COLUMBUS, Ohio — The New Year is a chance for many of us to hit “refresh” and start working toward goals with a clean slate, and one Ohio lawmaker is using the opportunity to refine his focus as the 136th Ohio General Assembly gets underway.

What You Need To Know

  • State Sen. Kent Smith, D-Euclid, is putting to paper the guiding vision for his office

  • His staff collaborated on a list of ten principles that reflect their values and show how they plan to serve all Ohioans

  • Smith said he got the idea to create the “Rules” from a fellow Democrat, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg

State Sen. Kent Smith, D-Euclid, is mapping out his “Rules for the Road Ahead,” and putting to paper the guiding vision for his office.

He said he collaborated with his staff to determine a list of ten principles that reflect their values and show how they plan to serve all Ohioans:

  • Integrity
  • Teamwork
  • Persistence
  • Learning
  • Inclusiveness
  • Hope 
  • Accountability
  • Trust
  • Action

He said Democrats at the Statehouse have a responsibility as members of the minority party to serve a vital role in the checks and balances of government.

“This is not a backhanded slap at the majority party,” he said. “It is written from a minority party perspective in the respect I do say, ‘Look, we’re in the minority party and scrutiny and seriousness is a part of it. Personal attacks is not.’”

He said he got the idea to create the “Rules” from a fellow Democrat, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who introduced a similar problem-solving document with his team.

Smith said his is a living list and something he expects to revisit with his staff, so it continues to reflect their purpose.

He challenges all leaders in the state to create their own “Rules for the Road.”