Bernadine Kent facts for kids

Bernadine Kennedy Kent is a former state representative for the 25th District of the Ohio House of Representatives. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Her district included parts of Columbus and some townships in Franklin County.

About Bernadine Kennedy Kent

Early Life and Education

Bernadine Kennedy Kent was born and grew up in East Chicago, Indiana. Her parents moved from the South and worked in steel factories. She later went to Central State University and then settled in Ohio. Her husband was a Green Beret in Vietnam, and his father was a Tuskegee Airman.

Career as an Educator and Advocate

Kennedy Kent spent her life working as an educator. She taught for many years in the Columbus Public Schools system. She tried twice to join the Columbus Board of Education but was not elected. However, she successfully ran for State Representative of the 25th district in 2016. She is known for speaking up about problems and for helping her community with different issues.

Time in the Ohio House of Representatives

Becoming a State Representative

In 2016, Kennedy Kent decided to run for the Ohio House. The person who held the seat before her, Kevin Boyce, chose to run for a different job. In the Democratic primary election, where four people were running, Kennedy Kent received the most votes, over 35%. She was supported by the Franklin County Democratic Party, the Columbus Education Association, and other worker groups. The Columbus Dispatch newspaper also supported her.

Key Actions and Bills

During her first term, Representative Kent worked in a House and Senate where most members were from the Republican Party. She introduced a bill called H.B. 317. This bill aimed to make it a rule that law enforcement in Ohio must report child abuse and neglect. At that time, Ohio was the only state where police officers were not required to report such cases.

She also created another bill that became a law. This law named a highway in memory of a worker from the Ohio Department of Transportation. She also worked to make sure that "Marsy's Law" was followed. This law helps protect the rights of victims of crimes in Ohio.

Challenges and Endorsements

After some disagreements, she was removed from her party's group in the Ohio House. She stated that she faced safety concerns and felt intimidated. Because of this, she did not attend sessions at the Ohio Statehouse for over a year. However, she still kept her seat and her salary.

Representative Kent said that her constituents, the people she represented, were missing out because of these actions by her fellow Democrats. In September 2020, Kennedy Kent announced her support for Republican President Donald Trump when he ran for reelection against Democratic candidate Joe Biden.