Samantha Salamon

Samantha Salamon earned a high school diploma from Walsh Jesuit High School. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree and a law degree from Cleveland State University. Her career experience includes working as a nonprofit executive.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Samantha is a lifelong resident of Summit County. Growing up attending Nordonia school district and attended Walsh Jesuit high school, Samantha continues to live and support Summit County with her new family. She received her bachelor's degree in Social Work and Middle Eastern studies from Cleveland State University. She continued her education at CSU to get her law degree in 2015. She started her legal career in Dubai, United Arab Emirates as a corporate and real estate attorney for two years. In 2017, Samantha came back to the U.S. and started her own law firm practicing criminal defense and family law matters. Samantha started working as a full-time attorney at a non-profit called Asian Services In Action, Inc. with a focus on working with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. She has gained recognition as an "expert" in the various forms of victimization, with particular emphasis on human trafficking. As current Chief Counsel of ASIA, Samantha focuses her time on solving systematic issues statewide. Working on legislation, policies, and statewide initiatives with local leaders throughout Ohio, Samantha's strengths are understanding legislation, talking with local experts about their opinions on the legislation/issues, and utilizing that expertise on developing effective and impact legislation. She is actively involved in her local township, Nordonia schools, and various non-profits around Ohio.

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?

Fiscal responsibility - Samantha believes government must be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars. Families across District 35 work hard for their income, and they deserve to know their tax dollars are being spent wisely, transparently, and with accountability. Samantha supports practical budgeting that prioritizes essential services, strengthens communities, and ensures public funds are used efficiently to benefit the people they are meant to serve.Strong Public Schools - All children deserve access to strong public schools that provide safe learning environments, dedicated teachers, and the resources necessary for every student to succeed. Supporting quality education, investing in classrooms, and ensuring schools are equipped to prepare students for the future helps strengthen families and communities. Samantha will continue working to support educators, students, and parents while ensuring District 35 remains a place where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Samantha will focus on appropriate funding for public schools, while also alleviating property tax burdens on constituents.Affordable & Livable Communities - All Ohioans deserve to live in communities that support small businesses, working families, and the well-being of their residents. When local businesses grow and succeed, they create jobs, strengthen neighborhoods, and help keep our local economy thriving. At the same time, families should be able to live in safe, welcoming communities with access to clean environments, well-maintained green spaces and metroparks, and a cost of living that remains reasonable while addressing the rise in property taxes. Samantha will continue working to support policies that strengthen local economies and ensure District 35 remains a strong, affordable place for families and businesses to call home.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Protecting Basic Human Rights - Samantha has dedicated her career focusing on maintaining and advocating for the constitutional rights of every individual, with a particular focus on protecting victims. From domestic violence to human trafficking, protecting victims' rights throughout their healing process is not only helpful but it is essential to maintaining an individual's dignity. Samantha believes that everyone should be treated justly, with fairness, and most importantly, with respect. These attributes will be utilized at the State House in advocating to everyone on legislation that will continue to protect our constituents' rights.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Labor Union Local No. 894