Bernadine Kent

Kennedy Kent was born and raised in East Chicago, Indiana, the daughter of immigrants from the South who worked in the steel mills. She would later attend Central State University, settling in Ohio thereafter. Her husband, a Vietnam Green Beret, is the son of a Tuskegee Airman.[1]

A lifelong educator, Kennedy Kent taught for years in the Columbus Public Schools system, being named Teacher of the Year in 1999. She ran unsuccessfully for the Columbus Board of Education twice. Despite this, Kennedy Kent was successful in her run for State Representative of the 25th district in 2016. She is known as a whistleblower and known as a community advocate on a variety of issues.[2]

In 2016, Kennedy Kent opted to run for the Ohio House following news that incumbent Representative Kevin Boyce would instead run for Franklin County Commissioner. In a four-way Democratic primary, Kennedy Kent scored a surprisingly easy victory with a plurality of over 35% of the vote.[3] Kennedy Kent received the endorsement of the Franklin County Party, the Columbus Education Association and other union groups. She was also endorsed by the Columbus Dispatch who referred to her as independent, smart and tenacious. In her first term as State Representative of the 25th District and with a majority Republican House and Senate, Representative Kent introduced H.B. 317 to make Ohio law enforcement mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect that became law. Ohio had been the only state left where law enforcement were not mandated reporters. Representative Kent also ensured a domestic violence victim shot twice by her estranged boyfriend received some semblance of justice after twelve years.

She easily won the general election with nearly 71% of the vote in a four-candidate race.[4] After criticism for use of an official Ohio Legislative Black Caucus letterhead as Vice President of the black caucus, she was expelled from Ohio's House Democratic caucus. Citing safety reasons and intimidation, she has refused to show up at the Ohio Statehouse for over a year after being physically obstructed from her Caucus by the Caucus legal counsel Sarah Cherry but still retains her seat and her salary.

Representative Kent has stated her constituents are losing out because of the actions of her Democratic colleagues. She is working from home and did get a second bill passed into law naming a Highway in memory of an Ohio Department of Transportation worker. She has also retained an attorney to file a writ of mandamus to fight for victims of crime and ensure Marsy’s law is adhered to after Ohioans overwhelming voted to amend the Ohio Constitution to expand the rights of victims of crimes. [5]

In September 2020, Kennedy Kent endorsed Republican President Donald Trump for reelection over Democratic nominee Joe Biden.[6][7][8]

• Official website