I met Rod Sullivan shortly after helping start the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter. At the time, we were a small organization with limited reach and little institutional power. Rod did not have to pay attention to us, but he did. He showed up to events. He encouraged younger organizers. A couple years ago, when we hosted a small supervisor candidate forum at the public library with then-candidate Mandi Remington, Rod attended that too.
That matters to me. I genuinely believe Rod wants to serve the community. I believe he cares about labor issues and takes the job seriously. His attendance, his visibility in Solon, and his long-standing engagement with community organizations all make that clear.
Rod has often taken public positions in support of marginalized people and against reactionary politics. He has been accessible in ways many elected officials are not. Frankly, I do not think so many people would be angry with him today if they did not first believe he was capable of better. But intentions are not enough, and eventually a public record becomes impossible to ignore…