Независимая кандидат Трейси Такетт официально баллотируется против республиканца Джима Джордана в Конгресс от Огайо

Springfield Assistant Mayor Tracey Tackett will officially run as an independent against Republican Jim Jordan to represent Ohio’s District 4 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Election officials completed certification of the campaign’s petition signatures Monday, July 6. Volunteers collected more than 4,000 signatures from district voters in 90 days, according to a media release. “Today’s certification is a victory for every voter who believes our democracy is stronger when people have more choices,” Tackett said. “This campaign proved that ordinary citizens, working together, can accomplish extraordinary things.” Tackett, who has been on Springfield City Commission for two years, is no stranger to wins over longtime holders of political office. The business owner handily defeated longtime commissioner Kevin O’Neill to take her current seat in Springfield. The Congressional seat is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan. With recently redrawn maps, the district represents much more of Clark County than it did previously. Until November, U.S. Rep. Mike Turner of District 10 will continue representing most of Clark County. Jordan has held the seat since 2007, fending off several challengers since. Democrat Joshua Kolasinski is also running for the seat. Tackett said previously that her aim is to bridge partisan divides. A lifelong Springfielder, Tackett graduated from Wittenberg University with an organizational leadership major and political science minor. She has a masters in public policy and leadership from Ohio State University. Tackett is a Leadership Clark County graduate and was recently accepted into the Leadership Ohio program. She became involved in government by advocating at the state and federal level for her late daughter, who had epilepsy, and her niece, who had cancer. Independent candidates face bigger hurdles than those backed by the Republican or Democratic parties. “This milestone belongs to every volunteer who sacrificed evenings, weekends, and time with their families to help build this campaign. It belongs to every voter who signed a petition because they believe in giving our communities another voice,” Tackett said. Tackett said her campaign is focused on “empowering local communities, returning greater resources to local governments, supporting first responders, strengthening infrastructure, improving educational opportunities, and bringing practical, bipartisan solutions to Congress.” U.S. Congressional District 4 includes all or some of 14 counties: Clark, Champaign, Logan, Union, Shelby, Mercer, Van Wert, Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Marion, Morrow, Richland and Delaware.