State Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes will take a leadership position in the Democratic minority caucus when the next Ohio General Assembly convenes in January.
The Akron lawmaker won re-election to the 34th Ohio house district this month. On Wednesday, the minority caucus elected her as assistant minority whip. In her new role, she’ll be channelling the expertise and passion of her colleagues, listening to the policies they champion and drumming up support to get them enacted in a Republican-dominated statehouse.
“But I don’t want people to think that I’m going to disappear,” said Sykes, who has been a vocal advocate for local jobs, public schools, social safety programs and health care, with an emphasis on Ohio’s high infant mortality rate, especially among black families.
“I will continue to focus on the 34 house district and the challenges we have,” Sykes said.
Headed into her second term, Sykes is rising fast in the Democratic Party. She said she looks forward to helping others as she takes on a broader range of issues, from renewable energy to support for Medicaid.
The 132nd General Assembly convenes Jan. 3, a day before Sykes’ 31st birthday. As a young lawmaker in a party out of power and looking for future leaders, Sykes said she will use her new position to share her experiences as a first-term lawmaker to continue to mentor newcomers to state government.
“It was something of a little bit of a challenge to me,” Sykes said of finding her footing and becoming a champion for liberal causes and the region. “That’s why I think it will be a good transition to do it in a much more formal way and in conjunction with the House minority caucus team.”
Sykes defeated Republican Gene Littlefield Nov. 8. She succeeds state Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire, as assistant whip. Democrats said Cera will continue to play a role in the party’s leadership as caucus dean.
State Rep. Fred Strahorn, D-Dayton, was re-elected to the highest minority leadership position, House Democratic leader.
Also re-elected to their leadership roles were Assistant Democratic Leader Nicholas J. Celebrezze, D-Parma, and Democratic Whip Nickie J. Antonio, D-Lakewood.
Sykes’ counterpart across the aisle is another Northeast Ohio woman in her early 30s: state Rep. Sarah LaTourette, a Republican from Geauga County and the daughter of the late Congressman Steve LaTourette.
Both women have followed their fathers into public service.
Vernon Sykes, Emilia’s father, was elected this month to the Ohio Senate. A professor at Kent State and the University of Akron, the elder Sykes served two terms on Akron City Council, then 18 years in the Ohio House. There, he was assistant majority leader when the Democrats controlled the lower chamber and — before term limits — Summit County consistently had a voice in state leadership.
“At one point there was always a leader from Summit County,” Emilia Sykes said. “Of course I’m proud to bring that back because we are a very strong county with a lot of resources and great local officials.”
The Ohio House will wrap up its 2015-16 legislative session, then reconvene in January with 66 Republicans and 33 Democrats. Republicans picked up two seats after the Nov. 8 election.
In the region, state Rep. Ron Amstutz, R-Wooster, will relinquish the speaker pro tempore position in the Republican majority caucus. He did not seek re-election following term limits. Taking his No. 2 spot, though, will be state Rep. Kirk Schuring, R-Canton, who ran unopposed this general election.
Doug Livingston can be reached at 330-996-3792 or dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @ABJDoug .