A compact Ohio town in Auglaize County, near Indiana, will soon have its first transgender council member – and is believed to be the first transgender councilwoman in the entire state.
Arienne Childrey will join the St. Patrick’s City Council. Marys, taking the place of councilor Robin Willoughby, who stepped down behind schedule last year for health reasons. On Monday, January 6, the Auglaize County Democratic Party Central Committee elected Childrey to the position. Her swearing-in will take place after the nomination is approved by the Ohio Secretary of State.
“I am honored to serve the residents of the 4th Ward and the City of St. Marys,” Childrey said Buckeye Flame. “Representation is of the utmost importance to our community, and I hope this nomination inspires others to see that the Democratic Party is a welcoming home for all voices and diverse communities.
Although historical records are restricted, Childrey is believed to be the first transgender person on a city council in the entire state of Ohio.
This isn’t the first time Childrey has been considered for public office. She previously ran against Angie King (R-Celina) for Ohio state representative, a race King won in November.
In this campaign, Childrey survived a challenge to her candidacy based on law from several decades ago this forces candidates to provide any former legal names from the last five years, even though there was no place on the election documents to include them. In 2024, this law was repeatedly used to attack transgender candidates in Ohio because it effectively forced them to come out. While the Mercer County Board of Elections found Childrey eligible to run, the Stark County Board of Elections disqualified candidate Vanessa Joy under the same law.
In May 2024, King introduced HB 471 (later SB71) to expand the list of persons who may challenge the eligibility of candidates, including eligibility based on failure to include previous names. Despite last-minute efforts to pass the bill, the bill ultimately died during the 2024 lame-duck session.
Representation matters
According to LGBTQ+ Victory Fund— a national nonprofit organization dedicated to electing pro-equality and pro-choice candidates to public office who are not members of the LGBTQ+ community. Childrey is the first and currently only transgender person on an Ohio city council.
“LGBTQ+ Victory Fund congratulates Arienne Childrey on her historic nomination to St. Patrick’s City Council. Marys, paving the way for transgender women’s representation in municipal government in Ohio,” Sean Meloy, Victory Fund vice president of policy programs, said in a statement to The Buckeye Flame . “Arienne is a fighter and will be an important voice for her constituents in the fight for civic pride, jobs and economic development in her city and region.”
Dion Manley is the only transgender person in the state. In 2022, he was sworn in as the newest board member of the Gahanna-Jefferson City School District.
“At a time when LGBTQ+ rights and, in particular, transgender rights are under threat, including direct attacks against her, the news of Arienne’s nomination is a bright light that shows transgender people are here and ready to serve their communities,” Meloy said. “We look forward to her service and are confident she will continue to be a changemaker for her city and all Ohioans.”
Childre notes the importance of representation and how it ultimately supports the entire community.
“Good governance is about looking after the best interests of all citizens, not just those who fit someone else’s narrow mold,” she said. 🔥
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- LGBTQ+ Ohioans interested in running for office can find more information at the Victory Fund Here.
