Meet state Rep. Jodi Whitted, the newest member of the Ohio House

COLUMBUS, OH — MAY 08: Rep. Jodi Whitted, D-Madeira, speaks during the Ohio House session, May 8, 2024, at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.)

Earlier this month, the Ohio House voted to appoint Democrat Jodi Whitted to a vacant Hamilton County seat. The Madeira social worker and professor will serve until the end of this year. But due to a coincidence of redistricting, she’ll be living in a different district, already represented by a Democrat, in the coming term next year.

Whitted’s appointment is the last step after a tragic shuffling of seats and positions. Former Democratic state Rep. Brigid Kelly ran for Hamilton County auditor and won in 2022, but about a year into her term, revealed a cancer diagnosis. In March, she resigned to go into hospice care and died a few days later. Kelly was just 40 years old.

In a letter to the county commission, Kelly recommended Rep. Jessica Miranda, D-Forest Park, as her replacement, and in May the commission appointed her to the office. But that left Miranda’s seat vacant, and left Democrats looking for another replacement.

“There was a tweet,” Whitted recalled, “saying that they were accepting applications for the position.”

From there it was kind of like any other job opening. She submitted a cover letter and resume, did some interviews and crossed her fingers. The difference, of course, is she was waiting to hear back from a panel of Democratic state lawmakers rather than a future boss.

Despite her caucus’ stamp of approval, Whitted isn’t exactly getting comfortable. Her gig, she explained, is eight months and eight months only. She currently lives in the 28th state House district, but this November’s elections will use a new map. Come January, Whitted’s home will be part of the district currently represented by Rep. Rachel Baker, D-Cincinnati.

To that end, Whitted’s tenth floor office is sparse. When we met earlier this month she was still unpacking — a table runner, “to add some color,” she explained as she pulled off its packaging, and a drug store folder of new prints ready for frames.

“I’ll probably put some pictures over there,” she said pointing to the empty bookcase looking forlorn next to her desk. She explained her aide asked if she wanted any other furniture, but Whitted turned her down.

“Just since this is such a short amount of time,” she explained, “I don’t want to make more work.”

Whitted’s background

Whitted holds a doctorate in social work and she’s an assistant professor at The University of Cincinnati leading the school’s Bachelor of Social Work program.

“So, as we can obviously see the intelligence level of this particular body is going to ride a lot higher in the water over the next eight months with the addition of Jodi here,” Rep. Daniel Troy joked during her introduction on the House floor.

Whitted and her husband Caleb have two young girls, Mary Claire and Lindy, and they live in Madeira, a suburb northeast of Cincinnati. Previously, Whitted ran unsuccessfully for city council, and she’s taken a leave of absence to serve in the House.

Whitted has worn a lot of hats in the social work field before landing in academia. She has worked with children and families in the court system, as a therapist, in schools, in hospitals and even with an insurance company. As she describes it, social work offers the lens for how she views politics.

“For me, I think the piece of social work that so often gets put to the wayside is the larger macro policy related piece,” she explained. “At its root social work is a career focused on advocacy for people that are under underserved and vulnerable.”

Whitted described working at a hospital in Tennessee around the time the Affordable Care Act passed.

“States were making decisions if they were going to expand Medicaid or not, and Tennessee was the state that decided not to expand,” she explained.

“And there were plenty of times where somebody was you know, like, just right on that threshold of being able to receive services or not receive services,” she said. “And that’s really hard. That’s really hard to see when it’s life and death.”

Legislative plans and political future?

In her introductory remarks, Whitted emphasized the challenge of carrying her predecessor’s legacy forward and sounded almost apologetic for taking over without first going to the ballot.

“To my constituents,” she said, “while you did not elect me, I promise to represent you with honesty and integrity for this short time and thank you for your faith in me.”

In terms of former Rep. Miranda’s legacy, Whitted explained she’s looking forward to taking up some of the legislation Miranda sponsored.

“Something that’s really important to me is the Marriage Equality Act,” Whitted described. “I think, that’s just a huge first step in regards to equality for Ohioans, and something that I’m personally interested in.”

In terms of her district’s needs more generally she points to housing policy to ensure newcomers have more affordable options and older residents can age in place.

“Younger families are moving in for the amazing schools,” she explained. “But then what does that mean for our older residents who have also invested in this community, sometimes their whole life.”

“You know, I want to create places where everybody can thrive and live,” she said.

As a freshman lawmaker jumping in late Whitted acknowledges there’s a ceiling on how much she can accomplish. But emphasized the positives: without a reelection campaign to worry about, for instance, she can keep her attention on policy.

And although she won’t be representing her district come 2025, she’s not entirely closing the door on future public office. “I wouldn’t say that I am uninterested in politics in the future,” Whitted said, noting her academic work focuses on the intersection of social work and the political process.

“So I think, like, bottom line for me,” she said “this is a great opportunity to show future social workers that if you say yes, and if you engage, who knows where it may lead you, and that social workers belong in positions like this.”

“But as far as a solid plan for me,” she said, “I am not sure exactly.”

Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter.

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