Candidate Profile: Laura Rodriguez-Carbone For Lakewood Council

Laura Rodriguez-Carbone

Age (as of Election Day)

39

Position Sought

Lakewood City Council At Large

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Spouse, Christopher Carbone, 47

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government, Cleveland State University; Master in Public Administration and Public Policy, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Occupation

I have spent 21 years as a public servant - Currently, I am the Midwest Regional Outreach and Communications Lead for the Federal COVID Response (formerly Operation Warp Speed)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Current Elected: Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Central Committee, Lakewood 1B
Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party Hispanic Latino Caucus
Appointed - Co-Chair of the Lakewood Anti-Racism Task Force (Mayor Meghan George Administration)
Appointed - Lakewood Health Foundation Planning Task Force (Mayor Michael Summers Administration)

Campaign website

www.lauraforlakewood.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for Lakewood City Council at Large because I understand the impact local policy decisions have on working families, seniors, and everyone who makes up our community. I have been committed to community and public service for decades, and Lakewood voters will know I’m working for them because I will be transparent and inclusive as their Councilperson.
The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

While many issues may be more critical for all of us, particularly as we try to work our way out of the pandemic, the single most pressing issue facing Lakewood right now is ensuring we have short and long-term strategies in place to maintain affordable housing for our residents. I will prioritize our most vulnerable communities such a seniors, people with disabilities, and others on fixed incomes, and work with council to address housing discrimination and accessibility.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the only candidate with experience in public health, which is a critical need to ensure our vulnerable neighbors, particularly seniors, have local access to screenings and immunizations. I would also be the first person of color elected to Lakewood city government, and I bring a unique commitment to government to make it more inclusive and transparent.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Lakewood faces challenges such as major infrastructure investments, housing affordability, and rising safety concerns that require participation and buy-in from more of our community. The current council has not ensured the city is being transparent with major projects such as the redevelopment of the Lakewood Hospital site, communicating using available resources during emergencies such our frequent power outages, or ensuring our safety forces are enforcing traffic laws. One exception among the candidates is current councilmember Tristan Rader who has worked hard to make Lakewood City Council more transparent, and whose re-election I support.

How do you think local officials are performing in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

While some local officials have performed admirably, Lakewood has struggled to have coordinated local response as a result of the dismantling of our public health department. This is why I have called for reestablishing our public health services, to ensure our most at-risk residents, such as seniors, have easy access to vaccinations, immunizations, and screenings. There are many layers of bureaucracy at federal, state, and local levels, and it is imperative that our city has the capacity to meet last-mile needs for our residents for this and future contagious diseases.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The issues that define my campaign platform are those that define the lives of Lakewood’s working families, seniors, people with disabilities, and others whose quality of life are linked to our public policies. Our residents need safe, affordable housing without discrimination; safe streets so pedestrians of all abilities can travel safely; a city with greater capacity to help meet the health needs of the community; transparent and equitable investments of public dollars to ensure our small businesses thrive; and a government that is inclusive and transparent so taxpayers know and can give voice to decisions being made on their behalf.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

The accomplishments that are the best evidence of my ability to serve as councilperson are the recognitions from the communities I’ve served- from being named one of Crain’s 40 Under 40 for my work ensuring equal access to education about organ, eye and tissue donations, my appointment to the Foundation Planning Task Force (Healthy Lakewood Foundation), my current role as the appointed co-chair of Lakewood’s Anti-Racism Task Force, and my current work as part of the Federal government’s COVID-19 response task force.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you. Treat everyone with the kindness and compassion with which you would want to be treated.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I would like voters to know they have an opportunity to vote for me and two other Progressive candidates for Lakewood City Council at Large on Nov. 2: including Incumbent Tristan Rader. We have an opportunity to ensure Lakewood City Council is more transparent and responsive to its citizens, and a chance to address our housing and safety challenges in ways that prioritize our seniors and working families.