By By Okon Ekpenyong
Shanette Mobley-Strickland, a former Reynoldsburg City Council member and the city’s current auditor, made history in 2026 as the first Black woman to hold the position.
After Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell lost the state auditor race on Tuesday, Mobley-Strickland shared her perspective on the challenges Black women face in seeking elected office and why greater investment in their leadership is needed.
The next day, Blackwell reflected on her race and said: "I am proud of the race we ran, and I am truly humbled by the support from so many people I was meeting for the first time. Every handshake, every kind word, and every prayer meant more than I can say. My faith in God carried me through this campaign, and it will keep guiding me in whatever comes next. She went on to congratulate her opponent, Frank LaRose, on his victory.
Democrat Annette Blackwell has served as mayor of Maple Heights, Ohio, a
Cleveland-area suburb in Cuyahoga County, since January 6, 2016. On Tuesday, she lost to Ohio’s Secretary of State Frank LaRosa for the Ohio State Auditor seat. If she had won, she would have become the first African American woman to hold a state executive office.
According to NBC4, the State's auditor oversees more than 800 employees and audits more than 5,900 public entities across the State. The role includes fully investigating suspected misuse of public funds, reviewing government operations for potential savings, and helping communities facing financial distress.
As of November 2026, she has served nearly 11 years and is in her third elected term. Blackwell made history as the city’s first woman and first African American mayor.
During her tenure, she helped lead Maple Heights through a state-supervised financial recovery. The city was released from fiscal emergency in 2020 after meeting key recovery goals, according to multiple reports.
Mobley-Strickland weighs in
Mayor Annette Blackwell was the only Black person and the only Black woman in Ohio’s statewide race that did NOT WIN! While I celebrate the victories of others on the Democratic ticket, I cannot ignore what this moment says about where we are as a state.
As a Black woman and the elected City Auditor for the City of Reynoldsburg, this hitsclose to home. My heart goes out to Mayor Blackwell because I know firsthand that the road to elected office is not the same for everyone.
I have said this repeatedly when encouraging Black women to step up and run for office: We have to move differently because the playing field is not equal. We have to work harder to raise money, gain access to influential rooms, build networks, and convince people that our leadership is worth investing in. I have lived that reality.
And let's talk about fundraising. It is one of the biggest barriers for Black women seeking elected office. Some of us are working professionals, raising families, serving our communities, and still living paycheck to paycheck. Yet we are expected to raise thousands of dollars to compete against candidates who may have access to networks and financial resources that we simply do not have.
Yes, we need allies. But allyship cannot just be a talking point. It must show up in campaign contributions, endorsements, introductions, access, and, most importantly, action.
My question is simple: When will people do more than applaud Black women’s leadership? When will they invest in it? When will they stand up for us with the same conviction they expect us to stand up for everyone else?
We cannot continue asking Black women to carry the weight of representation without providing the support necessary to compete and win. We should not have to be twice as prepared, work twice as hard, and overcome twice as many barriers just to have an equal opportunity.
I will never stop encouraging Black women to lead, serve, and run for office. But the responsibility for changing this reality cannot rest on our shoulders alone.
If we are serious about equity, representation, and progress, then it is time to put our resources, influence, and support behind Black women not just when it is convenient, not just when it makes a good headline. But when it matters most.
Shanette Mobley-Strictland is the only elected Black Woman City Auditor in the State of Ohio as of November 2026.
