Remembering An Outstanding Clark Co. Democratic Volunteer
By: Melinda B, WIN Member
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It’s particularly fitting during this election season to remember dedicated Clark County Democratic volunteer Kathy Swisher(April 10, 1956 - November 3, 2022).
Initially in 2020, Kathy, who was passionate about social justice, was for Kamala Harris. Kathy picked up on the fact that Kamala Harris’s campaign slogan was “For the People,” the phrase Harris used to formally announce her appearances as a prosecutor in the California superior courts. When Kamala Harris dropped out Kathy supported Biden, of course. But in her concern for social justice and commitment to community, then and since, she was leading the way for many of us:
- In 2016, making sure volunteers were taken care of with a home cooked meal or a hug, during the Hillary campaign.
- In 2017, becoming the Clark Co. coordinator spearheading the petition drive to get Fair Districts on the ballot -- an action that by 2018 led to her co-founding “Clark County Votes,” with Catherine Peyroux.
- Additionally, in 2018, igniting a fire in us all as we witnessed her dedication to coordinating Clark Co. volunteers for candidate for Congress Dr. Vanessa Enoch, along with coordination of all the Clark County Democratic Party volunteers: an effort for which she received the Party’s 2019 Freedom Dinner Volunteer of the Year Award.
- Into the 2020s, with Catherine Peyroux, continuing to organize much, if not the greater part, of Voter Registration in our area.
- And in 2022, in the last week or so of her life, keeping up with her community both locally and nationally -- on Facebook, promoting small businesses (Current Cuisine and Xenia Leather), highlighting volunteer organizations (the ReStore, The Second Harvest Food Bank), supporting progressive organizations (Young Black Professionals and Businesses, the NAACP Political Action Committee, the Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance), spotlighting progressive voices (Heather Cox Richardson, Justice Jennifer Brunner), carefully considering the Midterm Election, and voting. Yes, she voted!
This was the Kathy whose focus, to the end, was always on the wellbeing of others; always on the social justice she believed could be achieved through her beloved Blue Wave. She would be delighted to know, now, that Kamala Harris, the candidate who captured her attention earlier, has become the official Democratic nominee for President of the United States, and that the theme of “For the People, For our Future” guides Harris’s campaign.
And Kathy, as someone committed to social justice but no stranger to joy – passionate about Ohio State football, Cary Grant movies, and dancing in the kitchen with Bob -- would be delighted by the determination of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to fight as joyful warriors for the American people and America’s future.
Kathy was remarkable. She was and is the progressive flame inscribed in our hearts. County Democratic Chair Austin Smith has written about her immeasurable impact on our community. She brought so many of us progressives in contact with one another. Her spirit is with us now as we join in fighting joyfully with the Harris-Walz campaign, “For the People.”
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