LinkedIn

Shontel is the owner of Diversified Digital Solutions, a marketing company. She previously worked as director of sales for Hotcards.com, senior account manager for Radio One, and as a marketing support representative for Telco Communications Group.

Shontel Brown is a US representative in Congressional District 11. She was elected in 2021 and is serving her 2nd term. She previously served as a Cuyahoga County Councilmember and Warrensville Heights City Councilmember. In 2017, she was elected chairwoman of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party.

Candidate website

Supports the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which "secures the right of public employees to organize and collectively bargain."

Supports the Raise the Wage Act, which increases the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025.

Supports the "Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust" Act, which expands benefits for current and future Social Security beneficiaries and strengthens the Social Security system for generations to come.

Supports the "Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust" Act, which expands benefits for current and future Social Security beneficiaries and strengthens the Social Security system.

Supports the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which invests billions in roads, bridges, water infrastructure, resilience, and internet.

- Supports raising the minimum wage.
- Supports the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which "secures the right of public employees to organize and collectively bargain."
- Supports the Raise the Wage Act, which increases the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025.
- Supports the "Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust" Act, which expands benefits for current and future Social Security beneficiaries and strengthens the Social Security system.
- Supports the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which invests billions in roads, bridges, water infrastructure, resilience, and internet.

Economy

Supports the Access to Birth Control Act, which would guarantee patients timely access to birth control at the pharmacy.

Supports the Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act, which authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate drug prices.

Supports access to abortion and repealing the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions.

Supports the More Opportunities for Veterans to Exercise Act, which enables the VA to expand access to preventative health fitness programs for veterans.

Supports early detection, education, and research for uterine fibroids.

Supports the U-Fight Act, which focuses on early detection, education, and research for uterine fibroids.

Supports the Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act, which directs the CDC to conduct a public education campaign on the dangers of synthetic opioids and available treatment services.

- Supports the Access to Birth Control Act, which would guarantee patients timely access to birth control at the pharmacy.
- Supports the Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act, which authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate drug prices.
- Supports access to abortion and repealing the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions.
- Supports the More Opportunities for Veterans to Exercise Act, which enables the VA to expand access to preventative health fitness programs for veterans.
- Supports the U-Fight Act, which focuses on early detection, education, and research for uterine fibroids.
- Supports the Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act, which directs the CDC to conduct a public education campaign on the dangers of synthetic opioids and available treatment services.

Healthcare

Supports strengthened background checks and funding for community violence prevention.

Supports banning the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of "military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines."

- Supports strengthened background checks and funding for community violence prevention.
- Supports banning the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of "military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines."

Public Safety

House, Shontel Brown

Supports the Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act, which promotes the hiring of veterans as healthcare workers in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Supports the Israel Relations Normalization Act, which aims to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords.

Supports the Israel Relations Normalization Act, which aims to strengthen and expand peace between Israel and other nations in the Middle East.

- Supports the Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act, which promotes the hiring of veterans as healthcare workers in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Supports the Israel Relations Normalization Act, which aims to strengthen and expand peace between Israel and other nations in the Middle East.
- Supports providing aid to Ukraine.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Said, "Combating the existential threat of climate change is one of the foremost challenges of our time."

Said, "I will continue to support initiatives that work to right the wrongs of decades of environmental injustices."

Supports initiatives that work to right the wrongs of environmental injustices.

- Said, "Combating the existential threat of climate change is one of the foremost challenges of our time."
- Supports initiatives that work to right the wrongs of environmental injustices.

Energy & the Environment

Supports protecting elections from AI-generated misinformation.

Supports the Protecting Our Democracy Act, which aims to safeguard democratic institutions from presidential abuse of power.

Supports Cuyahoga County’s microgrid deployment initiative, which will make Cleveland's electrical systems more resilient and reliable.

- Supports protecting elections from AI-generated misinformation.
- Supports the Protecting Our Democracy Act, which aims to safeguard democratic institutions from presidential abuse of power.
- Supports Cuyahoga County’s microgrid deployment initiative, which will make Cleveland's electrical systems more resilient and reliable.

Voting & Elections

Supports the Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act, which aims to reduce K-3 grade class sizes to 18 students.

Supports the Afterschool Meals Act, which expands access to healthy foods after the school day allowing schools to provide students with afterschool meals through the National School Lunch Program.

Supports the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act, which invests in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to address "over a century of systemic neglect."

- Supports the Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act, which aims to reduce K-3 grade class sizes to 18 students.
- Supports the Afterschool Meals Act, which expands access to healthy foods after the school day allowing schools to provide students with afterschool meals through the National School Lunch Program.
- Supports the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act, which invests in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to address "over a century of systemic neglect."

Education

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Youtube

Shontel Brown

Alan earned his bachelor's degree in history from Kenyon College and his law degree from Case Western Reserve University. He served as a trustee for Forest Hill Church. He lives in Cleveland Heights with his wife, and they have 1 daughter.

Alan currently works as an attorney at Alan J. Rapoport, Attorney at Law. 

Alan Rapoport previously served as the mayor of Cleveland Heights from 1980 to 1986. 

Opposes the Inflation Reduction Act, believing it will increase inflation due to "massive government spending."

Opposes the Inflation Reduction Act and believes it has increased the cost of living through excessive government spending. 

Opposes regulatory mandates that compel state, local governments, and private sectors to spend resources.

Opposes overregulation and regulatory mandates that compel states, local governments, and the private sector to spend resources.

Supports making small business tax cuts permanent.

Wants to bring American businesses in China back to the US to strengthen supply chains.

Advocates for a national E-Verify program to verify a person's ability to legally work in the US.

- Opposes the Inflation Reduction Act and believes it has increased the cost of living through excessive government spending. 
- Opposes overregulation and regulatory mandates that compel states, local governments, and the private sector to spend resources.
- Supports making small business tax cuts permanent.
- Wants to bring American businesses in China back to the US to strengthen supply chains.
- Advocates for a national E-Verify program to verify a person's ability to legally work in the US.

Opposes a uniform federal abortion standard, supporting state decisions on abortion.

Believes addressing fentanyl-related deaths is crucial for public health.

- Opposes a uniform federal abortion standard, supporting state decisions on abortion.
- Believes addressing fentanyl-related deaths is crucial for public health.

Supports distributing surplus military supplies to financially strapped local communities.

Supports distributing surplus military supplies to police in low-income communities. 

Wants to exempt police officers from federal income taxation to show support for law enforcement.

Opposes defunding local law enforcement agencies.

Believes that fentanyl should have the same legal classification as heroin and that actions need to be taken to destroy its supply chain.

Supports stronger gun laws that are "consistent with the Second Amendment."

- Supports distributing surplus military supplies to police in low-income communities. 
- Wants to exempt police officers from federal income taxation to show support for law enforcement.
- Opposes defunding local law enforcement agencies.
- Opposes ending cash bail.
- Believes that fentanyl should have the same legal classification as heroin and that actions need to be taken to destroy its supply chain.
- Supports stronger gun laws that are "consistent with the Second Amendment."

Believes the war in Gaza is being backed by Iran and that "Iran is a sworn enemy of both Israel and the United States."

Supports financial sanctions on Iran and believes it is responsible for conflict in the Middle East.

Believes China is responsible for the COVID pandemic and fentanyl-related deaths.

Supports alliances with other Asian nations to counter China both economically and militarily, stating China is "an existential threat."

Believes the southern border is not secure, citing 12,000 illegal crossings in a single day, and criticizes progressives for refusing to acknowledge the issue.

Supports restoring the Remain in Mexico policy, which requires immigrants to wait for their immigration hearings in Mexico.

Supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented individuals brought to the US as children.

- Believes the war in Gaza is being backed by Iran and that "Iran is a sworn enemy of both Israel and the United States."
- Supports financial sanctions on Iran and believes it is responsible for conflict in the Middle East.
- Believes China is responsible for the COVID pandemic and fentanyl-related deaths.
- Supports alliances with other Asian nations to counter China both economically and militarily, stating China is "an existential threat."
- Opposes undocumented immigration.
- Supports restoring the Remain in Mexico policy, which requires immigrants to wait for their immigration hearings in Mexico.
- Supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented individuals brought to the US as children.

Supports increasing supply and reducing the cost of oil.

Believes climate change should be addressed through free-market solutions.

Wants to develop technology for solar, wind, hydrogen, and nuclear energy sources, but states "in the short run, [the country] absolutely must cease deominizing fossil fuel."

- Supports increasing supply and reducing the cost of oil.
- Believes climate change should be addressed through free-market solutions.
- Wants to develop technology for solar, wind, hydrogen, and nuclear energy sources, but states "in the short run, [the country] absolutely must cease deominizing fossil fuel."

As of August 23, 2024, Alan Rapoport’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Opposes allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports.

Supports parental involvement in education, advocating for the Parents Bill of Rights Act to secure parents' rights regarding school curricula, budgets, privacy, and safety updates.

Advocates for the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which allows parental decisions regarding school curricula, budgets, privacy, and safety updates.

Opposes education programs that promote "diversity, equity and inclusion" (DEI) policies, saying they "use race, gender and sexuality as political weapons to enforce intellectual conformity" and contradict Dr. King's vision of judging by character.

Opposes education programs that promote "diversity, equity and inclusion" (DEI) policies, saying they "use race, gender and sexuality as political weapons to enforce intellectual conformity."

Supports modifying loan programs and allowing student debt to be discharged into bankruptcy, but does not support student loan forgiveness.

Plans to provide resources for vocational training, apprenticeships, and community colleges.

- Opposes allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports.
- Advocates for the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which allows parental decisions regarding school curricula, budgets, privacy, and safety updates.
- Opposes education programs that promote "diversity, equity and inclusion" (DEI) policies, saying they "use race, gender and sexuality as political weapons to enforce intellectual conformity."
- Supports modifying loan programs and allowing student debt to be discharged into bankruptcy, but does not support student loan forgiveness.
- Plans to provide resources for vocational training, apprenticeships, and community colleges.

Alan Rapoport

Ballotpedia, Christopher Zelonish

Christopher is a warehouse manager at Boak & Sons, Inc.

Christopher Zelonish's campaign for US representative is his 1st run for public office. 

- Supports Social Security.
- Supports low income housing.

As of August 23, 2024, Christopher Zelonish did not have a website or any information online.

Believes the immigration process is too slow, saying "my wife who is a sponsored immigrant can’t get her papers within a year... Yet we have illegal running around causing chaos... and getting rewarded for it."

Opposes undocumented immigration and believes the immigration process is too slow. 

Said, "I am an America first American. I believe our country and our people must be taken care of first and foremost. Throughout history America has been a giver and I’m not saying we should stop but we need to take care of ourselves before we have nothing left to give."

Opposes intervention in international conflicts and prioritizes domestic policy.

- Opposes undocumented immigration and believes the immigration process is too slow. 
- Opposes intervention in international conflicts and prioritizes domestic policy.

Said, "In my eyes someone in congress should put forth a bill to cut the salaries of all congressmen, senators, and the president to 100,000 witch is still far above the national median. If we put that money to our debt that would greatly reduce inflation."

Supports cutting the salaries of all members of Congress, senators, and the president to $100,000 to reduce the national debt and inflation. 

- Supports cutting the salaries of all members of Congress, senators, and the president to $100,000 to reduce the national debt and inflation. 

Christopher Zelonish

Sean earned a bachelor's degree in communication from John Carroll University. He lives in University Heights, Ohio. 

Sean currently works as an associate analyst at AML RightSource. He previously worked as an analyst at Tegus and as kitchen staff at Swenson's Drive-In Restaurant. 

Ballotpedia, Sean Freeman

Sean Freeman's campaign for US representative is his first run for public office. 

Supports reinstating the Low-Income Child Tax Credit.

Opposes using government funds to create a new stadium for the Cleveland Browns in Brook Park, but supports upgrading the current stadium.

Supports paying employees their full wages during jury duty.

Believes employees should be paid full wages when serving their jury duty.

Supports an understanding of how government can control "over-spending" and reduce the national debt.

- Supports reinstating the Low-Income Child Tax Credit.
- Opposes using government funds to create a new stadium for the Cleveland Browns in Brook Park, but supports upgrading the current stadium.
- Believes employees should be paid full wages when serving their jury duty.
- Supports an understanding of how government can control "over-spending" and reduce the national debt.

Supports access to abortion until fetal viability and voted in favor of Issue 1, which allows this.

Supports abortion access prior to fetal viability.

- Supports abortion access prior to fetal viability.

- Opposes the death penalty.
- Supports gun control.

Supports providing aid to Ukraine but believes efforts should be made to end the war.

Supports providing aid to Ukraine, but believes efforts should be made to end the Russo-Ukranian war.

Believes the current immigration system is outdated, saying entering the U.S. "the right way" can take over 20 years.

Wants to streamline technology for immigration to detect individual border crossings. 

Believes both sides must cease fire and free civilian hostages before trust can be established.

Wants the war in Gaza to end in a truce with civilian hostages freed. 

- Supports providing aid to Ukraine, but believes efforts should be made to end the Russo-Ukranian war.
- Wants to streamline technology for immigration to detect individual border crossings. 
- Wants the war in Gaza to end in a truce with civilian hostages freed. 

Believes in investing in "simple solutions" like expanding the tree canopy.

Wants to invest in "simple solutions" to address environmental issues, like planting more trees. 

Promises to avoid private air travel and stock trading while in office.

Promises not to travel using private planes or trade stocks while in office.

- Wants to invest in "simple solutions" to address environmental issues, like planting more trees. 
- Promises not to travel using private planes or trade stocks while in office.

Supports automatic voter registration, which allows eligible individuals to be automatically registered to vote when interacting with certain government agencies, such as a department of motor vehicles. 

Wants to "institute opt-out voter registration to make it as easy as possible for citizens to exercise their right to vote."

Said, "A congress with the average representative being nearly 60 years old is not positioned to be as swift and effective as we need them to be."

- Supports automatic voter registration, which allows eligible individuals to be automatically registered to vote when interacting with certain government agencies, such as a department of motor vehicles. 
- Wants to "institute opt-out voter registration to make it as easy as possible for citizens to exercise their right to vote."
- Said, "A congress with the average representative being nearly 60 years old is not positioned to be as swift and effective as we need them to be."

Believes higher education is too expensive and supports creating more opportunities for trades and job training for high school graduates.

Believes higher education is too expensive and wants to create more opportunities for high school graduates to pursue vocational trades and job training. 

Believes student debt relief is important and is working to address the issue.

- Believes higher education is too expensive and wants to create more opportunities for high school graduates to pursue vocational trades and job training. 
- Supports student debt relief plans. 

Sean Freeman

Tracy is a social studies teacher and bartender.

Tracy Deforde's campaign for US representative is her first run for public office. 

As of August 23, 2024, Tracy Deforde’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes mental health programs in schools are crucial for addressing youth suicide, which has become the second leading cause of death.

Believes mental health programs in schools are crucial for addressing youth suicide.

- Believes mental health programs in schools are crucial for addressing youth suicide.

Wants more political unity and unity "with those in fields, and on the ground who understand the problems and are dedicated  towards finding solutions that will better the lives of all Americans..."

- Wants more political unity and unity "with those in fields, and on the ground who understand the problems and are dedicated  towards finding solutions that will better the lives of all Americans..."

Believes funds spent on standardized testing would be better used for vocational training, youth mental health programs, and teacher supports.

Opposes standardized testing and believes funds for testing would be better spent on vocational training, youth mental health programs, and teacher support. 

Believes there is an "education crisis in America" failing kids academically and mentally, and causing the nation to fall behind globally.

Believes there is an "education crisis in America... failing millions of kids academically, mentally...our nation continues to fall further behind the rest of the world."

Believes people have diverse skills and learning styles, saying, "Not everyone is good at math, biology, history and other traditional subjects that characterize college-level work."

Wants to reinstate vocational training to the school curriculum. 

Believes mental health programs in schools are crucial and supports reallocating funds from foreign aid to address this issue.

Believes mental health programs in schools are a critical issue and believes "our elected officials are giving billions of dollars to foreign aid, instead of funding mental health programs in schools for America's youth. 

Said, "As of April 2024, the United States is facing a teacher shortage with 55,000 vacant positions and 270,000 underqualified teachers."

Believes "Our Congress of elected officials are more concerned with TikTok than the education crisis."

- Opposes standardized testing and believes funds for testing would be better spent on vocational training, youth mental health programs, and teacher support. 
- Believes there is an "education crisis in America... failing millions of kids academically, mentally...our nation continues to fall further behind the rest of the world."
- Wants to reinstate vocational training to the school curriculum. 
- Believes mental health programs in schools are a critical issue and believes "our elected officials are giving billions of dollars to foreign aid, instead of funding mental health programs in schools for America's youth. 
- Said, "As of April 2024, the United States is facing a teacher shortage with 55,000 vacant positions and 270,000 underqualified teachers."
- Believes "Our Congress of elected officials are more concerned with TikTok than the education crisis."

Tracy Deforde

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Ohio currently has 15 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Ohio, and have been a citizen of the United States for 7 years. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.