Sandra Williams
Encyclopedia
Sandra Williams is a Democratic
member of the Ohio House of Representatives
who has represented the 11th District since 2007.
and Tiffin University
. Williams worked in the field of criminal justice for more than a decade. She worked in several different positions, including as a corrections officer, probation officer
, parole officer and mediator
. Williams also served as a member of the United States Army
Reserve from 1987 to 1995.
Before being elected as a state representative, Williams worked within the Statehouse as a legislative aide.
decided not seek reelection, she ran for the safe Democratic seat and won decisively. She was reelected easily in 2008 and 2010.
In 2009, Williams was elected as President of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and will serve in that capacity for the 129th General Assembly. Speaker Armond Budish
also named Williams as Chairman of the Economic Development Committee for the 128th General Assembly. She also served as Vice Chairman of the Public Utilities Committee, as well as a member of the Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee.
With the 129th General Assembly, with Williams now in the minority, she will serve as ranking member of the Economic and Small Business Development Committee, as well as a member of the Criminal Justice Committee, and the Public Utilities Committee. She is also a member of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.
's lack of diversity upon choosing his cabinent, stating, "I would hope that Kasich would understand that this state is very diverse.... African-Americans, as well as other minorities, make up a significant portion of the state's population and his cabinet, as well as his staff, should reflect that." She also has stated that there is a "strong possibility" that Gov. Kasich and the GOP controlled legislature would curtail efforts to expand minority business contracting.
A staunch opponent of collective bargaining
reform brought forth in S.B. 5, Williams believes that Republicans
could risk defeat if the continue with the bill.
As chairperson of the Legislative Black Caucus, Williams was vocal about a controversial initiative that would require a photo ID to cast a ballot. Williams believes that doing so would "disenfranchise" minority voters from participating in an election. She has called it an intentional attack on the Democratic Party.
office and were stopped by state troopers and police dogs. Some called it an intimidation
or profiling
tactic.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
who has represented the 11th District since 2007.
Career
A native of Cleveland, Williams attended Cleveland State UniversityCleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
and Tiffin University
Tiffin University
Tiffin University is a university in Tiffin, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1888, Tiffin University enrolls over 4,900 students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered at the Tiffin campus in Tiffin, Ohio, at the University of Bucharest in Romania, and at several locations in Ohio,...
. Williams worked in the field of criminal justice for more than a decade. She worked in several different positions, including as a corrections officer, probation officer
Probation officer
Parole officers and probation officers play a role in criminal justice systems by supervising offenders released from incarceration or sentenced to non-custodial sanctions such as community service...
, parole officer and mediator
Mediator
Mediator may refer to:*A neutral party who assists in negotiations and conflict resolution, the process being known as mediation*Mediator variable in statistics*The Mediator pattern in computer science...
. Williams also served as a member of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Reserve from 1987 to 1995.
Before being elected as a state representative, Williams worked within the Statehouse as a legislative aide.
Ohio House of Representatives
After Williams' former boss Annie L. KeyAnnie L. Key
Annie Key is a former Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 11th District from 2001−2006. A former telephone worker with Ohio Bell and later AT&T, Key initially ran for the Ohio House of Representatives in 2000 to succeed Troy Lee James, who had held the seat for...
decided not seek reelection, she ran for the safe Democratic seat and won decisively. She was reelected easily in 2008 and 2010.
In 2009, Williams was elected as President of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and will serve in that capacity for the 129th General Assembly. Speaker Armond Budish
Armond Budish
Armond D. Budish is the Democratic representative for the 8th district of the Ohio House of Representatives. First elected into service during the 127th General Assembly of 2007, he was re-elected in the 128th, where he served as Speaker of the House...
also named Williams as Chairman of the Economic Development Committee for the 128th General Assembly. She also served as Vice Chairman of the Public Utilities Committee, as well as a member of the Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee.
With the 129th General Assembly, with Williams now in the minority, she will serve as ranking member of the Economic and Small Business Development Committee, as well as a member of the Criminal Justice Committee, and the Public Utilities Committee. She is also a member of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.
Initiatives and positions
Williams has been a vocal critic of Governor John KasichJohn Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
's lack of diversity upon choosing his cabinent, stating, "I would hope that Kasich would understand that this state is very diverse.... African-Americans, as well as other minorities, make up a significant portion of the state's population and his cabinet, as well as his staff, should reflect that." She also has stated that there is a "strong possibility" that Gov. Kasich and the GOP controlled legislature would curtail efforts to expand minority business contracting.
A staunch opponent of collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
reform brought forth in S.B. 5, Williams believes that Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
could risk defeat if the continue with the bill.
As chairperson of the Legislative Black Caucus, Williams was vocal about a controversial initiative that would require a photo ID to cast a ballot. Williams believes that doing so would "disenfranchise" minority voters from participating in an election. She has called it an intentional attack on the Democratic Party.
Controversies
Williams made headlines when constituents of her district tried to visit her ColumbusColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
office and were stopped by state troopers and police dogs. Some called it an intimidation
Intimidation
Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened.Criminal threatening is the crime of intentionally or...
or profiling
Profiling
Profiling, the extrapolation of information about something, based on known qualities, may refer specifically to:* Profiling practices * Forensic profiling, used in several types of forensic sciences* Offender profiling...
tactic.
External links
- Ohio House of Representatives: Rep. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland) official OH House website
- The Ohio Ladies' Gallery: Rep. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland)
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Sandra Williams (OH) profile
- Follow the Money - Sandra Williams
- 2006 campaign contributions