Whittney Wood

Whittney Wood was born in Lancaster, Ohio and earned a high school diploma from Fairfield Union High School.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My background isn't political, it's practical. I have always been the one to stand up to the bullies. It is time to put leashes on these corporations and billionaires.

I grew up in Thurston, swam for the Baltimore Sea Lions, and graduated from Fairfield Union. I rely on Fairfield Medical Center for most of my healthcare needs. I coach my daughter's t-ball team, and she goes to school in Lancaster. I currently work throughout district 73 frequently. I am one of the people being taken advantage of by policies written and passed by corrupt politicians that betray their constituents. Representatives who disregard the will of their voters should no longer get the privilege of being representatives. I have always spoken up on behalf of my people; Humans. My coworkers, my neighbors, my grocery store clerks... my fellow humans. I want to be that voice for you, for us! I will not bow down to big money, nor will I put morals aside to make rich men richer, or to placate the rest of the elected body. Help me make Ohio better for all of us, not just the 1% and their puppets.

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?

We don't have a lack of available housing, we have a shortage of affordable housing. We have a bunch of "luxury" apartment complexes going up and charging outlandish rent prices. Single family homes are being bought out by property management firms, and the current residents of Ohio are left without options. I am 35 and at this rate I will never be able to purchase a home with how outlandish these prices are. Corporations should not be able to squeeze every dollar they can from us, if they want to purchase homes or build apartment complexes, they should be charged a fee for every single unit and home that is un inhabited every year.Healthcare costs and healthcare cuts are getting bigger and bigger. The average Ohioan pays into their health insurance $10,000 per year, but we see more and more denied claims, or outrageous deductibles. How may of us go without our healthcare needs being met just because we know how much the bill is going to set us back? We should not be hesitant or reluctant to ensure our own wellbeing! Our payments into Medicaid and to our own health insurance is supposed to be allocated for the medical care we need, not board members profits. Stop the cuts, and stop raising insurance and care costs. That's my plan.Workers Rights are being trampled on by corporations in every manner. Fair wages is a must. People cannot be expected to devote all their time and energy to the company they work for and then not even be able to pay their bills. Companies get upset when you get a second job, but won't offer you fair compensation to make up for the need of a second job. People are being used and abused by companies and and tossed aside the second they no longer prove optimal productiveness. Workers are more productive and have better work ethic when they are treated with respect and given their due compensation.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Ranked Choice voting; give voters more options and incentive to get out and vote and not just straight down the ballot.

Data centers and their financial backers are trying to out pace us putting regulations on this industry. I like using AI, but there are better ways to cool the servers, and power these facilities than sucking everything from the public resources, and charging us for it. I am circulating the petitions for the ban of new data centers over 25 megawatts. Abortion is bodily autonomy, every human should get to make their own decisions about their own body.

Ohioans made clear our stance on abortion and marijuana laws in 2023. Voters should NOT be ignored.

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

Morals. Human decency. Honesty.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am fiercely protective and my moral compass is cemented into my whole being. I have always been a good leader in my working life and I genuinely believe we can do so much better for ourselves and future generations.

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

Using their voice as a voice of their people

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was in 5th grade when 9-11 happened. I vividly remember the secretary coming to our classroom, and my (favorite of all time) teacher Mrs. Gatton immediately let out a gasp and put her hand to her face. She turned on the tv to the news channel and we watched the second plane hit. Our parents were called, we left school early. I still remember the tears on her face and the early bus ride home being eerily silent

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

My very first job when I was 15 was a cashier at Steve and Barry's. How many people remember that store?! I was there until the company went bankrupt, and ended my employment as a head cashier and key holder at 17.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Violet Sorrengail. She helped dismantle a whole slew of purposeful misinformation slathered on by the governing force and rallied different types of people to work together to make the world a better place. Plus getting to have a dragon and fight the corruption would be so cool!

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

A relationship built on respect and the common good of the people. We need a government that Works for the people.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Leashing corporations and billionaires.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. I think it is important for our state legislators to have real world experience dealing with the decisions they make for everyday Ohioans. We need people in the statehouse that know what it is like to pick which bill to pay first. We need representation that has had to deal with the job market and outlandish medical costs. We do not need rich old men telling us what we want to hear and turning their backs on us in session because we "don't understand how politics work" as normal everyday people.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes! Our legislatures should build relationships with their constituency! They are elected to speak for their people, so they should 100% have a relationship with the people that are impacted by their decisions.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I haven't thought that far ahead. Ohio is my home, and we are dealing with a lot of corruption and bad legislation. Let's get Ohio into working order. Better communities here matter to me.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

A retired teacher told me about 'splitting' which is where a school building or district does not have the funds to hire substitute teachers. So if an educator has to take the day off, their class gets split between two other teacher's classrooms for the day. Lesson plans need adjusting, classroom furniture needs rearranged, and their principal would wait until the last second to notify the rest of the staff. The principal claimed she notified last minute to prevent any further call offs for that day. What that principal was actually doing was preventing her remaining staff from being prepared when situations like this arose. So students did not get the proper level of education and care because that principal didn't want to risk more teachers calling off.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

A bill directed at a grading rubric for elected officials. If they make promises on the campaign trail, and do not follow through once elected. If they are unavailable to constituents for meetings, calls, emails. If they vote opposite of what their constituency wants

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Women Count

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

We need 100% transparency, period. We should know what our tax dollars and elected officials are doing.