Young Ohio elected officials stress relationships, local fixes amid frustration with bureaucracy

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A panel of early-career elected officials and local leaders told a Columbus Metro Club forum audience that changing the culture of state and local government requires persistent relationship-building, attention to local problems and patience when confronting entrenched bureaucracy.

Panelists — including State Representative Munira Abdulahi, Shaquille Alexander, treasurer of the city of Whitehall; Leader Donny Isaacson, a House Democrat and state representative; State Senator Michelle Reynolds; and State Representative Dave Thomas — framed their experience entering public office around a shared theme: government can work but is slowed by bureaucratic processes and long-standing habits.

The discussion centered on why younger leaders run for office and how they try to produce results once inside government. Many panelists described stepping into elected roles after seeing problems they said were being ignored — from property tax concerns to housing shortages — and said their approach has been to focus on one or two priority issues and build relationships across party…