Nickie Antonio

Education

Antonio attended Lutheran High School West and is an alumna of Cleveland State University, where she earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a Master of Public Administration.

Career

A Democrat, she serves in the representing the 13th district, which is located entirely within Cuyahoga County and contains all of the city of Lakewood as well as parts of Cleveland. She is a former special education teacher, adjunct professor and non-profit administrator, as well as a former chair of the Cuyahoga Democratic Women"s Caucus. Antonio was first elected to Lakewood City Council in 2005, winning an at-large seat.

She was re-elected in 2009, receiving the most votes in a field of six candidates chasing three seats.

In the primary election held on May 4, 2010, Antonio defeated Bullock by 54% to 46% - a margin of 609 votes. She took her seat in the House on January 3, 2011.

In the 129th General Assembly, she served on five committees: Finance and Appropriations, Department of Health and Human Services Finance Subcommittee, Commerce, Labor and Technology, Education (as Ranking Member), and Health and Aging. She also serves on the Unified Long-Term Care Advisory Workgroup, the 21st Century Manufacturing Task Force and the Community Health Futures Task Force.

In one of her first legislative priorities along with Ted Celeste, Antonio introduced legislation to eliminate the death penalty in the state of Ohio.

Celeste has pointed to evidence that the penalty has been discriminatory toward minorities. Antonio is a staunch opponent of South.B. 5, which looks to eliminate many aspects of collective bargaining. When asked if she would work to amend the bill, she stated it is beyond repair.

Along with Mike Foley, Antonio introduced a Works Progress Administration-style provision that would allow for $200 million to be appropriated to allow for the creation of 5,000 entry-level jobs across Ohio.

Antonio calls it a jobs plan that would help to stimulate the economy. Pro-choice, Antonio has fought against numerous anti-reproductive choice initiatives since becoming a state representative.

She is the first openly gay person to have served in the Ohio General Assembly.

Achievements

• Antonio won in the Democratic primary against fellow Lakewood councilmember Tom Bullock. Number Republican filed for the seat in the heavily Democratic district so Antonio won the general election unopposed. Antonio won a landslide victory reelection to a second term in 2012, by obtaining 75,86% of the vote over Republican John Zappalla.

Membership

A former member of Lakewood City Council, she was elected to the legislature in 2010 and took office on January 3, 2011 and re-elected in the 2012 General election receiving 75% of the vote.