Ballotpedia, Brad Cotton

Brad holds a bachelor's degree in nursing studies from Kent State University and a medical degree from Ohio State University. He is a Quaker. 

Brad is an emergency physician. He previously worked as a nurse and paramedic in emergency departments in Cleveland and Columbus. He has also served as the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Medical Director for Ross County EMS and worked part-time for the City of Kent Fire Department. He served 8 years with the US Army Reserve.

Brad W. Cotton’s campaign for state representative in State House District 12 is his first run for public office.

Candidate website

Believes "Republican so-called 'trickle down' economics has badly hurt the great majority of Ohioans."

Said "Republican so-called ‘trickle down’ economics has badly hurt the great majority of Ohioans."

Opposes HB 6, which sends tax dollars to support "dirty coal burning power plants" and cuts funds for renewable energy initiatives.

Opposes House Bill 6, saying it sends "millions of our tax dollars to prop-up antiquated, dirty coal burning power plants..." and reduces funds for renewable clean energy initiatives.

- Said "Republican so-called ‘trickle down’ economics has badly hurt the great majority of Ohioans."
- Opposes House Bill 6, saying it sends "millions of our tax dollars to prop-up antiquated, dirty coal burning power plants..." and reduces funds for renewable clean energy initiatives.

Economy

As of August 21, 2024, Brad W. Cotton’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Supports lowering health care costs and improving quality care for all Ohioans by expanding access to Medicare for All.

Wants to reduce health care costs,  improve quality care for statewide, and expand access to Medicare for All.

Supports allowing women to make personal healthcare decisions without government intervention.

- Supports abortion access.
- Wants to reduce health care costs,  improve quality care for statewide, and expand access to Medicare for All.
- Supports allowing women to make personal healthcare decisions without government intervention.

Healthcare

Supports providing free tuition for all students attending college or trade school.

Believes teachers should be allowed to teach "genuine American history, as unsettling as our history is, especially regarding race and labor relations."

Believes teachers should be allowed to teach "American history, as unsettling as our history is, especially regarding race and labor relations."

Supports using military service as a pathway for underprivileged individuals to become medics, nurses, police, and firefighters, benefiting both themselves and their communities.

Supports using military service as a pathway for underprivileged individuals to become medics, nurses, police, and firefighters.

- Supports providing free tuition for all students attending college or trade school.
- Supports public education.
- Believes teachers should be allowed to teach "American history, as unsettling as our history is, especially regarding race and labor relations."
- Supports using military service as a pathway for underprivileged individuals to become medics, nurses, police, and firefighters.

Education

Energy & the Environment

Supports the Citizens Not Politicians amendment to prevent partisan voter manipulation.

Supports the Citizens Not Politicians amendment, which is a citizen initiative to end gerrymandering. 

Opposes House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR1) which would make citizen-led ballot initiatives "practically impossible."

Opposes House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR1),which would require a vote of at least 60% of the electors to approve any constitutional amendment and modify the procedures for an initiative petition proposing a constitutional amendment.

- Supports the Citizens Not Politicians amendment, which is a citizen initiative to end gerrymandering. 
- Opposes House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR1),which would require a vote of at least 60% of the electors to approve any constitutional amendment and modify the procedures for an initiative petition proposing a constitutional amendment.

Voting & Elections

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Brad W. Cotton

Brad received his bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) studies at Kent State.  He received his medical degree from Ohio State University.

Dr. Brad Cotton is an emergency physician with 40 years of experience, having worked as a paramedic, RN, and physician in emergency departments in Cleveland and Columbus. He has also served as the EMS Medical Director for Ross County EMS and worked part-time for the City of Kent Fire Department. Additionally, he served 8 years with the US Army Reserve.

Brad W. Cotton’s campaign for State Representative in State House District 12 in Ohio is his first run for public office.

Believes Ohio's single-payer system is cost-effective, saying, "If one is a fiscal conservative or business person the economic facts re: the cost-effectiveness of Ohio single payer are clear and cogent."

Believes unions have significantly improved conditions for the working and middle classes by securing benefits like workmen’s compensation.

- Supports small businesses.
- Opposes Republican econonmic policies. 
- Opposes HB 6

Believes in supporting police and fire fighter/medics, and wants to monitor them for stress and provide education and counseling.

Believes in the power of activism to create a safer world for everyone.

Promises to prioritize constituent safety.

Served as a lieutenant in the US Army Reserve from 1984 to 1992.

Believes in the importance of police intervention for public safety, saying, "The police on one occasion directed our harassers to leave us alone."

- Believes in the importance of police intervention for public safety, saying, "The police on one occasion directed our harassers to leave us alone."

Supports lower health care costs and quality care for all Ohioans.

Believes in making the world a "kinder place, one patient at a time" through healthcare service and education.

Believes in the importance of listening to patients and families based on 45 years of experience in healthcare.

Believes in the importance of healthcare professionals, citing Mary Ann Vecchio, a respiratory therapist, as someone who "brings the breath of life to her patients."

Believes in strong workplace safety regulations, citing personal experience of being burned by molten steel before OSHA regulations were in place.

- Supports lowering health care costs and improving quality care for all Ohioans by expanding access to Medicare for All.

Believes that "without teachers there is no society."

Believes in providing "factual education on STEM, genuine history and the humanities."

Believes in the importance of education, saying, "My mother was a teacher, my son a teacher."

Believes ignoring facts, science, and experts while censoring books and ideas will lead to "disaster."

Believes teachers should be allowed to teach about race and labor relations.

- Supports providing free tuition for all students attending college or trade school.
- Supports public education.
- Believes teachers should be allowed to teach about race and labor relations.
- Supports using military service as a pathway for underprivileged individuals to become medics, nurses, police, and firefighters.

Opposes big-money interests in politics, citing First Energy's $60 million influence on legislators to support "dirty coal-fired electric plants" while hindering renewable energy efforts.

Opposes placing Stewart’s HJRI on an August ballot to undermine a November pro-choice amendment, arguing it allows a 41% minority to overrule a majority and criticizes the cost of $20 million in taxpayer dollars to "silence your vote."

Opposes HJR1, which would make it more difficult to pass amendments to the Ohio constitution.

Opposes "Republican efforts to suppress voters," overturn elections, attack fair election results, gerrymander districts, and limit citizen participation in ballot initiatives.

Opposes efforts to overturn elections, attack fair election results, and limit participation in ballot initiatives. 

Believes Ohio Republican legislators unfairly draw districts despite court orders.

Supports the Citizens Not Politicians amendment.

Opposes HJR1's requirements of statewide signatures, strict certification timelines, and 60% voter approval, believing they aim to block a "pro-choice amendment" and hinder equitable redistricting efforts.

Opposes HJR1's requirements of statewide signatures, strict certification timelines, and 60% voter approval.

- Believes Ohio Republican legislators unfairly draw districts despite court orders.
- Supports the Citizens Not Politicians amendment.
- Opposes HJR1's requirements of statewide signatures, strict certification timelines, and 60% voter approval.
- Opposes House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR1).

As of September 23, 2024, Brad W. Cotton’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Your State Representative participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 99 members of the Ohio House of Representatives. The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Representative drafts laws, approves budgets, has oversight of the state executive branch, and debates and votes on proposed laws.
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your State Representative can serve on committees. This is important because many bills can be stalled in committee, preventing them making it to a vote.
- Your State Representative is responsible for representing your interests. They also are responsible for helping you navigate the state's services and bringing back resources to your district.
- State Representatives are elected to a 2-year term. There is a limit of 4 successive terms. 

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Ohio House of Representatives. 

Public Health

Taxes

Ohio

State Representative

Believes in police intervention for public safety, saying, "The police on one occasion directed our harassers to leave us alone."