This is a Moms Clean Air Force exclusive interview with Ohio Representative Kristin Boggs:
What is unique about protecting Ohio’s resources and environment?
Ohio’s natural resources are the State’s greatest assets. Our water, air, and soil support the physical health of our citizens and the economic viability of communities. We must shape our policies in a ways that prioritize keeping Ohioans healthy and protect our water, air, and soil for the future.
As a parent are you worried about the effects of climate change on your children and the children of Ohio?
Yes! As a child, I played outside all summer. I swam in local rivers and lakes that I would not let my daughter dip a toe in now because of pollution. While I can limit the contact she has with polluted waters, how do you protect a child from pollution in the air? We cannot ignore the severe weather patterns that we have seen in Ohio over the last 10 years, and its relation to climate change. As severe weather continues, it will have a drastic impact on agriculture, the economy, and the health of everyone living here.
Why is a bipartisan effort so important and how can these efforts be achieved in our politically polarizing culture?
Ohio is truly a 50/50 political state, with most people considering themselves moderate or independent. Unfortunately, as power swings back and forth between political parties, so does the State’s environmental policy. There needs to be a strategic, long term plan to address protecting our water, air, and soil quality that doesn’t change with every election, which is why creating bipartisan consensus is necessary for success on these issues.
Is there anything you’d like to share that is important for Moms Clean Air Force members to know?
The advocacy work being done by Moms Clean Air Force is vital to educating members of the State legislature about how our policy has a profound impact on the children of Ohio. Never underestimate how influential the personal stories of a child can be, and how important it is for our state leaders to hear from our children.
Kristin Boggs was appointed to the Ohio House of Representatives in January 2016. She represents Ohio’s 18th House District, which includes Ohio State University, the downtown areas of Columbus, Grandview, and Bexley. Since her appointment, Boggs has served on the Judiciary, State Government, and Insurance Committees.
Boggs is a committed advocate for a strong public education system, affordable higher education, and economic opportunities for all working people. She believes that education and work force development are critical to growing and supporting a thriving economy. Boggs is also unwavering in her commitment to fight for equality. During her time in the Ohio House, Boggs has supported legislation to address unequal pay for women, and she has pushed back against discriminatory legislation targeting the LGBT community.
Prior to joining the Ohio House, Boggs graduated from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and served as an Assistant Ohio Attorney General for nearly a decade. During her time at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Boggs assisted some of Ohio’s most vulnerable populations in recovering from crimes of financial exploitation and physical abuse.
Boggs currently lives in the Short North with her husband, Adam Ward, her daughter, Sloane, and their dog, Riley.