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Nan Whaley taps Cuyahoga County leader as running mate in gubernatorial race

 Cheryl Stephens, Cuyahoga County council member, joins Nan Whaley's gubernatorial ticket for the Democratic nomination.
Andy Chow
/
Statehouse News Bureau
Cheryl Stephens, Cuyahoga County council member, joins Nan Whaley's gubernatorial ticket for the Democratic nomination.

Nan Whaley announced Wednesday she's selected Cheryl Stephens to join her ticket in the race for the Democratic nomination in the Ohio governor's race.

Stephens is a member of the Cuyahoga County Council, CEO of the non-profit East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC), and former mayor of Cleveland Heights.

Whaley says Stephens is a leader who knows how to focus on accomplishing her goals for the community.

"We deserve a state that works for us," Whaley said. "And the only way we'll get there is with the total overhaul. And as your next governor and lieutenant governor, that's our promise. Government that is looking out for you, not themselves."

 Nan Whaley, former Dayton mayor, announces Cheryl Stephens as her running mate in the 2022 Ohio gubernatorial race.
Andy Chow
/
Statehouse News Bureau
Nan Whaley, former Dayton mayor, announces Cheryl Stephens as her running mate in the 2022 Ohio gubernatorial race.

Stephens emphasized her passion for Ohio and the ability to foster the "American dream." She says that dream comprises three points: access to quality education, fair wages, and affordable home ownership.

"What I see in my work every day is families that are struggling," Stephens says. "They live paycheck to paycheck. We need to get wages up to help them take care of their families better."

Whaley says their ticket is focused on raising the minimum wage, improving workforce development, and ending corruption in state government. She has targeted HB6, the law at the center of the nuclear power plant bribery scandal. Whaley says she will repeal all remaining provisions of HB6 and create an accountability office in her administration.

Whaley has been outpacing her Democratic opponent, John Cranley, in fundraising. The two will be running for the Democratic nomination in the May 3 primary.
Copyright 2022 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.