Jennifer Brunner has long applied the law in the Ohio courts system, and is bringing that same sense of justice to the state election system. She wants to clean up Election Day politics and make sure every vote really is counted.

“I believe that you will find no [other] candidate for Secretary of State with the election law experience and background I have developed over the years, nor will you find one with the genuine enthusiasm I have for free, open, honest and fair elections in Ohio.” – Jennifer Brunner

What Makes Jennifer an Extraordinary, Visionary Leader?

Jennifer knows that fair elections are the basis of any true democracy. She plans to ensure that voting machines are distributed equally around the state and will strongly enforce laws against voter intimidation. In addition she will institute voter education programs to raise and electorate that is more involved and better informed.

Throughout her term, she will be looking not one month or one year into the future, but will be working to create institutions that will serve her state long after she is out of office. Her Social Health Index for Ohio’s Future catalogs the plight of Ohio’s poor. During her term in office, she hopes to dramatically reduce the number of Ohioans living in poverty with effective policy and careful state budgeting. Her ability, and her goals, have been widely endorsed by public personas and government officials alike:

“Jennifer Brunner has proved herself a leader who employs new and progressive ways to increase vote registration and turnout. As Secretary of State, she will continue to develop ways to make voting easier, polling places more accessible, and to uphold the highest standards of integrity for the Ohio election system.” – Congressman Sherrod Brown

Background

Jennifer Brunner has worked throughout her career to ensure both free and fair elections. A two-term Franklin County Common Court Judge, she instituted a drug court program for the rehabilitation of nonviolent offenders and revolutionized the Ohio courts when she allowed jurors to ask questions during trial. These reforms helped to make the legal system more just, ensuring that the laws would be applied with greater equality for all citizens.

Well versed in the election law, she also served on the Franklin County Board of Elections. If elected Secretary of State, she would be the first county board member to hold the position, offering a new perspective enriched by practical experience in the everyday workings of democracy. She has also offered her legal services to Democratic candidates across the state, advising them on throughout their campaigns. Yet, she also believes that such information should be accessible to every individual and, at the behest of state trade organizations, has hosted a series of seminars to educate the public on the laws governing political action committees.

As Secretary of State, Brunner will work toward election reforms that will open up the polls to greater legal scrutiny, ensuring fair elections. She also plans to create incentives, to involve more individuals as poll workers and ensure that no individual need wait in unnecessarily long lines simply to cast a ballot.

Race Facts

Race Type: Open Seat
Primary Opponent: None
Primary Date: May 2, 2006
Primary Election Results: Won Primary
General Opponent: Greg Hartmann
General Election Date: November 7, 2006
General Election Results: Won, 55 – 41 percent