About Mike Smith: A Voice for Choice and Change
From poverty to success
I wasn’t born into a political dynasty. I grew up in a working-class family where the struggle to make ends meet wasn't a talking point—it was our daily reality. There were many days when the ends simply didn't meet.
I learned the value of a dollar and the necessity of hard work on the floors of factories and out in the fields of local farms. That same focus and determination eventually led me into Corporate America. I’ve earned paychecks the hard way, and I’ve also seen how decisions get made in big companies. Those experiences keep me grounded and focused on the people who make our communities work. I am where I am today because I outworked the obstacles in my way.
The Foundation: Grit and Growth
I grew up moving frequently across the United States calling home to places in Indiana, Michigan, Arkansas, but I eventually found my home and my heart in Northwest Ohio. My career began in manufacturing, where I learned the reality of hard work. But as I worked those lines, I couldn’t stop thinking: "There has to be a better way." That simple realization sparked a lifelong commitment to Continuous Improvement.
The Bridge: Efficiency and Education
I didn't just want to work in the system; I wanted to fix it. I specialized in Lean Manufacturing, driving operational efficiency on the floor while simultaneously studying for my MBA. I saw firsthand how waste, poor communication, and outdated processes hurt people.
The Evolution: Technology and Innovation
My passion for problem-solving naturally led me to technology. I began using tech to drive improvements in the manufacturing sector, eventually earning technical certifications and transitioning into Software Development. I spent years consulting with clients, teaching them how to use innovation to overcome their biggest hurdles.
The Present: Leadership and Innovation
My professional journey in Central Ohio has been defined by a commitment to servant leadership and a drive for excellence. While working for one of our region's leading Fortune 500 companies, I completed my Master’s in Cybersecurity to better understand the complex digital and safety challenges of our modern world.
Today, I lead engineering teams in high-stakes environments, but I’ve learned that true leadership isn't just about managing systems—it’s about empowering people. I focus on fostering a culture of Continuous Innovation where every team member is equipped to lead and contribute their best ideas.
My daily work is rooted in Process Excellence: identifying the root needs of the "customer"—in this case, my neighbors and fellow citizens—and relentlessly pursuing Continuous Improvement. I am ready to bring this same focus on mentorship and professional rigor to our local government, ensuring we don't just solve today’s needs, but build a community where every resident has the tools and the voice to help us innovate for the future.
Why This Makes Me the Right Candidate
Government is essentially a series of complex systems. When those systems fail, it’s usually because they lack the two things I’ve spent my life mastering:
- Continuous Improvement: In the private sector, if a process doesn't work for the customer, we fix it. In politics, if a process doesn't work for the voter, the parties ignore it. I will bring a "Voter First Continuous Improvement" mindset to the legislature to cut waste and prioritize the "Voter".
- Continuous Innovation: We are using 20th-century political systems to solve 21st-century problems. My background in Cybersecurity and Software Leadership means I understand the modern world. I know how to protect our data, streamline our services, and use technology to make government transparent.
I am a professional problem solver. I don't see obstacles; I see systems that need to be improved. I am ready to apply that same focus and determination to the Statehouse.
Standing Up for the Will of the People
As a cannabis patient, a home grower, and a father to a patient, I have seen firsthand how this plant changes lives. But when I saw SB56 and HB160 introduced at the Statehouse, I knew I couldn’t stay on the sidelines. These bills were a direct attack on the will of Ohio voters, seeking to re-criminalize our community and dismantle the "Ohio First" social equity programs we fought so hard to pass.
I stood in the halls of the Statehouse alongside people from every walk of life. I heard veterans plead with lawmakers to protect the only medicine that has truly helped them find peace. I listened to patients advocate for their families, and individuals share moving stories of how they used this plant to break the cycle of substance abuse and reclaim their lives.
The most heartbreaking part? Our legislators barely listened. I watched them sit there, asking almost no questions, seemingly indifferent to the raw, honest testimony of the people they were elected to represent. It was governmental overreach and special-interest corruption in full swing. These bills weren't about safety; they were about ensuring corporate interests controlled Ohio at the expense of the people—replacing compassionate care and community with special interests.
The Defining Moment: October 21st, 2025
Throughout my career, I waited for leaders to stand up for families like the one I grew up in. Instead, I witnessed a recurring betrayal. My "moment of truth" came on October 21st, 2025, when I watched the vast majority of our state politicians—91 out of 99—blatantly circumvent the will of the voters with SB56.
I saw a system where the lines were drawn in the sand, not for the people, but for power. Republicans voted against the clear mandate of the voters to satisfy special interest groups. Meanwhile, Democrats traded away the will of the people to secure party power in a gerrymandering bill. It was a cold, calculated exchange where the voters were the only ones who lost.
Many believe SB56 was just about cannabis. It wasn't. It was an attack on our democratic process. It was about controlling the people instead of representing them.
I realized that day that if they would so boldly ignore a decisive public vote on one issue, they would do it on any issue—from reproductive rights to economic policy. Our legislators didn't just ignore us; they insulted us by suggesting the voters "didn't know what they were voting for."
This tyranny has to stop. In the current two-party system, the hierarchy is clear: Party Leadership comes first, corporate donors come second, and the voters come last. I am running to flip that hierarchy on its head. It is time for a representative who believes that the will of the people is not a suggestion—it is a mandate.
Breaking the Cycle
I am running because we don't currently have a true choice; we have a duopoly that manages us rather than representing us. To me, Choice and Change means:
- Breaking the Two-Party Grip: Creating a space for candidates who answer to the people, not a party boss.
- Voter Will Above All: Re-establishing the mandate that the "will of the voters" is the only priority.
- Real Representation: Bringing the work ethic of the factory floor and the strategic mind of the corporate office to government.
We deserve a candidate who remembers where they came from. I haven't forgotten the struggle, and I won't ignore your voice for the sake of a party line.