Zayas seeking Ohio Supreme Court seat, running against incumbent DeWine

Marilyn Zayas says politics has no place in the Supreme Court.

Zayas, a Democrat, is running for an Ohio Supreme Court seat against Republican incumbent Pat DeWine.

"You want judges who are going to go past party lines," she said in a phone interview with the News Journal. "That's the way you get the best outcome."

Zayas is a judge on the 1st District Court of Appeals. She was a visiting judge to the 2nd, 6th, 8th and 10th District Courts of Appeal, as well as the Ohio Supreme Court.

Zayas was rated "excellent," the highest rating from the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. She is the first and only Latina elected to any Ohio court of appeals.

The Ohio Supreme Court has three tightly contested races in this election.

The seven-member court has been in Republican control since 1986. The Ohio Democratic Party, which has captured top court seats in recent elections, aims to change that. The Ohio GOP and business community are fighting to hold a majority of seats.

Supreme Court decisions impact how much Ohioans pay in taxes, whether utility companies can add fees to ratepayers' bills, how insurance and business laws are interpreted, what government records will be available to the public and more.

Zayas wants to restore trust in judiciary

Zayas said she has seen public trust in justices erode on the heels of the repeal of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The integrity of the whole judiciary is being questioned," she said. "People are starting to lose faith in the courts and the judiciary. There cannot be fairness when there's a lack of integrity.

"I'm there to serve everyone."

A native of New York City, Zayas and her three siblings were raised by their mother, who supported them with her job at a sewing factory. She raised a police officer, two teachers and a judge despite having a seventh-grade education.

"She expected me to be self-sufficient," Zayas said.

Zayas has lived in Ohio for the past 34 years. She moved to Cincinnati to take a job with Procter & Gamble, where she was an IT manager.

She built a law firm and "worked in the trenches" for 20 years, representing everyone from poor families to millionaires to refugees.

In 2016, Zayas ran for public office for the first time.

"I knew nothing about politics," she said.

Her incumbent opponent had been appointed by the governor. People told Zayas she couldn't win.

"I came out of nowhere, had no name recognition," she said about being elected to the 1st District Court of Appeals.

Democrat was elected in conservative Hamilton County

Not only did Zayas win the election for the unexpired term in 2016, she ran again in 2018 and won by more than 20 points in a conservative area (Hamilton County).

"I am grateful that Ohio voters entrusted me to serve as their judge," Zayas said. "Every day, in every case, I take my responsibility to do justice very seriously, and I am committed to ensuring that justice is administered with integrity, independence and impartiality."

Her experience in appeals includes family law, employment issues, criminal law and business contracts. Zayas has trained judges, magistrates, attorneys, social workers and the FBI.

She said a majority of cases she hears for the 1st District Court of Appeals involve criminal convictions.

"Crime is rising in Ohio," Zayas noted.

She grew up in a tough part of New York City.

"I lived in a neighborhood that was devastated by drugs and crime," Zayas said. "I lived that."

In addition to her experience on the bench, Zayas points to her "unique" background.

"I know what it's like when you're not allowed to have a voice," she said. "It has nothing to do with race. It's an issue much greater than race, including last name and socioeconomic background.

"I know what it's like to want a fair opportunity."

She said she "loves campaigning" and learns from her talks with voters.

"I'm such a strong believer in access," Zayas said.

She does not agree to a change on the November ballot, which will feature party affiliations for candidates for the Ohio Supreme Court.

"For my race, it's inconsequential," Zayas said. "The significance is not the party affiliation. It's what each of us brings to the court.

"I don't see myself as a Democrat. I see myself as a judge."

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ohio Supreme Court candidate Zayas makes case to be elected