Cleveland, Ohio – Sharon Cole, the current Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for Cuyahoga County Executive Edward FitzGerald, announces her candidacy for State Representative, House District 10. House District 10 runs along the shores of Lake Erie and covers the City of Cleveland and the Village of Bratenahl.  Cleveland City neighborhoods include: Collinwood, Glenville, Ohio City, Tremont, Clark-Fulton, and Downtown.

Ms. Cole, a Democrat, plans to regain the confidence of the residents of District 10. She plans to advocate for them on important issues while giving them a stronger voice in Columbus. With Ms. Cole’s dedication and governmental experience, she will provide solutions to the ignored problems of job creation, community safety, health care, and women’s issues.  “The residents of House District 10 deserve a representative that will be committed, keep them informed, and bring greater attention to priorities of the district — such as job creation and community safety,” says Cole.

Sharon Cole has nearly twenty years of working experience in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. Before entering the public sector, Ms. Cole worked for Andersen Consulting as a computer programmer and designer.  She also worked as an IT Specialist and policy analyst at service organizations such as East End Neighborhood House, Harvard Community Services Center, and Starting Point. Prior to her work at the Cuyahoga County’s office, Ms. Cole served as an assistant for House District 10 and Cleveland City Council.

In addition to her current role as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Ms. Cole oversees the Fiscal Office, Human Resources, Information Technology, and the Public Works Departments.  She also serves as the County Executive’s designee for the Solid Waste Management District and County Audit Committees, as well as Cleveland State University’s Visiting Committee. Ms. Cole is also a two-term elected officer of the Greater Cleveland Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Ms. Cole’s public service stewardship was inspired by friend and sorority sister, the late Congresswoman, Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Ms. Cole has served as a Congressional staffer, a member of the Cuyahoga County Central and Executive committees, and as a delegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.  She is also an active member of the Black Women’s Political Action Committee.

Ms. Cole was born and raised in East Cleveland.  She earned her Bachelor and Master degrees in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and Case Western University, respectively.

At the heart of the 2014 election campaign rests her “COLE” values:

C – Community Services, including Public Safety and Housing

O – Outreach and advocacy on Healthcare and Women’s issues

L – Leverage and restore Local Funding

E – Economic Development, including outreach to businesses and job creation

Ms. Cole will continue to reach out to residents of House District 10 and its current community leaders to work collaboratively on the challenges faced by the residents of District 10 and Northeast Ohio.

A campaign kick-off and fundraiser is scheduled for September.

“I am running for State Representative because the people of House District 10 need someone that understands their concerns and will work tirelessly to address them,” says Cole.  “District 10 is a diverse community, filled with great people, and endless opportunities. As their State Representative, I am prepared for the job and ready to be their voice in Columbus.”