Lindsey Grdina: A Voice for Families

As a lawyer, I advocate for families on a daily basis. As a member of the Attorney Panel for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, I represent women and families fleeing domestic violence, helping them obtain civil protection orders, anti-stalking orders, divorces and custody agreements. Now, I want to bring my experience from the courtroom to the council chamber, as the next City Council Woman from Ward 1.

My husband Ed and I are happy to be raising our two young children, Julia, 3 and Oliver, 6 months, in Lakewood. Lakewood has been on an amazing trajectory the past 5 to 10 years, with new families moving in, new businesses opening up, and even more development on the horizon. In order to keep Lakewood moving in the right direction, we need informed leaders who can be a voice for the thousands of families that call Lakewood home. I believe we need to focus on four main issues: Affordable, Accessible Housing; Smart, Sustainable Development; Improving our Parks and Green spaces; and Encouraging Small Business Ownership and Entrepreneurship.

My experience as a working mom gives me a unique perspective on the way each of those key issues impacts our residents. I know what it's like to raise a family in Lakewood right now, because my husband and I are living it- paying down student loan debt while trying to figure out how to pay for child care. Worrying about what will happen as our parents age, and hope that they’re able to stay in Lakewood and 'age in place'. I share the concerns of young families because they are my concerns as well. With two young children, I have a vested interest in making sure the streets stay safe and our parks are well maintained. I would fight to ensure quality recreational services while upgrading facilities so that we can stay competitive with our neighboring suburbs.

More and more families have made the decision to settle in Lakewood, and they need to have a voice on City Council. With your support in the Primary Election on September 10th, we can be one step closer to having a voice for young families on Lakewood City Council.