State Rep. Nickie Antonio Pens Open Letter to Gov. John Kasich

Along with state Rep. John Carney, Antonio urges bipartisan action for Health Insurance Exchange in Ohio.

State reps. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) and John Carney (D-Columbus) penned an open letter following reports that the Kasich administration will not be setting up a state based health insurance exchange, as directed under the Affordable Care Act. The letter was sent to the Governor, the state’s Insurance Director, Ohio Medicaid Director and Health Transformation Director. Dear Governor Kasich, For the past year, we have been urging your administration to move forward with setting up a Health Insurance Exchange. We introduced legislation (HB 412) and held several meetings with representatives of patients, physicians, insurers, agents, hospitals, nurses and other stakeholders. Through these discussions, we were able to craft a sensible …

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Nickie Antonio Defeats John Zappala for Second Term

Democratic incumbent wins by 18,000 votes over her Republican challenger.

State Rep. Nickie Antonio will keep her seat in the Ohio House of Representatives after she was re-elected to her second term on Tuesday. Antonio, a Democrat, beat her Republican challenger John Zappala by nearly 18,000 votes in the race for the Ohio House District 13 seat. At the end of the day, she took 26,436 votes compared to Zappala’s 8,572, according to final but unofficial results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. After making several stops at polling places on Tuesday afternoon, Antonio made a couple of appearances at Election Day parties in Cuyahoga County to watch the election results roll in.  “I am a humbled and very happy be re-elected and looking forward to another two years of serving the district,” she said late …

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Local Dems, Laid-Off Bain Capital Employee Stump at Lakewood Park

Former Bain Capital employee speaks out against the Republican presidential hopeful on Friday.

Local Democrats and US Rep. Marci Kaptur — along with a former employee of Bain Capital — spoke out against presidential hopeful Mitt Romney at Lakewood Park’s Women’s Pavilion on Friday. Evon Kadamenos, a former Bain employee, told the story of how under the direction of Mitt Romney, the company acquired Dade Medical, made millions in profits and then laid off 1,700 of its employees. More than 20 people attended the event.

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Nickie Antonio, Democrat, Candidate for State House District 13

Antonio seeking for her second term in the post.

Name: Ms. Nickie J. Antonio Age: 57 Place of residence : Lakewood Attended college: Yes College: Cleveland State University Degree: Bachelor of Science in Education-Special Ed Year of graduation: 1980 University: CSU-Maxine Levine College of Urban Affairs Degree: Master of Public Administration Year of graduation: 1990 Job titles held: Adjuct Professor, Special Ed Teacher, Planning Council Manager,Non-Profit Executive Director, Organizational Consultant Employers: CSU,Cuyahoga County HHS,StAR Communications (sole proprietorship), Positve Education Program,Women's Center of Greater Cleveland, City of Lakewood Party affiliation: Democrat Running for a: State office Running for position: State Representative Chamber/district: HD 13 Incumbent…

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National Convention Inspires Lakewood Democrats Into Action

State Rep. Nickie Antonio rallies supporters for Obama’s re-election campaign.

Energized and motivated after returning from the Democratic National Convention, state Rep. Nickie Antonio didn’t waste any time mobilizing local Obama supporters in the President’s re-election bid.  Out of 191 delegates from Ohio, Antonio was one of two Lakewood residents. The other was county executive and former Lakewood mayor Ed FitzGerald. “We were sitting right in front,” she said, adding that much of the focus was on Ohio. “There were moments that it was absolutely electric. This reminded us why we are Democrats, why this election is so important, and why this President is so important.”  On Saturday afternoon, Antonio brought some of that passion home, at the new Obama for America campaign office on Detroit Avenue. There, she met …

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Keith Best

9:19 am on Monday, September 10, 2012

Here are the job numbers the media is not reporting about the August job numbers that just came out. This is what the media is telling you...and it's true. "The unemployment rate dropped from 8.3% to 8.1%. 96,000 jobs created in August." Here are numbers they are NOT telling you: 1) 368,000 people STOPPED looking for work in August. Meaning they CANNOT be counted as unemployed. These people have …   more ›

Shake-Up in the Race for Ohio House District 13 Seat

Republican candidate Matthew Deibel unexpectedly withdraws from the race; John Zappala nominated to take his place in run against incumbent Nickie Antonio.

The Republican Party has nominated a new candidate for the Ohio House District 13 seat after the first candidate dropped out of the race and moved to North Dakota to work in an oilfield. Lakewood resident John Zappala will replace Matthew Deibel, who dropped out of the contest last month and moved out of Ohio. Zappala will square off Nov. 6 against incumbent Nickie Antonio for the Ohio House seat.  Brent Lawler, of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, said that the Republican Party had until Aug. 13 to nominate a replacement. The party did so on July 9, tapping Zappala for the contest. Lawler said the nomination — while unusual — followed the rules of the Ohio Revised Code. “I don’t recall ever seeing a withdrawal like this,” he said, …

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Lakewood Girls Rugby Team Gets Some Serious Recognition

Girls' squad honored at the Ohio Statehouse.

Editor's Notebook

Area Lawmakers React to Obama's Support of Same-Sex Marriage

What do you think of the president's support of gay marriage?

On May 9, President Obama became the first U.S. president to issue a statement of support  for gay marriage. "Same sex couples should be able to get married," he said.          State Rep. Nickie Antonio — one of the first openly gay state legislators in Ohio history — called the president's announcement "historic." "It's very affirming to have the president say that he believes our lives should matter and be considered equal to everyone else's," she said. "What's not to love about that?" Antonio, as a state representative, isn't even allowed to leave her pension to her partner, she pointed out. She called this week a "roller coaster" for gay rights in America, pointing to a measure in North Carolina that bans same-sex marriage and civil …

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Linda Beebe

8:50 am on Monday, May 14, 2012

Wow! That is well said. I have never been able to understand why some people insist that theirs is the only WAY and brook no disagreement orm discussion. There is an arrogance about evangelism I find really disconcerting.   more ›

Candidates to Square Off For Ohio House 13th District Seat

Two candidates ran unopposed in the primary: Antonio brings in 6,670 votes; while her Republican challenger, Matthew Deibel gets 1,851 votes.

In the race for the 13th Ohio House District, Democratic State Rep. Nickie Antonio will have company in November's general election. Political newcomer Matthew Deibel, a Republican from Lakewood, is her lone Republican challenger. While the contests really didn't matter too much, Antonio brought in 6,670 votes on the Democratic ticket, while Deibel 1,851 votes during Tuesday’s primary, according to unofficial election results.  They will square off at the ballot box in November. Antonio, who previously served on Lakewood City Council, sponsored or co-sponsored about a dozen bills during her first term in the Ohio House.  Deibel, who has not returned calls seeking comment, has not sought local office before.

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Incumbent Antonio and Political Newcomer Square Off For 13th District Seat

Next Tuesday’s election, in the race for the 13th Ohio House District, State Rep. Nickie Antonio will have company.

Clarification: This story clarifies the date of the election between the candidates. In the race for the 13th Ohio House District, State Rep. Nickie Antonio will have company in November's election. Political newcomer Matthew Deibel of Lakewood is the lone Republican candidate running against Antonio.  They will both be on the March 6 ballot, representing their parties. And, they will square off at the ballot box in November. During her first term, Antonio has sponsored or co-sponsored about a dozen bills. Among them is a bill that would ban executions in Ohio; another one aimed at creating 5,000 jobs in the state; and another measure that would allow high school students to skip gym class if they participate in a non-classified sport. “I …

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