Diana Huska

Candidate for Ohio State Senate 13th District Democrat www.dianahuska.ws haugu8@aol.com (440) 949-6450
Employment:
I have worked in a variety of different jobs. In my younger years I was a waitress. I also have worked with growing and cultivating plants in nurseries. Currently I am working at Topps as a floral manager. I have also been serving the citizens of Sheffield Lake as Council-at-Large since 1999.
Education:
Graduated from Parma High School
Community Involvement:
In 1995 I ran for a write-in position for Council-at-Large in Sheffield Lake in which I lost. I than ran again in 1999 and won. I was reelected in 2003 and will be serving until 2007. The most important contribution to my community is when I sought out, planned, and executed a way for the citizens of Sheffield Lake to get a prescription drug plan discount at no extra cost to the city or its residents. I have always been a big advocate of communication. My phone line is always open for discussion with the people that I represent. I’m not afraid to speak my mind and I always listen to what the people have to say and feel.
Family:
I have been married to my husband Don for 40 years. I have two wonderful sons and one daughter. They have all grown up and all are doing well for themselves.
Why would you like to be elected?
I decided to run for office about five years ago when I was reading that lobbyist were showing what money was spent on the very same issues that our representatives were voting on. When I was elected to Council for Sheffield Lake, I had to go to an Ohio ethics course. They told me that if it looks wrong, feels wrong, than it is wrong. It is in my view that the people of Ohio are not accurately being represented and it has left most people with the feeling that there is nothing they can do about it. Most people believe there is nothing they can do about the ever rising gas prices. Most people believe there is nothing they can do about the high heating bills. Most people have lost not only hope, but confidence in our government. I want to be elected because I know that I can make a positive difference. I will fight for the people of Ohio and they can count on my vote to represent their interests and not my own.
What would you like to accomplish if elected?
My main goal if elected is to find a way to make Ohio’s economy prosper. So many people have lost their jobs and so many more will lose their jobs. The seasonallyadjusted unemployment for Ohio as of December of 2005 was 5.9%. The national rate was 4.9%. However, we have counties in Ohio that are as high as 10.6%. Even though there has been many jobs created with Bush in office, they are mostly low paying, degrading jobs that pale in comparison to the jobs that were lost. Many people now have been working two to three of these jobs just to cover their expenses each month. It hurts more and more every time gas companies, utility companies, and taxes reach into the pockets of the people. It hurts when Ohio is the only state in which someone can work 35 hours a week at minimum wage and not be eligible for unemployment. The same is true for a person who works for 9 dollars an hour for 20 hours a week. Most people are left feeling abandoned by their government. The idea to make Ohio grow and prosper starts with getting better jobs to the people, keeping more money in their pockets, and create legislation that will protect the peoples interests instead of exploiting them.
How do you think Internet technology will impact government services?
I think that the internet is a great tool when used for the right motivations. The internet is the information highway of the world. When an average everyday person can access anything that is going on locally or worldwide at anytime, it's a great thing. This brings a higher awareness to the people and can make them more politically involved and or active in their community. If knowledge is power, than power is being able to use the knowledge.
What one bit of information do people not normally know about you?
The only way that a person can truly represent you is to know what you are going through because they have gone through it themselves. How can someone that is rich, accurately represent a person that is not. Here is what you probably don t know about me. I was born into the middle class in Parma, got married was poor, got divorced was poorer. I asked for help from welfare and was denied because I made too much money...$11/day. Even though I paid $8 to babysit. I got remarried five years later and have been middle class since. So point being is I know what it is like to struggle to make ends meet.