/tags/disconnected-democracy Disconnected Democracy en-US Copyright Wed, 11 May 2022 18:00:48 GMT /ohio-news/2022-05-11/a-community-in-southeast-ohio-reflects-on-black-history-and-its-importance-to-democracy Dr. Tee Ford-Ahmed directs communications and media for the Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society. She is certain that the historically Black church would have been torn down without the efforts of the Athens community to save the building. Wed, 11 May 2022 18:00:48 GMT /ohio-news/2022-05-11/a-community-in-southeast-ohio-reflects-on-black-history-and-its-importance-to-democracy Laura Harbert /politics/2022-05-06/the-far-reaching-effects-of-gerrymandering-from-reducing-competition-to-limiting-voter-impact Every election, dozens of races across the state at nearly every level of government lack competition. Whether there is a one-party dominated Congressional district or an entrenched incumbent in a state general assembly seat scaring off challengers, many voters heading to the polls will find at least one race where their vote is symbolic only. Fri, 06 May 2022 15:36:30 GMT /politics/2022-05-06/the-far-reaching-effects-of-gerrymandering-from-reducing-competition-to-limiting-voter-impact /ohio-news/2022-05-05/in-very-conservative-lake-county-an-lgbtq-advocate-finds-her-work-critical Betty Jacobs is the executive director of LGBTQ+ Allies Lake County. She hosts support groups, counsels families and advocates to elected officials. But it's hard work to do alone. Thu, 05 May 2022 14:20:35 GMT /ohio-news/2022-05-05/in-very-conservative-lake-county-an-lgbtq-advocate-finds-her-work-critical Jenny Hamel /ohio-news/2022-05-02/covid-19-politics-continue-to-complicate-how-small-businesses-in-ohio-operate Small businesses all over Ohio have suffered financially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But they’ve also struggled with big decisions — often with political overtones — about how to keep their customers and employees safe. Mon, 02 May 2022 19:42:32 GMT /ohio-news/2022-05-02/covid-19-politics-continue-to-complicate-how-small-businesses-in-ohio-operate /politics/2022-05-01/how-ohio-voters-influence-the-amount-of-tax-dollars-flowing-to-their-local-community When voters go to the polls to choose their state legislative representatives, they’re also indirectly determining state policy on how tax dollars are spent. Sun, 01 May 2022 20:54:38 GMT /politics/2022-05-01/how-ohio-voters-influence-the-amount-of-tax-dollars-flowing-to-their-local-community /ohio-news/2022-04-28/meet-the-ohio-woman-who-aims-to-be-the-voice-of-reason-to-calm-democracys-storm Lauren Kelley stepped onto the Springfield political scene after George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. At a time when tensions were soaring nationally, her goal was to help establish a working relationship between the police and the Black community. Thu, 28 Apr 2022 19:20:17 GMT /ohio-news/2022-04-28/meet-the-ohio-woman-who-aims-to-be-the-voice-of-reason-to-calm-democracys-storm Tom Stafford /ohio-news/2022-04-26/sole-republican-university-heights-city-council-michele-weiss These days it can feel like politics — and politicians — are more divided than ever, but an interesting thing is happening in University Heights. Tue, 26 Apr 2022 20:33:26 GMT /ohio-news/2022-04-26/sole-republican-university-heights-city-council-michele-weiss Ida Lieszkovszky /politics/2022-04-25/what-its-like-to-be-a-democrat-in-a-rural-republican-ohio-district Over the last couple decades, rural Ohio has turned into a reliably Republican part of the country, but there are a couple blue dots in that big red sea. Take, for example, Shelly Hayes. Mon, 25 Apr 2022 20:15:43 GMT /politics/2022-04-25/what-its-like-to-be-a-democrat-in-a-rural-republican-ohio-district Ida Lieszkovszky