Jen Mazzuckelli

Jen Mazzuckelli graduated from Glen Este High School. She attended Trinity College, earned a bachelor's degree from Illinois College in 1991, and a graduate degree from the Miami University of Ohio in 2005. Her career experience includes working as a caregiver.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Cold War Kid. Generation X. I grew up in a middle class family of public servants. My mother was a teacher and my father retired from the Public Health Service. I graduated from Glen Este High School (Clermont County, Ohio) and went on to college, first at Trinity College in Washington, D.C. and then at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois where I grew up.

After I graduated I ended up working in Human Resources until I was laid off and decided to try substitute teaching and fell in love with the profession. So I returned to school to become a licensed teacher. I taught high school English until 2013 when my life turned upside down.

In November 2013 I pressed domestic violence against my husband.  In December of 2013 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. In what felt like an instant, my children and I fell from the middle class to the 'extremely low' income level.

I know how it feels to search for affordable housing and have to settle on an apartment that costs over half of my income.  She understands how disruptive an unexpected expense, like new shoes for the kids, or a higher than expected electric bill is to an already stressed budget.  Or having to ration car trips to make sure there's enough gas in the tank to take the kids to school. It shouldn't be this hard to afford basic necessities.

I am running for Congress because it's beyond time we had someone represent our district who gets it and wants to fix it.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Before we can begin to focus on solving the economic hardship that so many Americans face we need a Congress that works. We need a representative who fulfills their basic Constitutional responsibilities - the power of the purse, and the power to declare war. We need a representative who genuinely listens to our concerns and is responsive to OUR needs. We need a representative that acts as a public servant NOT a politician.

Whether it was as a human resources professional, a teacher, my daughters' Girl Scout Leader, or Assistant Coach for Girls on the Run, I have spent my life in service to my family and community.

I am the public servant Ohio's Second Congressional District needs.A key responsibility that belongs to Congress is rigorous oversight over the Executive Branch of government. Rather than take this responsibility seriously, it is often turned into an opportunity to 'score points' against the other party. Not only does this create cynicism and distrust among the voters, it also allows corruption and waste to flourish. And because of the immense amount of wasteful spending from this administration our country is currently insolvent.

If elected I will insist that the oversight be taken seriously. Every contract needs to be scrutinized. Every penny spent needs to be examined to make sure it is being spent as Congress intended. Any frozen and impounded appropriations need to be released and returned.This district is suffering from decades of absent representation. And everytime the voters elect someone new to office, hoping that new leadership will bring change we only get more of the same. A representative who doesn't seem to know or care about what we want or need to make our communities strong.

Congressman Dave Taylor, our current representative refuses to hold in person town hall meetings with his constituents. He has his staffers send form letters in response to our written concerns. Our phone calls and visits to his office get logged and we are told that our message will be passed on. But at least we've been heard. That's not good enough.

If elected I will never forget who put me in office and that I work for them.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about making sure we have a functional democratic government. I am passionate about foreign policy. But the issue that is near and dear to my heart is gender based violence, specifically domestic violence and the economic challenges that women and children experience as a result.

Domestic violence is a major driver of women and children into poverty. There needs to be a robust system of economic and legal supports for survivors of domestic violence, ESPECIALLY if they have children, so that they can become financially independent, economically stable, and lead autonomous lives free from fear, abuse and control.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My mother's parents are my northstar. I don't know that I will ever be able to completely live up to their example but I do my best. Having grown up during The Great Depression they were very frugal and used their resources to help others. They were examples of service. Both served during WWII and they continued to serve their large family, church and community. They were great examples of civic virtue.I

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Strong ethical character, personal integrity, and openmindedness, and responsiveness. Additionally, despite their party affilliations and personal beliefs, elected officials must represent the needs of their constituents equally.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Determine time, place, and manner of federal elections, all things related to money, budgets and debt, declare war, legislate immigration, etc.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to do my part to restore the trust, faith and confidence in this government that began to erode after the Watergate scandal and has only grown since then.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My brother, sister, and I had a paper route that we took turns working based on which one of us had something we needed money for - like the 8th grade school trip to Washington, D.C.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

When I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis I was in poor physical and emotional shape. I worked persistently and diligently with my team of doctors to stabilize my disease and the symptoms it caused.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

We are a government that is OF the people, FOR the people, and BY the people. What makes the House of Representatives, The People's House, unique from the Senate is that it is intended to provide us with more direct representation in the Federal government. So that THE PEOPLE are able to 'weigh in' on the major decisions that take are made on their behalf. That's why floor debates are so important in matters of war, for example.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

We have lost the trust of our allies and are no longer seen as a reliable partner in the world. This is only one of many major challenges we will face over the next decade but I believe that it is the most important because our national security and economic well-being depends on it. All other issues flow from this.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

I used to believe that. But compromise means that everybody loses something and nobody feels like they've 'won' or gained much.

I think that what is far more effective is the difficult work of problem solving. That requires relying on expertise and a commitment to finding solutions rather than assessing blame for the problem.

As an English teacher at a drop out / recovery school I had to rely on creative problem solving skills in order to create a curriculum that would comply with the state standards and would meet the needs of my students who had diverse skill levels. I imagine that developing policies and legislation to meet the needs of the diversity we have in this district, state, and country wouldn't be drastically different from that.

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

The Challenger explosion.