MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio – Today, Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell released the following statement after filing papers to run for Auditor:

“Today, I’m proud to announce my candidacy for Auditor to make Ohio a safe and affordable place to live for working families across the state. For too long our state government has been plagued with corruption that’s worked out well for special interests while leaving the rest of our state struggling with rising costs and communities like mine deprived of critical resources.”

“As Auditor I plan to tackle this corruption and safeguard our tax dollars by holding bad actors accountable, but I also want to partner with communities across the state so they can provide a safe and affordable place to live for working families in every corner of Ohio.”

“For the last ten years I’ve served as the Mayor and Safety Director of Maple Heights, where I’m proud to say I led the city’s economic turnaround. Upon taking office our city was in fiscal emergency and on the state’s official ‘fiscal watch’ list. I turned my living room into a war room and poured through the books so I could write our five year turnaround plan and it worked. Maple Heights has since been the recipient of numerous “Clean Audit” awards and is recognized as one of the state’s best partners.”

“I’ll take that same dedication to solving problems and take care of our tax dollars in the office of Auditor, and I can’t wait to see you on the campaign trail.”

Annette invites you to learn more and join her campaign by visiting the website https://blackwellforohio.com/.

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Annette Blackwell is the current Mayor of Maple Heights as well as Director of Safety, and has been widely praised for turning the city’s fiscal health around. Moving to Ohio from Selma, Alabama at the age of 2, she became a leader in her community. Along with her public service, she has long-time private sector experience, including at Key Bank (formerly Ameritrust), University Hospitals, and and 16 years at Deloitte and Ryan where she focused largely on property tax issues.

Now Mayor Blackwell is running for Ohio Auditor to ensure local communities and governments can provide safe and affordable places to live for Ohio’s working families, fight the corruption that’s plaguing Ohio’s government, and safeguard our tax dollars by holding bad actors accountable.

When Mayor Blackwell was first elected to lead Maple Heights, the city was in fiscal emergency and on the state’s “fiscal watch” list. She turned her living room into a war room, poured over the financials and literally wrote the five year plan that turned the city’s finances around. Because of her work, The City of Maple Heights has received the State of Ohio Auditor’s most prestigious award, the Clean Audit Award every year from 2021-2023. Maple Heights proudly was recognized as being one of the State of Ohio’s best partners.

Mayor Blackwell looks forward to taking her public and private sector experience,  determination and fiscal discipline to the Ohio Auditor’s office because she knows that with costs rising on so many everyday goods and services the last thing we need is our tax dollars being wasted. She will also continue to be a voice against the endless raid of local government funds by Statehouse politicians.

Mayor Blackwell lives in Maple Heights with her husband, and together they are the proud parents of three children.