Category: Uncategorized

On November 17, Campaign Battleground welcomed Ohio Republican Party Field Organizer David Warren to our class.

Mr. Warren discussed his unconventional entry into politics, having previously embarked on a career in financial planning and banking. Mr. Warren began as a volunteer for a State Legislative Race in Maryland, where he is originally from. From there Mr. Warren helped his friend, elected to the legislature, pass three different bills in the Statehouse. Mr. Warren then worked on a congressional election in Maryland, before taking up politics full-time and becoming a field organizer for the RNC in the Youngstown Area during the 2012 Cycle. Mr. Warren had considerable success there, garnering coverage on several national media outlets. Following that election, Mr. Warren returned to Maryland, working towards a winning effort in the Governor’s election in 2014.

Mr. Warren has returned to Northeast Ohio in anticipation of the 2016 Presidential Election. He discussed methods of organizing, finding roles for volunteers that best fit their talents, and how his role has changed over the course of several campaign cycles. Mr. Warren also highlighted similarities and differences between campaigning in Ohio and his home state of Maryland.

Watch the full conversation below or by visiting the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics YouTube channel.

On November 10, Campaign Battleground welcomed Ohio Democratic Party Field Organizer Tony Stratis to our class.

Tony is a double graduate of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Political Science, earning his undergraduate degree and Masters in Applied Politics. As a field organizer in the Akron area, Mr. Stratis is charged with identifying and recruiting volunteers for the upcoming election.

Mr. Stratis discussed the process and challenges of field organizing, specific methods he utilizes, and the political climate of Northeast Ohio heading into the 2016 Presidential Election.

Mr. Stratis touched on specific policies, such as raising the minimum wage and special education funding. Mr. Stratis noted the latter policy and its importance to his family, sharing their struggles with his sister, a young woman living with autism. Mr. Stratis also discussed the Ohio Democratic Party’s decision to endorse Former Governor Ted Strickland in the Democratic Primary for United States Senate over Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld.

Watch the full conversation below or by visiting the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics YouTube channel.

On November 10, Campaign Battleground welcomed State Representative Kirk Schuring to our class.

Rep. Schuring represents Ohio’s 48^th District, encompassing parts of northern Stark County. His career in public service began in 1993, when he was appointed to a vacant house seat. He was elected to four terms in the Ohio House and two terms in the Ohio Senate before returning to the House in 2011. Rep. Schuring was the Republican nominee for the Ohio 16^th congressional district in 2008.

Rep. Schuring joined us to discuss his career, including his time in the state legislature. He touched on a number of current issues, such as redistricting reform, energy efficiency and pension reform. He discussed the nature of campaigning for a state legislative seat, including the fundraising required. He also talked about the 2016 presidential election, giving us valuable insight from the perspective of a member of the state legislature.

Watch the full conversation below or by visiting the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics YouTube channel.

On October 13, Campaign Battleground welcomed Matt Shriver to our class.

Matt Shriver was the campaign manager for Eddie Sipplen’s Akron mayoral campaign this year. Mr. Shriver served in the Army before earning his B.A. from Florida Atlantic University and his M.Ed. from the University of Richmond. Mr. Shriver has worked as the National Service Officer for the Disabled Veterans of America, a Veterans Rep for the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and the Assistant Deputy Director for the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. He has also worked on numerous political campaigns throughout his career.

Mr. Shriver discussed his career and Mr. Sipplen’s campaign for mayor. Our discussion occurred the night of the Akron Press Club Debate between Mr. Sipplen and eventual winner Dan Horrigan. Mr. Shriver gave us his insider’s take on the debate and was excited to hear the reception of students who had watched it. He also discussed the difficulties of running a Republican candidate’s campaign in a traditionally Democratic city as well as his view on the 2016 presidential cycle.

Watch the full conversation below or by visiting the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics YouTube channel.

On October 6, Campaign Battleground welcomed Caitlyn Huey-Burns to our class.

Ms. Huey-Burns is a political reporter for the news and polling website Real Clear Politics. She earned her B.A. from John Carroll University and her M.A. in journalism from Georgetown University. Before joining the Real Clear team, she wrote for U.S. News & World Report. Throughout her career, Ms. Huey-Burns has covered politics, both on the campaign trail and on Capitol Hill.

During our discussion, Ms. Huey-Burns shared the special challenges of writing for a Web-based publication and the difference between reporting on legislative news and reporting during the election season. She also gave us her take on the 2016 presidential election.

Watch the full conversation below or by visiting the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics YouTube channel.

On September 29, Campaign Battlegrounds welcomed Stephanie Warsmith to our class.

Ms. Warsmith covers local politics for the Akron Beacon Journal. She has a B.A. from The Ohio State University and previously worked for the Mansfield News Journal and the Thomson Newspapers Statehouse Bureau in Columbus. She has been with the Beacon Journal since 1998, covering numerous topics before focusing on the local politics beat.

Ms. Warsmith joined us to share her unique experiences in journalism and Akron politics. Click here to read more about what was discussed.

Watch the full conversation below or by visiting the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics YouTube channel.

On September 22, Campaign Battleground welcomed Chief Jim Nice to our class.

Chief Nice, Chief of Police for the City of Akron Police Department since 2011, grew up in Akron’s Kenmore neighborhood before joining the Navy. He earned his B.A. in Education from the University of Akron and M.A. from East Texas State University before joining the FBI. During his 26 years with the FBI, he took part in numerous undercover operations, eventually rising to Director of Undercover Operations for the Bureau.

During our discussion, Chief Nice talked about his career, policing in Akron and how the Akron Police Department works to prevent problematic relationships between the police and civilians through community-based policing and the use of body cameras.

Watch the full conversation below or by visiting the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics YouTube channel.

On September 15, Campaign Battleground welcomed Mark Weaver to our class.

Mr. Weaver is a consultant and lawyer working in Columbus, Ohio. During his career, he has served as Deputy Attorney General of the State of Ohio; founder of Communications Counsel , a communications consulting firm, prosecutor in Southern Ohio; and adjunct professor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and The Bliss Institute at The University of Akron.

The Columbus Dispatch called Mr. Weaver “one of the most powerful figures in state government and Statehouse politics.” He has his B.A. and M.P.A. from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania as well as a J.D. from the Delaware Law School at Widener University. Mr. Weaver can be found on Twitter @MarkRWeaver, where he shares his take on his numerous areas of expertise, including media law, crisis communications, and politics.

During our discussion, Mr. Weaver shared background on his career, what it’s like to work in campaign consulting and his thoughts on an upcoming GOP presidential debate.

Watch the full conversation below or by visiting the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics YouTube channel.