Alexis Miller announces race for Ohio House

SANDUSKY — A Sandusky businesswoman who says she wants to represent working people announced Tuesday she's running for the 89th District seat in the Ohio House, representing Erie and Ottawa counties.Alexis Miller, 29, a Sandusky resident and 2008 Perkins High School graduate, plans to run as a Democrat in 2020 and seek a two-year term."I am running for state representative because politicians in Columbus have forgotten about working people in Ohio. They've passed laws to tilt the system toward wealthy special interests and corporations and have rigged districts so their annointed candidate always wins," Miller said. "It isn't fair and it isn't democratic."Miller is seeking the post currently held by state Rep. Douglas "DJ" Swearingen, R-Huron Township, who has held office for less than a month. Swearingen was sworn in Aug. 1 after he was appointed to replace retired state Rep. Steve Ardnt, R-Port Clinton. Swearingen plans to seek a full term next year.Miller and her husband, Rob, live in Sandusky with their two rescue dogs, Buddy and Sadie. She is a fifth generation Erie County native and has two degrees from The Ohio State University, a master's in public administration she earned in 2016 and a bachelor's degree she completed in 2013.She said she's been active in the Democratic Party for years. Miller owns and operates ACM Strategies, a communications and advertising company.She said when she went off to OSU in 2008, she planned to help people by becoming a doctor."I took three science classes and decided that was a bad idea," she said.Instead, she got interested in public service and asked if she could be an intern for state Rep. Dennis Murray Jr., D-Sandusky, formerly the 89th District representative and now Sandusky's ex-officio mayor. Murray agreed and Miller found the experience inspiring."I saw the impact you could have by helping constituents connect with state government," Miller said.Miller said she was born and raised in Sandusky and got her first job at age 14."I was raised with a strong work ethic," she said. "People in Columbus have more or less left working people behind. Regular people deserve a voice."Alexis Miller