Maggie Selbe Ohio EPA, Hocking Chapter 3700 

For Maggie Selbe, an Environmental Specialist 2 in the Drinking Water and Ground Water Division of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the upcoming election is about electing the right leadership.

“I want a candidate that understands what our state agencies do and doesn’t make blanket comments about redundancies in state agencies or how some can be eliminated or rolled into federal regulation agencies,” said Maggie. “I think what’s best for Ohio, and best for union members, is to elect someone that lives here, cares about our citizens, and realizes that this is not always an adversarial relationship.” Maggie, a union leader in Hocking Chapter 3700, says Amy Acton is that leader.

“We are citizens in these communities––we are invested in these communities, and we want what’s best for them,” she said. “So, when we are making decisions on how rules and laws should be applied, they’re impacting us too, because we live here. If we eliminated an agency like Dept. of Health, Ohio EPA or ODNR, then those decisions would get made elsewhere––in Chicago, Washington, D.C. by people that don’t live here.”

Maggie says this election is a turning point. “It’s all hands on deck to make sure that our union is protected; a strong union is vital for protecting not only state employees but the integrity of our programs,” she said.

Maggie said that’s why she’s voting her job this November 3: “Amy Acton cares about our communities, and she cares about our state workers enough, and she understands that a strong union contract bolsters the ability to retain experienced staff.”

 

Hagen O'Brien, BWC Chapter 2535

Hagen O’Brien works as a Business Process Analyst in the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s IT division on the enterprise architecture team. As a union activist with BWC Chapter 2535 and OCSEA District 6, he says he’s been thinking a lot about the upcoming election and its impact on his job and his union co-workers.

“The most important thing on my mind right now is protecting our pension system and keeping us away from privatization. I’ve seen the attacks coming, and they come in many different ways,” he said.

Although he says he holds some conservative beliefs personally, he feels today’s conservative politics often don’t protect unions, pensions or public employees. Because of that, “voting your job” has become central to his political thinking.

Hagen says the leadership he wants in Ohio is transparent, willing to do hard things, and focused on unifying people rather than dividing them. “That’s why I support Amy Acton, because true leadership means standing up rather than simply falling in line,” he said.

Hagen views attacks on federal unions and privatization efforts, especially at the hands of DOGE and Vivek Ramaswamy, as warning signs for state and local public employees. “If anti-union efforts are happening at one level of government, members should expect those efforts to eventually reach their own workplaces, chapters and communities,” he said.

His message is that members should stay alert and understand that the fight continues at every level. He says that starts with being educated and being involved in their union, especially in the chapter.

“People are feeling extremely deflated and aren’t sure that their vote matters,” he said, “but I tell them it does. Voting your job matters!”

Dametra Carey ORW Chapter 8010

Dametra Carey is a Corrections Officer at the Ohio Reformatory for Women with 32 years of service. As a Chapter 8010 leader and chief steward, she has seen a lot of administrations come through the state. She emphasizes that the upcoming gubernatorial election matters because the governor ultimately shapes leadership, policy, staffing, and working conditions for state employees.

“The biggest thing for me is electing the right person that will be fair in representation of Ohioans and public service workers as well as doing what’s right for everyone as a whole,” said Dametra. She says Ohio’s next governor must listen to frontline workers, include union voices in decision-making, address prison understaffing, and support the safety, dignity, and everyday affordability needs of working families.

Dametra says she’s highly concerned about prison understaffing affecting physical safety, mental health, and the ability to run facilities responsibly. “Looking at her background, I believe Amy Acton would be a better candidate,” she said. “Amy is a realist; she can relate to the problems and issues that Ohio families and workers face. I believe Amy has a pragmatic approach as to what it takes to run an agency!” she said.

Dametra says it’s important to elect candidates who will see union members as stakeholders, not adversaries. “The leadership should consider the voice of everyone inside the agency. A prounion candidate means bringing us in and giving us a seat at the table—that’s huge,” she said. “Voting is your voice, let it be heard.”