About this user
Ali Howard is a 48-year old woman, who has been married to her husband Christopher (nick-name Toby) (age 50) for twenty-two years. Howard was raised in Columbus, Ohio with her two older brothers (John (54) and Maxwell(52))and both of her parents (John and Maribeth). Born in to a working-class family, her father worked at a steel mill and her mother worked as a nurse at the local hospital. When Howard was fourteen years old, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her family was unable to pay for the costly medical expenses. Because of her mothers dedication to the hospital, she received treatment at dramatically reduced rates. It was at this time that Howard realized the true value of government and the immense impact that it can have on its citizens. From this time on, Howard pledged to give back to her country and ensure that others would receive the same healthcare that her mother was so fortunate to receive.
Howard lived in Columbus until she left for college to attend the University of Michigan as an undergraduate, getting degrees in both International Relations and Economics. After graduating from college, she spent two years working in the governors office until she left for graduate school to study international relations at Stanford University. Howard met her husband Christopher at Stanford, where he was studying environmental law, and they married shortly after graduating in 1986. Using her international relations background, Howard worked under the Ohio state Senator as a foreign relations advisor.
Howard is a mother of three, who makes plenty of time to enjoy being around her family, despite her busy schedule. Her eldest son Caleb (age 21) graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and is now in Iraq. Her daughter Scarlett (age 18) is openly gay and attends the University of Virginia. Her youngest, Harrison (age 16) attends Fort Hayes High School in Columbus where his mother went. In her free time, Howard enjoys spending time with her family, surfing and swimming in the Great Lakes, reading, horseback riding, canoeing, and playing touch football with her extended family.
In 1996, Howard was elected Ohio State Senator, where she has served for twelve years. One of her major successes as Senator was her zero emissions policy for the state of Ohio, which was implemented in 2006. She also passed a bill in 2001 that provided government-subsidized healthcare for persons making under $25,000 per year. She knows that this is just a minor step towards national healthcare, but plans to make major changes by establishing universal healthcare. Another major accomplishment was a bill she passed in 2003 that provided workers with improved benefits such as increasing the number of paid sick days, raising minimum wage, and extending their healthcare and social security. As future President, Howard will prioritize issues such as the environment, non-privatized health care, workers rights, womens issues, and diplomacy.
Interests
Spending time with her wonderful family; her husban Toby, her children Caleb, Scarlett, and Harrison, surfing and swimming in the Great Lakes, reading, horseback riding, canoeing, and playing touch football with her extended family.
