Cuyahoga Falls City School District, AJ Harris

A.J. was born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio, and earned a bachelor's degree from Miami University. He lives in Cuyahoga Falls with his wife, Alicia, and they have one child.

A.J. currently works as a jobs advocate assisting students and adults with disabilities in finding employment throughout Summit County. He has previously worked as a substitute teacher for the Akron Public School District. 

A.J. Harris is a member of the Cuyahoga Falls City Schools Board of Education. He was first elected in 2021 and is serving his 2nd term. He ran for State Representative for Ohio House of Representatives District 36 in 2022, but did not win. 

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Supports policies that aim to help small businesses, attract tech and trade jobs, and provide affordable childcare.

Supports single-family homes and advocating for a livable wage to bolster economic vitality in HD-31.

Advocates for a livable wage to bolster economic vitality in HD-31.

- Supports policies that aim to help small businesses, attract tech and trade jobs, and provide affordable childcare.
- Advocates for a livable wage to bolster economic vitality in HD-31.

Economy

Supports comprehensive background checks and red flag laws.

Believes addressing inmate relapse is crucial and understands addiction's broader impact.

Believes addressing addiction can impact inmate rehabilitation and prevent relapse.

- Supports comprehensive background checks and red flag laws.
- Believes addressing addiction can impact inmate rehabilitation and prevent relapse.

Public Safety

Believes protecting reproductive freedom is a fundamental right and opposes government interference in personal health decisions.

Believes abortion access is a fundamental right and opposes government interference in personal health decisions.

Believes in advocating for individuals with disabilities.

Advocates for individuals with disabilities.

Wants to address Ohio's drug epidemic by advocating for expanding Naloxone accessibility.

Advocates for expanding Naloxone accessibility to address Ohio's drug epidemic. 

- Believes abortion access is a fundamental right and opposes government interference in personal health decisions.
- Advocates for individuals with disabilities.
- Advocates for expanding Naloxone accessibility to address Ohio's drug epidemic. 

Healthcare

Believes the Republican supermajority threatens public education with "fringe policies" like voucher program expansion and attacks on higher education.

Supports increased funding to public schools.

Believes in forming partnerships between the school district and the community.

Supports forming partnerships between the school district and the community.

- Supports increased funding to public schools.
- Supports forming partnerships between the school district and the community.

Education

Prioritizes addressing air pollution, ensuring clean water, and enhancing oversight of state utilities.

Plans to address lead pipes by securing funding, creating a registry, and supporting schools with lead poisoning issues.

Plans to secure funding and create a registry in order to address lead poisoning issues in schools.

Supports advocating for public transit expansion, sustainable state vehicles, and clean energy subsidies, particularly targeting minority and low-income communities.

Advocates for public transit expansion, sustainable state vehicles, and clean energy subsidies.

- Prioritizes addressing air pollution, ensuring clean water, and enhancing oversight of state utilities.
- Plans to secure funding and create a registry in order to address lead poisoning issues in schools.
- Advocates for public transit expansion, sustainable state vehicles, and clean energy subsidies.

Energy & the Environment

Supports a constitutional amendment to protect voting rights, address gerrymandering, and eliminate restrictive voting laws.

- Supports a constitutional amendment to protect voting rights, address gerrymandering, and eliminate restrictive voting laws.

Voting & Elections

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A.J. Harris

Believes in fostering economic growth, supporting small businesses, and prioritizing family well-being.

- Supports policies that aim to help small businesses, attract tech and trade jobs, and provide affordable childcare.
- Advocates for public transit expansion, sustainable state vehicles, and clean energy subsidies.
- Advocates for a livable wage to bolster economic vitality in HD-31.

Advocates for job development and disabilities employment.

Believes in creating a compassionate and effective approach to address addiction.

Believes in community involvement and service.

Believes in contributing to local education by serving on the Cuyahoga Falls City Schools Board of Education.

Believes in advocating for educators and students based on firsthand experience as a substitute teacher.

Aims to foster a positive and fair community.

As a school board member, opposed Ohio House Bill 616, which AJ believes is not community-centric.

Promises to support policies that prioritize education, employment opportunities, and inclusivity.

Believes in proposing reforms for transparency in the utilities commission to create a healthier, more sustainable House District 31 (HD-31) and preserve natural sites such as Cuyahoga Valley National Park for future generations.

Plans to secure funding and create a registry in order to address lead issues in schools.

- Prioritizes addressing air pollution, ensuring clean water, and enhancing oversight of state utilities.
- Plans to secure funding and create a registry in order to address lead issues in schools.

Believes Republican lawmakers' gerrymandering of Ohio’s legislative and congressional districts has caused confusion about HD-31's makeup, and provides a map of the district's communities on their website.

A.J. is a member of the Cuyahoga Falls City Schools Board of Education. He has also worked as a substitute teacher and has advocated for high school students and adults with disabilities in Summit County.

A.J. was appointed to the Community Redevelopment Housing Council by Mayor Don Walters and served as the president of the Cuyahoga Falls Democratic Club for two years. He is currently a member of the Cuyahoga Falls City Schools Board of Education and the Superintendent’s Business Advisory Council.

- Believes protecting reproductive freedom is a fundamental right and opposes government interference in personal health decisions.
- Advocates for individuals with disabilities.
- Advocates for expanding Naloxone accessibility to address Ohio's drug epidemic. 

- Supports policies that aim to help small businesses, attract tech and trade jobs, and provide affordable childcare.
- Advocates for public transit expansion, sustainable state vehicles, and clean energy subsidies.

A.J. Harris was born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio, and graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a degree in history. He lives in Cuyahoga Falls with his wife, Alicia, and their child, Theodore.

AJ Harris is a member of the Cuyahoga Falls City Schools Board of Education. He has also worked as a substitute teacher and has dedicated his career to advocating for high school students and adults with disabilities in Summit County.

A.J. Harris was appointed to the Community Redevelopment Housing Council by Mayor Don Walters and served as the president of the Cuyahoga Falls Democratic Club for two years. He is currently a member of the Cuyahoga Falls City Schools Board of Education and the Superintendent’s Business Advisory Council.

- 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. 