Press Release: State Representative Jena Powell Runs for Reelection

For Immediate Release

01-11-2022

State Representative Jena Powell Runs for Reelection

TROY – State Representative Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) announced she is filing petitions to run for reelection as Ohio State Representative for the 80th District.

The 80th District encompasses all of Miami County and southern Darke County. Representative Powell is currently in her second term after winning the seat in 2018 with over 75 percent of the vote.

“I am honored to serve the people of Southwest Ohio in the Statehouse, and look forward to making great strides for our region. I want to thank the people for trusting me as their representative and I look forward to continuing to serve,” Powell said.

While in the legislature, Representative Powell has been a conservative champion and has worked tirelessly to reduce government overreach.

Co-sponsoring the Heartbeat Bill in her first term, Rep. Powell is now the founder of Ohio’s Pro-Life Caucus and sponsoring the 2363 Act to end abortion in Ohio. She has co-sponsored Constitutional Carry, and worked to cut taxes and reduce burdensome regulations.

Representative Powell currently serves on the House committees for:

  • Agriculture and Conservation Committee

  • Economic and Workforce Development Committee, Vice Chair

  • Financial Institutions Committee

  • Ways and Means Committee

Representative Powell is a proud small business owner. In her first term in the legislature, she was named to Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list for Law & Policy. She resides in Arcanum.

Rep. Powell In The News!

The Daily Advocate: Powell, Schmidt introduce Prosecuting Trafficking Proceeds Act

Columbus Dispatch: Two Ohio bills would ban transgender girls from female sports

WKBN: Proposed law would not allow transgender girls to compete in women’s sports in Ohio

ABC 6/Fox 28: Ohio lawmakers push bill that bans transgender athletes from female sports teams

WLWT 5: 2 Ohio bills would ban transgender athletes from female sports

FOX 19: Bills would prevent transgender females in Ohio from competing in girls-only sports

NBC4: Bill in Ohio House and Senate to prevent transgender women from playing women’s high school sports

Breitbart: Two Ohio Bills Would Ban Trans Athletes from Girls’ Sports

The Daily Advocate: Darke County Park welcomes Bear’s Mill

Solutions through policy, not violence

Growing up on our family farm, I didn’t go to the city much. We lived a joyful and contented childhood, playing in the woods and farming the land my ancestors farmed. I started reading books and learning about the heroic men and women of the past. I was enamored by historical figures who sacrificed for what they knew to be right. Not all of them were gracious and kind, but they were seeking the greater good when they devised our unique system of governance.

Time rolled by and I went to Washington D.C. for the first time. I remember walking into the Capitol, amazed at our form of government. After meeting some of our government officials and getting a tour, I went home to read more about leadership and our form of government. It was clear to me that although it wasn’t perfect, our system was the best in the world, and it enabled individuals to live in freedom.

The American experiment was working. Years rolled by, and God opened the doors for me to run for state office. The first day I walked into the State Capitol, I looked up and thought to myself, “Here in America we have something special, and I want to never forget that.”

After two years, I still feel the same way every time I enter the building. During my time I have encountered Republicans, Democrats, staff, community members, protesters, and everyone in between. We might not all agree, but the system works well, as it reflects Ohioans’ differing beliefs and passions. That’s the beauty of a Representative Democracy.

The genius of the American system is that our strong differences are resolved through discussion and debate —through policy not violence.

It deeply burdens me to see the bloodshed and terror that happened this summer.

It deeply burdened me to see the bloodshed and terror that happened Wednesday.

I ran for office because I know America is better than this. I wake up each day with renewed commitment to work on good policy, because I know our Representative Democracy works. It might be slow and painfully frustrating at times, but Americans’ voices are being heard. My community’s voice is being heard. Our beliefs are being drafted into bills every month. Those bills are moving through the legislature and made into laws. That’s the beauty of a Representative Democracy.

Speak your beliefs.

Write your thoughts.

Protest peacefully.

Raise your family well.

Worship God.

Serve your neighbor.

A Representative Democracy is the best form of government in the world, and together we can continue showing the world’s nations that a shining city on a hill still exists.

 

State Representative Jena Powell represents the 80th Ohio House District, which encompasses Miami County and a portion of Darke County. For more information, contact Rep. Powell’s office at 614-466-8114 or Rep80@ohiohouse.gov . Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

POWELL WINS REELECTION!

Rep. Jena Powell (R) won reelection to the Ohio House, defeating Democrat challenger Ted Jones to once again represent District 80 with unofficial results showing her with 76 percent of the vote.
“Thank you so much for the support from Darke County,” said Powell. “I am thrilled to represent you in the legislature and fight for our conservative values in the next two years. As always, if you have questions or want to tell me your story, you can email or call my office at any time. I am looking forward to continue fighting for the 80th District in Columbus.”

The Legislative Process

Since taking office in January our office has been working through new policy (bills) that will give our community more freedom! In the coming weeks we will be rolling those bills out for you to look over & support!
 
To best understand the legislative process checkout the graph below. As always let us know if you have any questions.

President Trump Grants ‘Disaster Declaration’ – Includes Miami And Darke Counties

COLUMBUS –

As most of you know, Memorial Day week tornadoes wreaked havoc on homes, businesses, and churches in our community. The office of Representative Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) has received lots of questions regarding the disaster status of West Milton, and other parts of Darke and Miami County that were hit hard by the tornadoes and storms.

As of today, President Trump has granted Governor DeWine’s request for a Disaster Declaration due to the tornadoes, severe storms, flooding, landslides, and straight-line winds that affected Ohio counties on May 27-29. The counties designated for individual assistance include Auglaize, Darke, Greene, Hocking, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Muskingum, Perry, and Pickaway Counties.

Rep. Powell says, “Our community has been hit hard by the severe storms and tornadoes of May 27-29, adding to weather challenges that have been ongoing this year. This Disaster Declaration recognizes the significance of the damage, and will help our community rebuild.”

If you have questions about the Disaster Declaration or how to receive assistance, along with any state government concerns, you can give our office a call at 614-466-8114 or email Rep80@ohiohouse.gov.

Powell Wants To Train Leaders

COLUMBUS – Representative Jenna Powell (R-Arcanum) is offering students in Miami and Southern Darke County scholarships to attend Forge Leadership Summit. Rep. Powell believes “it is incredibly important that we train up the next generation to understand and fight for freedom” and therefore Rep. Powell will cover half the cost of attendance for individuals in the district who are accepted into the Forge Leadership Network’s July 23-27 summit.

For those who are interested in applying, www.forgeleadership.org has online applications. You must be between the ages of 18 and 24 to apply. Be sure to call or email Rep. Powell’s office to let her know that you are applying and would like to be a scholarship recipient.

Rep. Powell says, “The Forge Leadership Network’s July summit is an incredible opportunity to experience hands-on training in the political arena. If you are a conservative interested in being a voice in the public square, the Forge summit is for you!”

As always, if you have state government concerns you can give our office a call at 614-466-8114 or email Rep80@ohiohouse.gov.

One of the youngest serving Republicans on her ‘fight for the American dream’

VIDEO: One of the youngest serving Republicans on her ‘fight for the American dream’

Jena Powell brings eight years of experience as a business owner and a lifetime on a farm to her new job in Ohio’s House of Representatives — and she’s only 25.

“When I first started running there were some comments regarding my age, but at the end of the day what I always tell people is, this is what I believe, this is where I stand and this is what I’ll do to fight for you,” Powell said on ABC News’ “The Briefing Room.”

Powell is one of the youngest Republicans to serve in the country and the youngest member of the Ohio general assembly, but she says it’s not her age or gender that made her run for office — it was her love for her country.

PHOTO: Jena Powell is pictured with some of her campaign team in an undated handout photo.Friends to Elect Jena Powell
Jena Powell is pictured with some of her campaign team in an undated handout photo.

“I’m here because our Founding Fathers knew and understood that if someone had an idea, that we’d fight for that American dream,” Powell said.

Powell called on her Republican colleagues to appeal to young voters. “We need to do a better job representing what we believe in and why conservatism works,” she said.

Powell, who represents Ohio’s 80th state congressional district, proposed a piece of legislation this week to allow private sector businesses to add apprenticeship programs for people to obtain certain licenses.

“It gives the workforce more power to choose,” Powell said.

PHOTO: Jena Powell is sworn into Ohios House of Representatives at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Jan. 10, 2019.Friends to Elect Jena Powell
Jena Powell is sworn into Ohio’s House of Representatives at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Jan. 10, 2019.

Ohio House Bill 258 is inspired by Ivanka Trump and the Trump administration’s push to help people find different ways to get training for jobs without necessarily spending the time or money on a four-year college degree.

This workforce training program hit especially close to home for Powell, who started and still runs an outdoor billboard company with her brother out of Arcanum, Ohio. They own about 600 billboards throughout the state, she said.

Powell is one of seven children and grew up in rural Ohio in a town of about 2,000 people. She said she hopes other people of any age, gender or political ideology follow her lead and run for office.

“Know what you believe, know what you stand for, and come here ready to fight for that, Powell said.”

Watch the full “Millennials Who Won” segment by clicking on the video above.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/youngest-serving-republicans-fight-american-dream/story?id=63565981

Read more

Ohio’s youngest representative, a female Republican, isn’t afraid to spread freedom’s message

Strong advocate for freedom, my hometown, and entrepreneurship!

Thanks to the Washington Examiner for sharing my story about our fight to preserve the American Dream.

Arcanum, Ohio, is a small town on the Ohio-Indiana border, with a population of 2,129 at the last census. Jena Powell has already risen in her 25 years to be one of her beloved hometown’s finest daughters — a Republican freshman state representative, in a time when the party is battling for the votes of both her gender and generation. “No matter your age, social-economic class, or gender, we have this … beautiful idea that our Founding Fathers understood and knew, that if we create a framework where people could thrive, it doesn’t matter what gender you are,” Powell told me.

Powell is one of the youngest elected officials in the United States, and the youngest in the Ohio General Assembly. Between her charisma, voiced with a cheery Midwestern twang that gives the impression of an everlasting bright smile on the other end of the phone, and independent spirit forged on her family farm, you could excuse someone for thinking that she’s been well trained in politics.

Jena grew up as the third of seven children on that farm, and grew into an aspiring young entrepreneur, taking online college classes at 13. She and her brother started an outdoor billboard company, Huntington Outdoor, with about 600 billboards across Ohio and Indiana. She’s proud Arcanum is still her home now, having remodeled a turn-of-the-20th-century farmhouse. “I get to slip back to where I truly love; the people that I love, and the place that I love, and be able to fight for them.”

One of her biggest passions is showing the millennial generation that they too can live the American dream as she has, mainly by creating a deregulated business climate that allows them to explore their creative spirits. “Millennials should understand, and should know, that if they’re getting everything free from the government, that freedom is being taken away,” said Powell. “Millennials, who are a very entrepreneurial generation, they want to achieve that freedom.”

As far as crafting a message that would appeal to the millennial generation, Powell feels a strong message of freedom and liberty is capable of attracting all groups and does not have to be changed. “If we truly believe in what we’re speaking, we don’t have to change our message to the crowd,” Powell advocated. “When we limit government, it gives people more power. It gives families, and churches, and communities more power and more freedom to do as they choose. Every child is born with a dream inside of them, a dream of what they want to be.” Read more

Powell holding Town Hall on May 6

TROY – State Representative Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) will be holding a Coffee & Cake Evening at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center from 7-8pm on Monday, May 6.

Representative Powell invites constituents to enjoy coffee, cake, and conversation as she shares what has been happening in Columbus and takes questions from folks in the district.

Miami and Southern Darke County citizens are encouraged to come with any questions or concerns they might have about state politics. All ages are welcome to come and meet Representative Powell.

“I am excited about bringing the community together and hearing your voices – I represent you, so I want to hear from you,” says Powell.

If you have any questions in advance, please reach out to our office at Rep80@ohiohouse.gov or call (614) 466-8114.