Ohio FORWARD Party: Priorities Platform
This platform provides a framework for considering desired outcomes in Ohio and organizing policy ideas and planning. We intend to refine the platform periodically and examine particular issues within a given policy area more closely. As a ground up organization, we always welcome input, ideas, and participation from all members and other interested citizens.
This platform was written by the Ohio Forward Policy team and opened for comment to Forward Ohio membership. Feedback informed further refinement of the platform which was then put to an up or down vote of the membership and adopted. The Priorities Platform is a living document that will continue to change and grow with the party. This is a starting point, not an end point.
Mission and Approach
FORWARD is a new kind of political movement that recognizes more unites us than divides us. We’re moving politics in America and Ohio forward, with a focus on innovative, collaborative, and common-sense solutions that improve lives and appeal to the majority. The FORWARD movement embodies decency, civility, respectful fact-based discourse, cooperation, compromise, and accountable and transparent leadership.
FORWARD is committed to free people, thriving communities, and a vibrant democracy. We will not take positions on specific policies, but rather foster a party based on values and principles. To that end, we will work with candidates and officials to develop platforms that reflect specific solutions tailored to local communities.
Candidates and elected officials who share our guiding values and principles may publicly affiliate with FORWARD by signing the Ohio FORWARD Party Pledge and agreeing to campaign and govern according to those principles. They can, but do not have to relinquish their current party membership. This means we will work with FORWARD Democrats, FORWARD Republicans, and FORWARD Independents.
Guiding Values and Principles
We believe in an Ohio:
- With integrity, honesty, civility, and effectiveness in government and politics
- With an electoral process that promotes fairness, provides options, and incentivizes candidates to appeal to the majority of voters
- Where diverse voices act respectfully, strive to find common ground on issues, and identify strategies that lead to improvements in shared goals
- That promotes collaboration and draws on data and evidence to drive policymaking and identify effective solutions to complex problems
- That fosters innovation and technological advancement throughout all aspects of society
- With a strong, relevant, and diversified economy that offers opportunities for all Ohioans to rise to their full potential
- With an education and training system that prepares all citizens for productive futures and can serve as a model for other states
- With a secure, well-built, and efficient physical, technological, and transportation infrastructure that supports a competitive economy
- With a thoughtfully-designed and affordable service infrastructure that helps all citizens meet basic needs, for example, related to housing, public safety, and health
Policy Priorities
The following are immediate policy priorities of the Ohio FORWARD Party (that is, a platform of priorities rather than a platform of specific policy positions or solutions). FORWARD candidates, office holders and candidates seeking endorsement should provide ideas and solutions on these items in their individual policy platforms.
Governmental Priorities
Ranked Choice Voting – RCV is widely adopted in local governments and private organizations throughout the world. Also known as instant run-off voting, RCV has a proven record of ensuring that elected candidates represent the will of the majority of the people. Whether used in primary or general elections, it helps expand voter choice, minimize negative campaigning, and reduce spending on additional campaigning and elections. To find the best methods for a more representative and vibrant democracy, we support the exploration and adoption of RCV, as well as similar voting reforms like Approval and STAR voting and complimentary voting reforms like Final-Five voting and open primaries. For more information on RCV, as well as efforts in Ohio please visit: https://rankthevote.us/ and https://www.rankthevoteohio.org/
Independent Redistricting – Politicians should not be choosing their voters; the voters should be choosing their politicians. An inherent conflict of interest arises when legislators draw their own districts. We support the efforts of the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission to establish independent and nonpartisan “unity maps” for state and congressional districts. For more information please visit: https://www.ohioredistrict.org/ and https://ballotpedia.org/ Ohio_Citizens_Redistricting _Commission_Amendment_(2024)
Societal Priorities
Economic prosperity – Local and State policies can have a dramatic effect on our economy. We challenge policymakers to introduce and support legislation that improves the quality of life and stability of the Ohio workforce. Economic policies may include, for example, efforts to grow small businesses and expand job opportunities by leveraging technology and innovation. A strong economy, in turn, can positively influence other outcomes, like health and crime. The Economy is a top priority for Ohio’s citizens, though the strength of our state’s economy ranks only 39th among all 50 states.
Education—Quality education for children, youth, and adults prepares citizens for a productive, employable future and fosters thriving communities and economic prosperity. Ohio ranks 27th among states in education, with particular challenges in postsecondary achievement and affordability. Overall, we encourage efforts to improve foundational skills in math and reading, as well as critical thinking skills, which help prepare youth for the future. We also support investing in public schools—which are essential institutions in communities around the state—as well as expanding access to early childhood education and improving the affordability and accessibility of college and other postsecondary education and training. This includes career training for workers displaced by changing economic trends.
Infrastructure and Energy—It is a high priority in Ohio to update and future-proof outdated and deteriorating infrastructure and strengthen our energy capabilities. We support investments to improve roads and bridges, access to high-speed internet, the development of innovative rail and other transportation modes, the use of efficient, renewable energy strategies, and safeguards for natural resources and clean water and air.
Housing—Secure, accessible, and affordable housing is essential for the well-being of children, adults, and communities. We support efforts to expand the supply of affordable housing, make getting a mortgage and buying a home more accessible, and strengthen tenants’ rights. We welcome investors into our housing economy who help promote access and stability in the balance between housing supply and demand.
Health care– Communities can play a critical role in promoting high quality, accessible, and affordable health care. While solutions to reduce costs, increase access, and improve quality of care are often left to the Federal government, we believe that local and State policies can remove barriers between patients and providers and promote common-sense strategies that improve health outcomes for Ohio’s citizens. These strategies may include, for example, preventive care and better access to quality mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Safe communities—Communities throughout Ohio have seen an increase in crime in recent years. We seek policy makers who offer solutions to the complex issues of crime and public safety, for example, through improved support for community policing efforts and first responders, increased mental health care support, and steps to make schools safer for our children and youth.
State rankings referenced here are based on the current Best States rankings scorecard from U.S. News and World Report (https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings). This scorecard blends data from surveys of citizens with assessments of how well states are performing for their citizens on 71 metrics across 8 categories. Overall, across the eight categories, Ohio ranked only 36th among the 50 states.