‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌Jack,
The latest Fox News poll has Joe Biden five points ahead of Donald Trump in Ohio. The Buckeye State is in play—as are a number of its Republican-held House seats in the state.
So today, I want to introduce you to Hillary O'Connor Mueri—a Navy combat veteran, Ohio native and lawyer who is a fierce fighter for Northeast Ohio families who is running to flip OH-14 (which Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown won back in 2018).
We asked Hillary a few questions for our latest Off the Sidelines Candidate Spotlight. I hope you'll take the time to learn more about why she got off the sidelines and chose to run for office this year.
And if you like what you read, please consider splitting a donation between Hillary's campaign and Off the Sidelines today. Your donation will go directly toward electing Hillary and other game-changing women running for Congress this year. [[link removed]]
Thank you,
Stefanie
[link removed] [[link removed]]Off the Sidelines: Tell us about yourself. Why did you decide to get off the sidelines and run for office?
Hillary O'Connor Mueri: I looked at the trajectory our country is on and recognized there are no sidelines anymore; not getting involved is acceding to the status quo.
I’m running for Congress because Washington is broken, and it's because we've let people break it. We have career politicians like David Joyce, who answer to corporations. They answer to special interests. They’ve forgotten that they're here to represent the people.
I'm running because people should have access to affordable, accessible, quality healthcare. Nobody should have to be forced into bankruptcy to protect the health of their family.
I'm running because people deserve good jobs. They deserve to be able to work a good day of labor for a good day of pay and still go home and have a life, instead of breaking themselves on a daily basis...and then running to their next job...and sometimes even a third. That’s not the American Dream I was raised on.
I'm running because David Joyce has forgotten that he needs to be representing everyday people like us.
OTS: Tell us about Ohio's fourteenth congressional district.
HM: This district is my hometown—my parents still live in the house I grew up in a couple miles in one direction from my house, and my brother lives a few blocks in the other direction. It's a mix of suburbs and rural areas, with truly glorious places to enjoy the outdoors—which includes majestic Lake Erie, the Grand River, and multitudes of parks and hiking trails. People here have an independent streak—we've voted to elect Republicans and Democrats, often even in the same election. We've suffered mightily from the opioid crisis—it's hit worse here than in most other places around the country. Our strong work ethic and sense of community have gotten us through a decades-long decline in good middle-class jobs. This corner of Northeast Ohio is beautiful, and my family, friends, and neighbors in this district are hard working, decent people who deserve better than they've gotten from Washington, DC.
OTS: What's one issue that deserves more attention on the campaign trail?
HM : I know it's not sexy, but I think service deserves more attention on the campaign trail. Service like mine in the armed forces, sure—but also the service of teachers, nurses, first responders, and volunteers who have stepped up in amazing ways during this crisis. Without an ethic of service to each other and our nation, I think the American experiment frays—and that deserves more consideration than it gets.
OTS: Whose support are you most grateful for?
HM : My husband’s. Simon is always my biggest source of support and encouragement, but perhaps more importantly I can always count on him to tell me when he thinks I’m wrong.
OTS: What's one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
HM : Be gentle with yourself.
OTS: Are you reading any good books?
HM : I finally picked up Becoming by Michelle Obama. Beyond her iconic status as a powerful advocate for women and girls, her quote, “Becoming is never giving up on the idea that there’s more growing to be done,” hooked me from the moment I saw it. It’s such a succinct and powerful articulation of not just our individual, personal development, but that of our nation— I’m fond of saying ‘the more perfect union’ isn’t a destination but a journey.
OTS: What's a fun fact that people might not know about you?
HM : I can walk and knit at the same time.
OTS: If you could have dinner with three people, who would they be and why?
HM : Senator Kirsten Gillibrand—hopefully for obvious reasons!
Neil Armstrong—he’s both a hero and an enigma; I’d love to know more about what made him tick.
Sojourner Truth—integral to the history of Northeast Ohio (she delivered her ‘Ain’t I a Woman’ speech at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron), she was one of the earliest advocates for women’s rights in addition to her position as one of the foremost leaders of the abolition movement.
OTS: How do you unwind?
HM : I spend time with loved ones, pet my dachshunds, and knit. Occasionally simultaneously.
Ready to help elect Hillary? Split a donation between her campaign and Off the Sidelines today >> [[link removed]]

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