OPINION: Why I’m voting for Tanya

Photo by Tanya Conrath for State Representative campaign

Danny Murnin is a sophomore studying journalism and an opinion writer for The New Political. Murnin is also an intern at the Ohio House Democratic Caucus.

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.

When I walk into Baker Center on Nov. 8 to carry out my civic duty, it will be my first general election doing so. I am 19 years old, this is just my second time voting. I intend to vote straight Democratic, but I have little enthusiasm for the people I will be voting for with just one exception. 

I hope that one day, I can make my voting decisions by simply judging the character and individual policies of candidates against each other, rather than just party. I am extremely alarmed by the actions of politicians in today’s Republican Party, who are seemingly incapable of doing just about anything positive. From taking away women’s rights, refusing to support common-sense gun laws and trying to overturn election results, these politicians are out-of-touch, dark money-bought zealots who have no respect for themselves, others or democracy.

Unfortunately, the ballot in Athens County doesn’t allow me to express my outrage. The Democratic candidate for Ohio Governor Nan Whaley and the nominees for the five other state executive offices are all caring, hard-working people who would be excellent at the jobs they are pursuing, but polling shows none of them have a realistic chance at winning. 

Because of my personal political beliefs, as well as the animosity I hold toward his Republican opponent, I am voting for Tim Ryan for Senate. However, I am unimpressed by how he has geared his campaign exclusively toward working-class white voters in smaller cities and rural areas, leaving little room for young voters and voters of color. 

The only race where I am very excited about the person I am voting for is further down the ballot, in the race for Ohio State House District 94. Tanya Conrath, the Democratic nominee for the seat, is an exceptional woman who will most likely give Republican incumbent Jay Edwards his biggest challenge yet in his fourth time running for the seat. 

Conrath launched her candidacy late after a previous Democratic candidate dropped out of the race immediately following the August primary. Her eligibility to be on the ballot was contested by Republicans. Still, a weeks-long legal battle that ended with the Ohio Supreme Court ruling in her favor on Oct. 11. 

This was a great outcome. Tanya has been a leader in Athens County and southeast Ohio her entire adult life with more impressive facets to her background than I have time to review for this article. Her website provides a better overview of her accomplishments. In short, her career has centered on economic development in Southeast Ohio. In a region so impoverished, elected officials representing the area must have deep knowledge of the economic problems that plague the region and successful strategies that can be used to combat them. In times like these, when many economists believe the country is headed for a recession, Conrath brings all the right knowledge and experience on this issue to the table. 

As someone who has spoken to Conrath personally, I truly believe that she is sincere in fighting hard for all of her campaign priorities, such as bringing back the right to choose in Ohio. Edwards has cosponsored and voted for some of the most heinous restrictions on abortion and women’s healthcare anywhere in the country. Politicians have zero right to involve themselves in the private decisions made between a woman, her family and her doctor. Edwards doesn’t understand that, but Conrath does, which is a major reason I am voting for her. 

With the exception of Athens County, southeast Ohio is a very red area, but what has voting for Republicans brought us? The same problems that plagued the region in 2012, when Republicans first gained a supermajority in the State House haven’t gotten any better. If anything, they’ve gotten worse. We need a new voice as our State Representative. 

I truly hope even Republican-leaning voters can look beyond their partisan shield and see that Conrath is the right person for this job. She is qualified, caring and a very hard worker. We need someone like her who understands the problems people in this region face and doesn’t exclusively focus on cultural hot buttons. That is why I am voting for Tanya.