Wooster’s Sirot announces state senate candidacy
Laura Sirot
Wooster resident Laura Sirot has announced her candidacy for Ohio state senator, representing District 31. The district includes all of Wayne, Tuscarawas and Muskingum counties, as well as parts of Stark and Guernsey counties.
Sirot will officially launch her campaign at a celebration on Sunday, April 27, from 3-5 p.m. at Emerson Farm, 9786 Emerson Rd. in Apple Creek.
The event will feature music, refreshments, brief speeches and an opportunity to mingle. Attendees will be able to learn more about Sirot’s platform and enjoy a performance by the Ten Penny Bit Band. RSVPs are requested for the free event at https://forms.gle/bYCbojYkD2eGqu9t9.
Sirot’s campaign slogan, “Finding common ground to work for the common good,” reflects her vision of collaborative leadership aimed at improving the lives of all Ohioans.
“I am running because I want to work for a strong, safe and affordable future where all Ohioans can thrive,” Sirot said. “An Ohio that leads with innovative problem-solving for a robust economy full of opportunity. An Ohio where every person is safe living their daily lives — where we have access to food, housing, health care and a high-quality education. An Ohio where we feel like we have one another’s backs. This is what an Ohio for the common good looks like.”
Sirot is a professor of biology at The College of Wooster. Since moving to Wooster 15 years ago with her husband and oldest son, she said she has been impressed with the community’s strength of camaraderie.
“Time and again, I have seen our neighbors come together to support one another,” she said. “In times of celebration and uplifting, as well as in times of tragedy and need.”
That spirit led Sirot to become active locally. She co-founded a monthly public forum focused on science-related issues of community interest, now in its 13th year. She has worked with numerous animal rescue organizations and developed programs such as the K9 coach program, which supports recent dog adopters in addressing common behavioral challenges to reduce the number of animals returned.
“Most significantly,” she said, “I have had the privilege to be a foster parent for Wayne County Children Services. In fact, I adopted my younger son through foster care and continue to serve as a board member and mentor.”
Sirot emphasized that too many elected officials are focused on division rather than solutions.
“Every day in both my personal and professional life, I work on solving problems that we can do something about,” she said. “As your state senator, I’ll approach my job with the keen ability of a mother to identify problems and the know-how of a scientist to address them.”
Frustrated with politicians who seek to divide Ohioans, Sirot added: “When I am elected, I plan to listen to anyone who wants to bring their concerns and ideas to me and to seek out people with a wide range of interests and perspectives. I will use the information I gather from these discussions to find common ground to make progress on pressing issues facing Ohioans — including affordable housing and health care, accessible high-quality education from pre-K through college and support for farmers as they navigate and plan for changing financial and environmental conditions.”
Learn more about the campaign at www.sirotforohio.org.