Ukeme Awakessien Jeter

Ukeme Awakessien Jeter earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maine in 2004; a graduate degree from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, in 2009; and a law degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2013.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a proud immigrant and mother of two who believes in the promise of the American Dream, and that promise should not slip further out of reach for the next generation.

I have built my career as an engineer and attorney, working across multiple industries spanning private & public sectors, intergovernmental agencies, and higher education.

Public service wasn’t always part of my plan. But when I began to raise my children, I felt a growing responsibility to help shape the future of the community we call home. That led me to run for City Council and eventually serve as Mayor, where I’ve focused on transparent, accountable government and strengthening the systems that support families.

I believe government should work for the people it serves. It should listen, solve problems, and create conditions where families and communities can thrive.

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?

Lowering costs and strengthening the systems families rely on

Families are doing everything right and still falling behind. The cost of staying in your home, paying for childcare, and keeping up with rising health care costs & utility bills is stretching families to their limit.

I will work toward property tax relief through research-backed solutions like a circuit breaker that caps taxes based on income, while funding schools so relief doesn’t come at their expense. I will push for stronger oversight & greater transparency on utility rate increases. I will prioritize making childcare more affordable by expanding early childhood programs and supporting providers, and I will invest in housing supply to bring down long-term costs.Building a future Ohio that keeps our talent

Ohio is educating incredible talent, but too often we are exporting it.

I will advocate for policies that connect education to opportunity by strengthening school-to-workforce pipelines and increasing partnerships between high schools, community colleges, universities, and Ohio-based employers. That includes supporting paid internships, apprenticeships, and co-op programs that give students real pathways into good-paying jobs.

This must be paired with investment in the fundamentals that make people stay: vibrant communities, attainable housing, reliable infrastructure, and strong public schools. When people see a future for themselves, they stay.Protecting rights, freedom, and dignity

I believe government should help people build stable lives, not interfere in their personal decisions. Ohio should be a place where people have the freedom to make personal decisions about their own lives, families, and futures. I will fight to protect women’s rights, including reproductive freedom and access to healthcare, and I will oppose efforts to roll back rights or use government to intrude into deeply personal decisions. I also believe freedom means the ability to live safely, participate fully in civic life, and be treated with dignity. At a time when too many rights feel under attack, I will be a clear and steady voice for protecting them.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As an immigrant, my life is a reflection of what is possible when opportunity meets hard work. I wrote my book IMMIGRIT to explore that journey and to challenge how we think about identity, belonging, and leadership in this country. That perspective is not theoretical for me. It is lived.

Immigration is critical to Ohio’s growth. Over the last decade, much of Ohio’s population growth has been driven by immigrants, even as many regions face population decline and workforce shortages. If we are serious about economic growth and workforce development, we must get serious about policies that welcome, retain, and integrate immigrant professionals into Ohio communities.