2023 Election Watch: INDIANA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, TEXAS
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Run for Something is excited to share 10 endorsed candidates who will appear on the ballot on May 5th in Indiana, Ohio, Texas, & Pennsylvania! Take a look and see if any of them are in your neighborhood and sign up to volunteer to help Get Out The Vote this weekend.
CANDIDATES
INDIANA
Evansville City Council, Ward 4
Alex was born and raised in Evansville, IN. He graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in communications. He also obtained his master’s in public administration from Western Kentucky. He also interned for two members of Congress: Jim Cooper (TN-05) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09).
Alex returned back to Evansville to serve his community. He currently serves as Vice President of the city council and has sought to make positive traction in the areas of workforce development, housing, food insecurity, and public education.
Indianapolis City County Council, District 10
Ali is a nonprofit executive and City-County Councillor for Indianapolis’ Fifth District. From her activist work with organizations like Freedom Indiana to her efforts connecting people with new careers as a workforce development nonprofit executive, Ali has dedicated her life to empowering people and lifting up her community.
In her professional life, Ali has first-hand workforce development experience as the executive director of a large construction workforce development nonprofit, helping to connect people to apprenticeship programs in the building trades. Ali has helped hundreds of Indianapolis residents find jobs by leading the planning and execution of career fairs in the Circle City. As the previous Executive Director of the Indiana Transportation Association, the leading nonprofit representing mass transit in our state, Ali believes that an interconnected community benefits everyone and leads to a better Indianapolis. She is currently the executive director of a nonprofit that helps repair homes and revitalize neighborhoods in Indianapolis.
In December 2020, Ali founded the Indy Autism Project. Supported by partners such as the IMPD, Mayor Joe Hogsett, Visit Indy, Indy Chamber, IndyGo, Easterseals Crossroads and others, the project’s mission is to make Indianapolis the best city in the country for someone on the spectrum to live, work, or visit. It focuses on five pillars — public safety, parks & recreation, workforce development, mass transit, and travel & tourism — to improve safety and quality of life in Indianapolis.
Ali has been married to her husband, Zach, for more than six years and in January their son, Dylan, will celebrate his sixth birthday in January. Time and time again, she has proven her ability to lead our community to a better future.
Hammond City Council, District 3
Barry is running for re-election for 3rd District City Council in Hammond, Indiana. He attended Wabash College, where he double majored in speech and political science. Barry’s career has focused on education, youth development, and nonprofit management. He is also an active board member with several organizations, a former member of the USW, and has served as a high school football coach for the past 17 years.
As a councilman, Barry has focused on increasing employment opportunities, economic development, and improving the overall safety and infrastructure of neighborhoods. In his first term, he has successfully helped the city balance their budget, provided residents with resources to improve their short and long term quality of life, and has helped recruit several new businesses and services to the 3rd District while helping current businesses grow.
Indianapolis City Council, District 11
Crista is a graduate of Ben Davis High School and the University of Indianapolis. She earned her master’s in teaching from Marian University in 2012, and her building level administrator credentials from UINDY’s iLEAD program in 2013. Crista served as a public educator from 2009–2021, and currently serves as the Director of Development & Communications for RecycleForce and Keys2Work. She is the current District 6 City-County Councilwoman. Crista is a former member of the Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees, and resides in the Sunningdale Commons neighborhood on Indy’s Westside with her husband, Charlie and their daughter, Alexis.
Lawrenceburg City Council, District 2
Dylan was born and raised in Lawrenceburg. He received his degree from Ball State University and an associate degree in legal studies from Ivy Tech. Dylan has always focused on putting people first and has been driven to serve by his own personal experience with homelessness and poverty. Over the course of the pandemic, Dylan cared for his neighbors by sending out flyers about grant opportunities, providing book bags and school supplies to over 170 children in need, and showing up for union friends at Proximo, where he stood in solidarity with them and their right to organize.
Dylan, and his fiance Hannah, are caretakers to his two younger brothers to help his family members in their struggle with addiction, an issue critical in his decision to run and create a better community for his family and families like his.
Hammond City Council, at Large
Katrina is a long-time Hammond resident and a youth advocate working on issues like bullying and suicide. She started the Know Your Worth Campaign, working with young people to see their worth. Know Your Worth was a dream that turned into reality, and she started teaching. Katrina is an educator at East Chicago Central High School, where she teaches radio & TV broadcast, commercial photography, and theater. Through her art and work, she continues to help others. Katrina wrote her first play entitled “Redemption,” which addressed bullying and touched on suicide. She also acted, directed, and produced the stage play. Katrina is a member of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Union.
Katrina also volunteers at food pantries and soup kitchens and has spearheaded a gospel fest, providing health screenings, haircuts, book bags, and school supplies to school-aged children to prepare them for school. She also accepted her calling into ministry and received her license. She is a member of the Cross Church, where she is a part of the worship team and media team.
Katrina graduated from Purdue University Calumet with a degree in computer information systems. She is pursuing a master’s degree in career and technical education from Purdue West Lafayette.
OHIO
Akron City Council, At-Large
Fran is a fourth-generation Akronite and descendant of Akron rubber workers and plumbers. Fran is a former Akron Civil Rights Commissioner and a queer and progressive neighborhood organizer. They are running to make Akron just a bit easier to call home — to advocate for safe and affordable housing, Justice for Jayland Walker, basic human rights, and neighborhood reinvestment.
Fran organized alongside faith leaders, has been tear-gassed while protesting, worked with freedom fighters to advocate for justice, and has been vocal about the need for public participation in the policy and budget processes. Amid pandemic, gun violence, police brutality, and a local eviction crisis — Fran is stepping up to run a grassroots campaign centered on building long-term people power.
PENNSYLVANIA
North Hills School Board
Deanna serves as a School Board Director for North Hills School District. She was first elected in 2019 and currently serves on the Health and Wellness, Finance, and Policy Committees. On these committees, Deanna provides oversight on issues involving the district budget, board policies, school meal program, and physical and mental health programs. She is dedicated to following expert guidance and research to ensure North Hills grows. She is passionate about making North Hills a community where all kids can feel welcomed.
Deanna brings her professional experience and expertise as a school wellness consultant to the board and district. She works with school districts across Pennsylvania to improve areas like recess, school meals, health and physical education curriculum, and other school wellness topics, in partnership with state agencies, organizations, and other elected officials. Deanna has a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from Penn State and a master’s degree from American University in sociology. She graduated from North Hills High School and returned to raise her three kids in the district and to give back to the community.
TEXAS
San Antonio City Council, District 2
Jalen is a former high school math teacher and was elected to serve District 2 of San Antonio in 2021. He serves as a fierce advocate for equitable investment in his city’s infrastructure. He increased focus on the social determinants of health, advocated for accountability and transparency in city operations, and re-imagined public safety to prevent crime. When elected, Jalen became the first openly-gay man elected to the San Antonio City Council and the first openly-gay Black man elected to any seat in Texas.
Jalen has brought a fiery (and colorful) brand of advocacy to the council, where he has successfully advocated for a street lighting index paired with record funding, a change to the city’s Equity Funding Formula, hired a Civil Rights Coordinator, added additional resources for Animal Care Services, and provided funding for home repair and housing assistance programs. His work on these issues has garnered the attention of public figures like Taraji P. Henson and Nicki Minaj.
In 2021, Jalen was ranked #71 on The Root’s annual list of 100 influential African-Americans. In 2022, he was voted San Antonio Magazine’s Best Politician in the publication’s annual “Best of SA” compilation and Best Community Activist in SA Current’s annual “Best of San Antonio” list.
Jalen and his husband Nathan have two cats and a dog: Cairo, Rome, and London. Jalen is a certified math teacher (grades 4–8 and 7–12), licensed bartender, and Zumba®️ instructor.
New Braunfels City Council, District 5
Bently is a fifth-generation resident of New Braunfels. He is running to improve his community and better the lives of residents. Bently, along with many in his family, grew up in Comal Town (a historic district in New Braunfels), where his family worked extremely hard to get by with very little to show for.
At 18 years old, he started in electoral politics early, working on multiple campaigns and giving his time to community service to help others. His commitment to New Braunfels residents is unmatched, and he will work tirelessly to bring affordable housing, accessible public transportation, and so much more to the community.
