The August 2nd special primary is just days away and one of the four democrats running for state representative in the new 59th district is Ron Shadd.

For eight years, Shadd served on the Youngstown School Board and believes that experience will serve him well in Columbus.

"I feel I am the only candidate that actually has experience going to Columbus and advocating for our community on the state level and successfully doing so by getting legislation to get the school district a pathway out of academic distress," Shadd said. "As president of the school board, I had to ensure that the school board developed a plan for our district to get out of academic distress, we did so and it was approved by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction."

Shadd picked up endorsements from the Youngstown Vindicator and Youngstown-Warren Black Caucus and is in the race for the 59th district because he feels a lot of our rights are under attack.

"Voter rights, taxpayer rights, just simply having this election in August is a form of voter suppression because it's throwing people off and that sort of thing," Shadd said. "The issue is that there is less access to individuals being able to vote. The issue is that we have a gerrymandered primary that in two years will change because we are voting on a unconstitutional map. We have to fix this problem, we cannot wait another two years and hope that the problem is fixed by the next primary, we have to do that work right now."

Shadd is pro-choice and would like to allow more access to healthcare.

"I want to look at reproductive health, the spectrum of reproductive health, everything from infant mortality issues from people having the right to choose," Shadd said. "There are a lot of issues involved that have nuance that it should be left up to those family members and their doctors."

Shadd believes in sensible gun laws while still respecting the second amendment. He also wants to tackle education funding.

"The main piece we have to change is looking at the structure of how education is funded," Shadd said. "It has been deemed unconstitutional how the property tax is used to fund schools, it's unconstitutional. We have to take a stand as Ohioans to fix that issue."

Shadd wants to focus on economic development and retaining young professionals.

"I think Youngstown is primed for any industry," Shadd said. "We connect Chicago with New York. We have the infrastructure, we have the people, educational institutions to get a workforce up and going. We need to ensure that we have the ability to bring in these organizations by having property that is commercial but shovel ready."

He also believes he can be a voice in the Valley, for a better Ohio.

"The issues happening in Youngstown are happening all across Ohio," Shadd said. "The way we get this done is we have to work with these other communities to let them see what our issues are. We have to lead the way with how we write our legislation and get buy-in from other people to make it, to enact it because what is good for Youngstown, is good for Ohio."

Shadd will face Lauren McNally, John Dyce and Wayne Penny Jr. in the primary on August 2nd. The winner will face any independents who file by August 1st. So far, only Poland Trustee Eric Ungaro has filed. No Republicans have filed for this seat.