Congratulating Ohio State Senator Vernon Sykes on his Retirement

Congresswoman Sykes spoke on the House floor to celebrate the retirement of Ohio Senator Vernon Sykes, her father, after his over 50-year career in public service.  Senator Sykes’ career as a legislator began in 1980 when he was appointed as the Ward 3 Councilmember for the City of Akron. In 1983, he was then appointed to the Ohio State House, becoming the first Black person to represent Summit County in the Ohio General Assembly. There, he would become a champion for early education, criminal justice reform, economic development, and more. Notably, Senator Sykes passed the toughest fair housing law in the country, Ohio’s first legislation on wrongful imprisonment, and was the lead sponsor of two constitutional amendments to eliminate the scourge of gerrymandering in Ohio that were approved by 70% of the vote statewide. During his time in public office, Senator Sykes has championed the people of our community and is an example of true, selfless public service. He has always put the people of our community first and his deep desire to serve his community is an inspiration to all who have had the opportunity to experience his passion for people and public service.