BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Motivated in part by recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that affect LGBTQ+ community, one Bowling Green State University student has thrown their hat into the ring to run for Bowling Green City Council.
Damon Sherry identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. They said the 2016 presidential election got them involved in politics and ever since entering college, they have been preparing for leadership roles.
The soon-to-be-senior and political science major is running as a Democrat for the Ward 1 council seat now occupied by Nick Rubando.
After winning the primary in May, Rubando announced in June he would drop out of the race. Sherry will replace him on the ballot and face Republican David Drain in the November General Election.
"I love helping people out, it's what I'm built to do and it's kind of like that calling thing, you just know," Sherry said.
Sherry is also the president of the BGSU chapter of College Democrats, vice president of the BGSU Queer Trans Student Union, an Undergraduate Student Government Senator and the director of engagement for Undergraduate Student Government.
"It all starts local here, and I've really fallen in love with the city because it's given me a lot of opportunities, I have a lot of friends and families here," Sherry said.
Now running, they want to do even more such as creating more sustainable, green energy in Bowling Green and exchanging the city's fluorescent lights for LEDs.
"Other cities around Wood County have done that," Sherry said. "They have changed completely to LED lights, which has saved $6 million annually."
Sherry also said they are proud to be a part of the area's inclusive community, especially since the mayor recognized June as the city's pride month for the first time just last year.
"I would just want to reaffirm to the community that the city is there for protection," Sherry said.
Though just 21 years old, they said it is just the right age to get involved in this growing community, and they want to make sure everyone gets represented in Bowling Green.
"Focusing on single-family households, permanent residents, tenants, students to make sure I don't expose a single group just because I'm in that younger group," Sherry said.
Sherry said their campaign kicks off at an event from noon to 2 p.m. next Saturday at Ridge Park. More information about Sherry's campaign is available on their social media pages on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at SherryforBG.