Why They Run: Nina Turner for Ohio Secretary of State

Ohio state senator on her bid for higher office.

Power to the People - State Sen. Nina Turner, who is running to become Ohio's next secretary of state, says that people would be most surprised to learn that she's actually quite shy. But in headlines and television appearances, the fiery legislator is anything but. That's because she believes her primary role is to serve as a voice for the people. And whether the issue is abortion or voting rights, she will be heard. Here, Turner explains what makes her run. – Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: Nina Turner via Twitter)

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Power to the People - State Sen. Nina Turner, who is running to become Ohio's next secretary of state, says that people would be most surprised to learn that she's actually quite shy. But in headlines and television appearances, the fiery legislator is anything but. That's because she believes her primary role is to serve as a voice for the people. And whether the issue is abortion or voting rights, she will be heard. Here, Turner explains what makes her run. – Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: Nina Turner via Twitter)

Why Secretary of State? - Last year, I watched in my state Republicans do everything through the power of public policy and the office of secretary of state, which controls all 88 county boards of elections, to try to take away the vote. [Tactics ranged] from billboards that appeared in primarily low-income and minority communities that tried to intimidate voters to legislature that would reduce early voting and impose stricter voter ID laws. I can't say that then I knew I would run for secretary of state, but I have fought for many causes, including women’s and workers' rights, and as I found myself fighting for voting rights, I decided I wanted to take this to the next level of service.(Photo: Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer/Landov)

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Why Secretary of State? - Last year, I watched in my state Republicans do everything through the power of public policy and the office of secretary of state, which controls all 88 county boards of elections, to try to take away the vote. [Tactics ranged] from billboards that appeared in primarily low-income and minority communities that tried to intimidate voters to legislature that would reduce early voting and impose stricter voter ID laws. I can't say that then I knew I would run for secretary of state, but I have fought for many causes, including women’s and workers' rights, and as I found myself fighting for voting rights, I decided I wanted to take this to the next level of service.(Photo: Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer/Landov)

Nina Turner for Secretary of State (Ohio) - Bold-faced names from former President Bill Clinton to TV personality Jerry Springer, a former mayor of Cincinnati, have lined up in support of Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner's bid to replace Jon Husted, the current secretary of state. "Be it women's rights, workers' rights, or economic opportunity for Ohio's families, Nina is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has a fair shot at the American dream," Clinton said in a mailer endorsing her candidacy. "She truly understands the struggles of working and middle-class families and, unlike her opponent, Nina has fought to make voting more convenient, simple, and secure." The race so far is tight and not surprisingly voting rights is the issue Turner and Husted have battled over the most. (Photo: Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer/Landov)

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In the Beginning - A college friend and I formed an organization called Students for Positive Action. We wanted to work in the community and get people registered to vote. Fannie M. Lewis, a Cleveland city council member, had a reputation for working on behalf of the African-American community that she served, so we selected her ward first. That was my entrée into grassroots work and community work. (Photo: Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer/Landov)

She's Got the Spirit - So a sense of public service has always been with me. My grandmother really poured that spirit in me, not necessarily to run for office, but that you have a moral obligation to serve people in any capacity that you can. So it is because of her that I do what I do. She never lived to see me achieve these accomplishments, but I think she would be really proud.(Photo: Courtesy of Nina Turner for Secretary of State)

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She's Got the Spirit - So a sense of public service has always been with me. My grandmother really poured that spirit in me, not necessarily to run for office, but that you have a moral obligation to serve people in any capacity that you can. So it is because of her that I do what I do. She never lived to see me achieve these accomplishments, but I think she would be really proud.(Photo: Courtesy of Nina Turner for Secretary of State)

Getting Her Feet Wet - I interned for a state senator then went back home to Cleveland, where I worked for Mayor Marco White. When he decided to not run for re-election, I decided to run for a seat on the city council in 2001. I was unsuccessful but learned a lot. I ran again in 2005 and won.  (Photo: Scott Shaw/The Plain Dealer /Landov)

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Getting Her Feet Wet - I interned for a state senator then went back home to Cleveland, where I worked for Mayor Marco White. When he decided to not run for re-election, I decided to run for a seat on the city council in 2001. I was unsuccessful but learned a lot. I ran again in 2005 and won.  (Photo: Scott Shaw/The Plain Dealer /Landov)

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Campaign Lessons - The most important lesson was that time is something you never get back so you've got to use it wisely. Also, you really need to raise money so you can get your message out. Running for city council is very different from running statewide or nationally because corporations can pour money into campaigns and be anonymous. We definitely need campaign finance reform. (Photo: Nina Turner via Twitter)

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Campaign Lessons - The most important lesson was that time is something you never get back so you've got to use it wisely. Also, you really need to raise money so you can get your message out. Running for city council is very different from running statewide or nationally because corporations can pour money into campaigns and be anonymous. We definitely need campaign finance reform. (Photo: Nina Turner via Twitter)

Money, Money, Money - Certain classes of people are going to be priced out of being able to run for office. If we are not careful in this country, only people who have wealth or a way of amassing that money for a run will be elected to office, which will be a very sad day. And we know the people who will be disproportionately impacted by that: African-Americans and Latinos, and people who are socially and economically challenged. What a terrible world it would be if only people at a certain economic level could run for and win office. (Photo: Courtesy of Nina Turner for Secretary of State)

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Money, Money, Money - Certain classes of people are going to be priced out of being able to run for office. If we are not careful in this country, only people who have wealth or a way of amassing that money for a run will be elected to office, which will be a very sad day. And we know the people who will be disproportionately impacted by that: African-Americans and Latinos, and people who are socially and economically challenged. What a terrible world it would be if only people at a certain economic level could run for and win office. (Photo: Courtesy of Nina Turner for Secretary of State)

What Was She Thinking? - I won't call us rivals. We had a moment there. I decided that I wanted to run for Congress in 2011 and in my district there's only one seat [which was filled by Rep. Marcia Fudge]. Since then, she and I have repaired our relationship. She is a strong leader and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Sometimes in moments like that you learn a lot about yourself. I'm really happy we support each other.(Photo: Congressional Black Caucus/Official Photo, Handout)

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What Was She Thinking? - I won't call us rivals. We had a moment there. I decided that I wanted to run for Congress in 2011 and in my district there's only one seat [which was filled by Rep. Marcia Fudge]. Since then, she and I have repaired our relationship. She is a strong leader and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Sometimes in moments like that you learn a lot about yourself. I'm really happy we support each other.(Photo: Congressional Black Caucus/Official Photo, Handout)

What's Good for the Goose ... - My point, when introducing the Viagra Bill, was that if it's okay to regulate women's health care we need to show men that same kind of love. And those drugs per the FDA have some serious side effects, so we want to make sure government tells men what to do with their bodies as well. They didn't like it but [the] bill got international attention; people got it. The decisions people make should be between them, family and doctors, not elected officials.  (Photo: Courtesy of Nina Turner for Secretary of State)

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What's Good for the Goose ... - My point, when introducing the Viagra Bill, was that if it's okay to regulate women's health care we need to show men that same kind of love. And those drugs per the FDA have some serious side effects, so we want to make sure government tells men what to do with their bodies as well. They didn't like it but [the] bill got international attention; people got it. The decisions people make should be between them, family and doctors, not elected officials.  (Photo: Courtesy of Nina Turner for Secretary of State)

Some Say She's a Radical - If standing up for worker's rights in a state that tried to take them away is considered radical, standing up for women when you have legislation that defunds Planned Parenthood or wants to tear down Roe v. Wade, standing up for voters and having a righteous indignation about the fact that the greatest pillar we have in this nation is the right to vote and people want to use their political might and clout to take that away, then I guess they will have to call me radical. (Photo: Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer /Landov)

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Some Say She's a Radical - If standing up for worker's rights in a state that tried to take them away is considered radical, standing up for women when you have legislation that defunds Planned Parenthood or wants to tear down Roe v. Wade, standing up for voters and having a righteous indignation about the fact that the greatest pillar we have in this nation is the right to vote and people want to use their political might and clout to take that away, then I guess they will have to call me radical. (Photo: Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer /Landov)

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She Is What She Is - A reporter asked if, since running statewide, I will change. I said to him that I'm too young to change now. I'm going to continue to be a fighter for the people. Wherever there's injustice, my voice will be heard. (Photo: Courtesy of Nina Turner for Secretary of State)

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She Is What She Is - A reporter asked if, since running statewide, I will change. I said to him that I'm too young to change now. I'm going to continue to be a fighter for the people. Wherever there's injustice, my voice will be heard. (Photo: Courtesy of Nina Turner for Secretary of State)

Nina Turner, Ohio Secretary of State  - For the past few years, Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner has been an outspoken opponent of efforts in her state that would disenfranchise voters. Turner says she's "running for secretary of state because I believe Ohio needs to be the gold standard for elections," the Plain Dealer reports. If her 2014 bid succeeds, she will be the first African-American to win statewide office there.  (Photo: Tony Dejak/AP Photo)

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A Chance to Make History - Becoming the first Black Democrat to win statewide would be humbling. And it wouldn't be that I'm the first qualified to do so, but the first where the synergy, energy and opportunity converged. I will carry a lot of weight of a lot of people who made tracks for me to step in, so it would be a phenomenal opportunity to serve in that way the citizens of the great state of Ohio.(Photo: Tony Dejak/AP Photo)