.

Potential goals include:

• Reducing vacant property speculation.
• Encouraging productive development.
• Capturing increased community value created by public investment.
• Supporting infrastructure.
• Discouraging long-term neglect of valuable land.
• Strengthening local public revenue.

Any land value-based model should be studied through public analysis and implemented with protections for:

• Low-income residents.
• Seniors.
• Disabled residents.
• Small property owners.
• Family farms.
• Community organizations.
• Residents facing displacement.

The goal should be creating a fairer public finance system without transferring new financial pressure onto people with limited resources.

15. Reduce Administrative Waste

The state should review:

• Duplicated programs.
• Inefficient processes.
• Unnecessary contracting.
• Excessive administrative costs.
• Redundant agencies.
• Outdated systems.
• Poorly managed public projects.

The purpose would be improving public services and reducing waste without cutting programs that residents depend on.

Administrative reforms should examine whether public work can be performed more effectively through:

• Shared services.
• Better technology.
• Transparent procurement.
• Stronger oversight.
• Public-sector expertise.
• Improved coordination.

Savings should be redirected toward essential services and community needs.

16. Establish a Public Revenue and Spending Review Board

Ohio should create an independent public review structure to examine major revenue decisions, spending priorities, corporate incentives, and long-term fiscal commitments.

The board should include representatives with experience in:

• Public finance.
• Labor.
• Local government.
• Public education.
• Healthcare.
• Environmental protection.
• Community development.
• Economic justice.
• Cooperative economics.

The board should publish reports explaining:

• Revenue changes.
• Spending changes.
• Corporate tax expenditures.
• Public service funding.
• Fiscal risks.
• Community impacts.

Residents should have opportunities to provide testimony and submit recommendations.

17. Support Voluntary Alternative Economic Systems

This campaign supports exploring voluntary economic systems that reduce dependence on traditional financial structures.

This includes:

• Bartering networks.
• Time banking.
• Skill exchanges.
• Community credit systems.
• Cooperative marketplaces.
• Mutual aid networks.

These systems would not replace currency. They would provide additional ways for communities to exchange resources, reduce costs, and strengthen local economic relationships.

Participation should remain voluntary and transparent.

18. Establish Community Exchange Networks

Toledo could support community exchange networks where residents exchange:

• Labor.
• Skills.
• Goods.
• Services.
• Repair assistance.
• Childcare support.
• Gardening assistance.
• Tutoring.
• Transportation assistance.

For example, a resident skilled in plumbing could exchange services for childcare, gardening assistance, tutoring, or another community need.

Community exchange programs should include:

• Clear participation rules.
• Voluntary participation.
• Accessible registration.
• Safety standards.
• Disability accommodations.
• Public information.
• Protection against exploitation.

19. Create Tool Libraries

The city should support shared community resources where residents can borrow:

• Tools.
• Equipment.
• Gardening supplies.
• Repair materials.
• Construction equipment.
• Household maintenance supplies.

Tool libraries could reduce individual costs and support:

• Home repairs.
• Community gardens.
• Neighborhood cleanups.
• Cooperative projects.
• Small business development.
• Skill-sharing programs.

Resources should be located in accessible community spaces and managed through transparent rules.

20. Establish Community Resource Centers

Toledo should explore community resource centers where residents can access:

• Skill-sharing.
• Workshops.
• Mutual aid.
• Cooperative development.
• Tool libraries.
• Community exchange programs.
• Financial education.
• Repair programs.
• Food programs.
• Community organizing.

These centers could serve as locations for residents to share resources and develop community-owned projects.

21. Support Cooperative Economic Development

The city and state should support:

• Worker cooperatives.
• Community-owned businesses.
• Community agriculture.
• Local producers.
• Cooperative marketplaces.
• Community development organizations.
• Small businesses.
• Shared equipment programs.

Public investment should strengthen local economic ownership and reduce unnecessary dependence on large corporations.

Cooperative development programs could provide:

• Technical assistance.
• Training.
• Business planning.
• Access to public resources.
• Shared workspaces.
• Financing support.
• Legal education.
• Marketing assistance.

22. Build a Statewide Framework for Alternative Economic Systems

As Governor of Ohio, Runa would explore statewide frameworks supporting voluntary alternative economic systems.

Potential actions include:

• Protecting the legal operation of cooperative exchanges.
• Supporting community economic innovation.
• Funding research into alternative economic models.
• Expanding cooperative development programs.
• Supporting time banking.
• Encouraging community resource centers.
• Connecting local exchange networks.
• Supporting community-owned enterprises.

The state should allow communities to develop economic systems that meet local needs while preserving voluntary participation and public accountability.

23. Establish Public Reporting on Tax Burden Changes

Any major tax restructuring should include public reporting on how the changes affect different groups.

Reports should examine:

• Working families.
• Low-income households.
• Middle-income households.
• Seniors.
• Disabled residents.
• Small businesses.
• Large corporations.
• Rural communities.
• Urban communities.
• Local governments.

The state should measure whether reforms reduce pressure on working people while maintaining funding for public services.

24. Build Toward Statewide Public Finance Reform

After serving on Toledo City Council and demonstrating responsible public finance reform locally, Runa intends to pursue the office of Governor of Ohio.

As Governor, the objective would be transitioning Ohio toward a public finance system that reduces reliance on taxing working people while maintaining strong public services.

Statewide reform would require:

• Public analysis.
• Legislative approval.
• Community participation.
• Transparent budgeting.
• Corporate accountability.
• Essential service protections.
• Gradual implementation.
• Regular public review.

Ohio’s public finance system should serve residents, workers, and communities instead of prioritizing corporations and wealthy private interests.

MUNICIPAL LIMITATIONS

A Toledo City Council member cannot independently:

• Eliminate Ohio’s state individual income tax.
• Create statewide tax systems.
• Control federal taxation.
• Rewrite state financial law.
• Establish statewide revenue programs.
• Direct federal agencies.
• Change every state-level corporate tax policy.

City Council can, however:

• Control municipal spending priorities.
• Audit city programs.
• Review municipal contracts.
• Increase budget transparency.
• Reform local incentives.
• Establish public reporting systems.
• Require community benefits in local agreements.
• Influence municipal budgets.
• Establish participatory budgeting.
• Create public oversight structures.
• Support tool libraries.
• Support community resource centers.
• Encourage cooperative development.
• Protect community organizing.
• Advocate for state-level changes.
• Establish Toledo as a model for public finance reform.

The purpose of this initiative is to use the authority available at the municipal level to reduce waste, strengthen public accountability, protect local services, and create a framework that can eventually expand throughout Ohio.

CONNECTION TO OTHER POLICIES

Economic Democracy

Public finance determines who controls public resources and who benefits from government investment. Communities cannot exercise economic power when public money is concentrated in corporate hands.

Community Democracy and Participatory Governance

Residents should have a direct role in deciding how public funds are spent and how financial priorities are established.

Local Business Economy

Supporting local businesses, cooperatives, farmers, and community enterprises keeps more economic value within communities.

Housing and Land Sovereignty

Land use, property speculation, development incentives, and public investment all affect housing costs, displacement, and community control.

Environmental Justice

Pollution fees, environmental enforcement, and public investment can address the public costs created by industrial activity.

Healthcare and Human Rights

Fiscal reform must protect healthcare, public health, mental healthcare, and access to services that residents depend on.

EXPECTED BENEFITS

This initiative would:

• Reduce financial pressure on working families.
• Move Ohio toward gradual income tax elimination.
• Protect funding for essential services.
• Increase government accountability.
• Reduce wasteful public spending.
• Improve municipal budget transparency.
• Strengthen public oversight.
• Reduce unnecessary corporate subsidies.
• Increase corporate responsibility.
• Require measurable community benefits.
• Improve public reporting on tax incentives.
• Strengthen local economies.
• Support worker cooperatives.
• Expand community exchange networks.
• Reduce individual costs through tool libraries.
• Support community resource centers.
• Encourage productive land use.
• Address public costs created by pollution.
• Strengthen community control over public resources.
• Reduce dependence on large corporations.
• Improve public trust in financial decisions.
• Create a framework for statewide fiscal reform.

SUCCESS MEASURES

Progress would be measured through:

• Reduction in unnecessary municipal spending.
• Number of government programs audited.
• Number of contracts reviewed.
• Number of corporate subsidies reviewed.
• Percentage of corporate agreements meeting their commitments.
• Number of jobs created through publicly supported projects.
• Wage levels connected to public incentives.
• Number of local residents hired through public agreements.
• Amount of public funding redirected toward essential services.
• Public service funding stability.
• Accessibility of the city budget portal.
• Number of public financial records made available.
• Number of residents participating in participatory budgeting.
• Amount of funding allocated through community voting.
• Number of community benefit agreements established.
• Number of cooperative enterprises created.
• Number of community exchange networks established.
• Number of tool libraries created.
• Number of community resource centers established.
• Community participation in alternative economic programs.
• Changes in the financial burden on working families.
• Corporate tax expenditure reductions.
• Revenue generated through alternative systems.
• Public satisfaction with financial transparency.
• Public reporting on how resident input influenced financial decisions.

1. Establish a Toledo Community Exchange Network

I will fight to establish a city-supported community exchange network connecting residents who want to offer or request services, goods, skills, and resources. Residents could participate by providing childcare, tutoring, transportation, gardening, cooking, repairs, translation, home maintenance, food, or other forms of assistance.

Participation would remain voluntary and open to residents regardless of employment status, income, disability, age, housing status, or access to a bank account. The city could support the network through public spaces, outreach, administrative assistance, partnerships, and grant funding while keeping decision-making accountable to the community.

2. Create a Community Time Bank

I will fight to create a time bank where residents can exchange hours of assistance. One hour contributed would be recorded as one hour of community credit, regardless of the service provided.

Residents could earn time credits by helping neighbors with transportation, childcare, elder care, tutoring, repairs, gardening, food preparation, translation, technology, organizing, or other approved services. They could then use those credits to request assistance from another participant.

The time bank would recognize that unpaid caregiving, neighborhood support, teaching, organizing, and repair work contribute to the strength of the community. It would not replace wages, professional services, public benefits, or labor protections.

3. Develop a Community Skills and Resource Registry

I will fight to create a voluntary registry where residents can list skills, goods, equipment, services, and resources they are willing to share. Residents could also list the types of support they need.

The registry could include:

• Construction.
• Sewing.
• Cooking.
• Gardening.
• Tutoring.
• Transportation.
• Home repair.
• Technology support.
• Language services.
• Food preservation.
• Childcare.
• Disability support.
• Emergency assistance.

The system would include privacy protections and would not require residents to publicly disclose sensitive personal information. Participation would be available through online, paper, phone, and in-person options.

4. Establish Neighborhood Community Resource Centers

I will fight to establish neighborhood resource centers where residents can exchange goods, access shared tools, attend workshops, receive information, and connect with community programs.

These centers could operate in existing community centers, libraries, recreation facilities, public buildings, vacant city-owned properties, schools, nonprofit spaces, or other community locations. They would provide physical places for residents to organize and participate without needing private meeting space or reliable internet access.

Resource centers could also serve as distribution points for food, household supplies, gardening equipment, educational materials, and emergency resources.

5. Create Tool Libraries and Equipment-Sharing Programs

I will fight to create tool libraries where residents can borrow equipment they may not be able to afford or store in their homes.

These libraries could include:

• Gardening tools.
• Hand tools.
• Power tools.
• Sewing machines.
• Ladders.
• Repair equipment.
• Food-preservation supplies.
• Event equipment.
• Cleaning equipment.
• Emergency preparedness materials.

The city could support storage, inventory systems, maintenance, safety training, and partnerships with residents, tradespeople, organizations, and businesses willing to donate or share equipment.

6. Support Community Repair and Reuse Programs

I will fight to establish community repair programs where residents can bring broken household items, clothing, bicycles, appliances, furniture, electronics, tools, and other goods for repair or reuse.

The city could support repair clinics, bicycle workshops, clothing-mending events, appliance repair partnerships, furniture restoration, electronics repair, and training programs led by residents with technical skills.

These programs would help lower household expenses, reduce waste, develop practical skills, and strengthen local relationships. Residents who provide repair services could receive time credits or participate through cooperative arrangements.

7. Develop a Voluntary Community Exchange Marketplace

I will fight to create a voluntary marketplace where residents can exchange goods and services through time credits, direct barter, donations, or other legally compliant arrangements.

Possible exchanges could include:

• Produce.
• Clothing.
• Furniture.
• Books.
• Tools.
• Household supplies.
• Tutoring.
• Childcare assistance.
• Transportation.
• Repair services.
• Gardening.
• Creative work.
• Educational workshops.

This marketplace would not replace the U.S. dollar, wages, public benefits, or legally required payments. It would create additional ways for residents to access resources and contribute to their neighborhoods when cash is limited.

8. Protect Participants From Exploitation and Discrimination

I will fight for clear rules protecting participants from fraud, harassment, coercion, discrimination, unsafe services, and exploitation.

The program would include participant codes of conduct, safety standards, complaint procedures, conflict-resolution processes, privacy protections, and rules for suspending participants who create safety risks.

Community exchange must not become a system where employers, landlords, corporations, or wealthy individuals obtain unpaid labor from people facing financial hardship. Participation must strengthen community power and protect the dignity of every resident.

9. Guarantee Accessibility and Language Access

I will fight to make the exchange system accessible to disabled residents, older residents, residents with limited transportation, and residents who speak languages other than English.

Accessibility measures could include:

• Accessible buildings.
• Phone registration.
• Paper forms.
• Transportation support.
• Remote participation.
• Interpretation.
• Translated materials.
• Flexible scheduling.
• Accommodations for different forms of contribution.

Residents should be able to participate according to their abilities, interests, availability, and circumstances. No one should be excluded because they cannot perform physically demanding labor or navigate an inaccessible system.

10. Partner With Cooperatives and Community Organizations

I will fight to build partnerships with worker cooperatives, housing cooperatives, neighborhood associations, nonprofit organizations, schools, colleges, labor organizations, faith communities, and community-led groups.

Partners could provide meeting space, tools, training, volunteers, food, transportation, technical support, outreach, and administrative assistance.

These partnerships would require clear expectations, public accountability, and protections against private capture of community resources.

11. Connect the Exchange Network to Food Sovereignty

I will fight to connect the community exchange system with community gardens, food cooperatives, food pantries, local growers, food-rescue programs, and neighborhood kitchens.

Food-related exchanges could include:

• Produce-sharing networks.
• Seed exchanges.
• Community meals.
• Gardening assistance.
• Food-preservation workshops.
• Cooking exchanges.
• Shared garden equipment.
• Cooperative purchasing.
• Food distribution support.

This would help residents access food while strengthening local production and reducing dependence on distant corporations and fragile supply chains.

12. Create Community Education and Skill-Sharing Programs

I will fight to create workshops where residents can teach and learn practical skills without high fees.

Workshops could cover:

• Home repair.
• Gardening.
• Food preservation.
• Sewing.
• Cooking.
• First aid.
• Emergency preparedness.
• Technology.
• Tenant rights.
• Worker rights.
• Cooperative development.
• Childcare.
• Disability access.
• Language learning.
• Community organizing.
• Environmental sustainability.

Residents who teach could receive time credits, public recognition, training support, or access to shared resources.

13. Develop a Community Transportation Exchange

I will fight to create a voluntary transportation exchange for residents who need help reaching work, school, medical appointments, grocery stores, community events, and public services.

The program could coordinate ride-sharing, volunteer drivers, bicycle lending, errand assistance, grocery transportation, mobility equipment, transportation time credits, and partnerships with transit or nonprofit providers.

All transportation participation would follow safety requirements, insurance rules, licensing laws, and clear boundaries around liability.

14. Support Caregiving and Household Assistance Exchanges

I will fight to develop voluntary caregiving exchanges that recognize the labor performed by parents, grandparents, relatives, neighbors, and unpaid caregivers.

The program could connect residents who need:

• Short-term childcare.
• Elder care assistance.
• Meal preparation.
• Errand support.
• Household assistance.
• Respite support.
• School transportation.
• Disability-related assistance.
• Emergency support.

These exchanges would not replace professional care, public childcare funding, disability services, or legally required protections. They would provide additional voluntary support while recognizing caregiving as labor that sustains families and communities.

15. Secure Funding and Launch Neighborhood Pilot Programs

I will fight to secure funding through community development programs, public health initiatives, workforce programs, environmental programs, food systems funding, foundation grants, and local partnerships.

Funding could support staff, training, accessibility, technology, storage, transportation, tools, insurance, outreach, repair programs, community gardens, resource centers, and public reporting.

The initiative would begin with pilot programs in several Toledo neighborhoods with different needs. Residents would help design the pilots and determine which services should be prioritized.

16. Measure Results and Expand Community Ownership

I will fight for public evaluation of the exchange system and for expansion based on community feedback.

The city would review participation, completed exchanges, shared resources, workshops, repair projects, community partnerships, accessibility, participant satisfaction, safety concerns, cost savings, and waste reduction.

Over time, the program could support worker cooperatives, community-owned food systems, housing cooperatives, repair businesses, community kitchens, shared transportation, cooperative marketplaces, and neighborhood resource centers.

The long-term goal is to build an economy where residents have greater control over the resources they depend on and where participation in community life is not determined solely by wealth.

MUNICIPAL LIMITATIONS

A Toledo City Council member cannot independently replace the U.S. dollar, create legal tender, eliminate the banking system, require private businesses to accept time credits or alternative exchanges, establish a statewide economic system, or require residents to participate in community exchange programs. City Council also cannot replace state or federal funding programs, labor laws, public benefits, professional licensing requirements, or regulations governing financial transactions.

City Council can, however:

• Pass local ordinances supporting voluntary community exchange.
• Allocate municipal funding for pilot programs.
• Establish community resource centers.
• Use city-owned buildings for exchange programs.
• Support tool libraries and repair clinics.
• Create advisory boards and community oversight committees.
• Enter into partnerships with nonprofit organizations and cooperatives.
• Support community gardens and food-sharing programs.
• Provide grants for neighborhood-led projects.
• Conduct public hearings and community consultations.
• Establish accessibility and language-access requirements.
• Protect participants from discrimination and exploitation.
• Support public education and skill-sharing programs.
• Coordinate with local schools, libraries, labor organizations, and community groups.
• Require transparency and public reporting for city-funded programs.

As Governor of Ohio, I would fight to expand this model statewide through an Ohio Community Exchange Initiative, cooperative marketplace support, community resource funding, local production programs, and research into voluntary community-credit systems that comply with state and federal law and include strong consumer protections.

CONNECTION TO OTHER POLICIES

Food Sovereignty

Community exchange would support food sovereignty by connecting residents with community gardens, food-sharing networks, seed exchanges, local growers, food cooperatives, and neighborhood kitchens.

Mutual Aid

Mutual aid depends on residents sharing resources and supporting one another outside systems controlled by corporations and wealthy institutions. Community exchange would provide structure and resources for that work.

Economic Democracy

Economic participation requires access to resources and decision-making power. Community exchange would help residents build economic relationships outside concentrated corporate ownership.

Worker Cooperatives

Time banks, skill registries, and shared resources could help residents develop worker-owned businesses and cooperative economic projects.

Public Housing and Community Land Ownership

Community exchange could support residents living in public, cooperative, and community-controlled housing through shared tools, repairs, transportation, food programs, and neighborhood resources.

Environmental Justice

Repair, reuse, tool sharing, food production, and resource redistribution would reduce waste while helping communities facing pollution, disinvestment, and environmental neglect.

EXPECTED BENEFITS

This initiative would:

• Expand access to goods, services, tools, and resources.
• Reduce financial barriers for residents facing hardship.
• Recognize unpaid caregiving, teaching, repair, and organizing.
• Strengthen relationships between neighbors.
• Support community self-reliance.
• Reduce household expenses.
• Reduce waste through repair, reuse, and sharing.
• Expand access to food and gardening resources.
• Support disabled residents and residents with limited transportation.
• Create opportunities for skill development.
• Strengthen worker cooperatives and community-owned projects.
• Support local production and neighborhood economic activity.
• Reduce dependence on corporations and distant supply chains.
• Expand participation in community economic life.
• Increase public access to shared resources.
• Create stronger systems of mutual support during emergencies.
• Promote community control over economic resources.
• Protect residents from exploitation through clear rules and oversight.

SUCCESS MEASURES

Progress would be measured through:

• Number of Toledo residents participating in the community exchange network.
• Number of active neighborhood exchange programs.
• Number of time-bank members and completed time-based exchanges.
• Number of goods, services, tools, and resources exchanged.
• Number of neighborhood resource centers established.
• Number of tools and equipment items available through tool libraries.
• Number of repair clinics, workshops, and skill-sharing programs held.
• Number of residents receiving assistance through transportation, caregiving, food, repair, or educational exchanges.
• Number of community organizations, cooperatives, schools, labor organizations, and local partners participating.
• Participation rates among working-class residents, disabled residents, seniors, immigrants, renters, and residents facing financial hardship.
• Accessibility and language-access measures for participating residents.
• Participant satisfaction and reported improvements in access to resources.
• Number of community gardens, food programs, and local production initiatives connected to the exchange network.
• Amount of household waste reduced through repair, reuse, sharing, and redistribution.
• Public funding allocated and publicly reported for the initiative.
• Number of participant complaints resolved through transparent accountability procedures.

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1. Establish a Comprehensive Sanctuary Ordinance

Introduce legislation establishing Toledo as a sanctuary city and clearly defining the limits of municipal participation in federal immigration enforcement.

2. End Municipal Cooperation With ICE

Prohibit city departments and personnel from voluntarily assisting ICE operations, investigations, arrests, raids, transportation, detention, or other immigration-enforcement activities.

3. Protect Municipal Resources

Prohibit the use of city funds, facilities, equipment, databases, personnel, and other municipal resources for federal immigration enforcement.

4. End Local Immigration Detention

Prohibit municipal participation in immigration detention and prevent city-owned facilities from being used to detain people solely for immigration purposes.

5. Establish Information and Privacy Protections

Create clear restrictions on collecting, retaining, and sharing immigration-related information and establish safeguards against the use of municipal information systems for immigration enforcement.

6. Protect Access to City Services

Ensure that residents can access city services without unnecessary immigration-status inquiries and establish language-access and confidentiality standards across municipal departments.

7. Create Community Accountability Mechanisms

Require regular public reporting regarding federal immigration requests received by city departments, including requests for information, assistance, detention, or access to municipal resources.

8. Establish Immigrant Community Partnerships

Work directly with immigrant-led organizations, legal-service providers, mutual-aid networks, and community organizations to identify barriers and develop systems of support.

9. Protect Victims and Witnesses

Ensure immigrant residents can report crimes, seek emergency assistance, and participate in investigations without unnecessary fear that contact with local government will result in immigration enforcement.

10. Pursue Statewide Sanctuary

As Governor of Ohio, expand these protections to state agencies and establish statewide standards preventing state resources from being used to facilitate federal immigration enforcement.

11. Advocate for Abolition

Use the authority of the governor’s office and public platform to advocate for the abolition of ICE and the immigration detention system and for an immigration system based on human rights, family unity, due process, and community integration rather than detention and enforcement.

Preparing for Retaliation and Defending Sanctuary

Becoming a sanctuary city or state requires more than passing a policy. It requires preparing for attempts to undermine, challenge, or financially punish the government and communities that adopt it. I believe Toledo and, eventually, Ohio should proactively build the legal, financial, administrative, and community infrastructure necessary to defend sanctuary protections.

How We Prepare

1. Build a Legal Defense Network

Establish relationships with civil-rights organizations, immigration attorneys, legal clinics, and constitutional-law experts before conflicts arise. This creates a coordinated legal response to federal challenges, lawsuits, or attempts to compel local participation in immigration enforcement.

2. Establish a Sanctuary Defense Fund

Create lawful funding mechanisms and partnerships that can support legal representation, immigrant services, emergency assistance, and other community needs if federal enforcement increases following sanctuary adoption.

3. Protect Local Government Independence

Review municipal policies, contracts, databases, and intergovernmental agreements to identify points through which federal immigration enforcement could attempt to obtain access to local resources. Strengthen legal and administrative safeguards before they are needed.

4. Prepare for Federal Funding Pressure

Identify public programs that could be vulnerable to federal funding restrictions and develop contingency plans, alternative funding sources, and stronger local revenue capacity so essential services are not dependent on political compliance with federal immigration enforcement.

5. Establish Rapid Response and Communication Systems

Create reliable communication channels between government, immigrant organizations, legal providers, and residents so communities can receive accurate information quickly during enforcement actions or legal developments.

6. Document and Publicize Federal Requests

Require transparent reporting of federal requests for local assistance, information, detention, or access to municipal resources. Government should not allow immigration enforcement activity to occur without public accountability.

7. Strengthen Regional Solidarity

Build relationships with other sanctuary municipalities, community organizations, labor organizations, legal advocates, and local governments so communities are not forced to respond individually to federal pressure.

8. Protect Public Employees

Provide clear legal guidance and training to municipal employees so they understand sanctuary requirements, their legal responsibilities, and the boundaries of federal immigration enforcement. Employees should not be placed in the position of having to make these decisions without institutional support.

9. Prepare for Escalation

Develop contingency plans for increased federal enforcement activity, legal challenges, attempts to access local facilities or information, and other forms of governmental pressure. These plans should prioritize the safety of residents, continuity of essential services, and adherence to constitutional and civil-rights protections.

10. Build Community Power Before Crisis

The strongest defense of sanctuary policy is an organized community. Government should work continuously with immigrant-led organizations, mutual-aid networks, faith communities, labor organizations, legal advocates, and residents to build the relationships necessary to respond collectively and lawfully to attempts to undermine sanctuary protections.

Sanctuary should not be treated as a symbolic declaration that can be abandoned when political pressure increases. If Toledo chooses to protect its immigrant residents, the city must be prepared to defend that decision through lawful, democratic, and community-centered action.

As Governor, I would pursue the same approach statewide: strengthening Ohio’s ability to withstand political and financial pressure while protecting local governments that choose to defend immigrant communities.

SUCCESS MEASURES

Success will be measured by:

• Expansion of sanctuary protections statewide.

• Adoption and enforcement of a comprehensive Toledo sanctuary ordinance.

• Elimination of voluntary municipal cooperation with ICE.

• Elimination of municipal participation in immigration detention.

• Number of city departments implementing sanctuary and confidentiality protections.

• Number of immigrant residents able to access city services without immigration-related barriers.

• Public reporting of federal immigration requests and municipal responses.

• Increased partnerships with immigrant-led community organizations.

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