Ohio’s Family Policy Council, Citizens for Community Values (CCV), added a new member to its public policy team. CCV announced on Monday the hiring of University of Cincinnati Law School graduate Rachel Citak, who will serve as CCV’s legislative liaison out of the Columbus office.
The CCV has been extremely active in Ohio since its founding in 1986. Most recently, the group was a proponent of the “heartbeat bill” in a fight that’s been ongoing in Ohio for over a decade.
“Gov. Mike DeWine is the strongest pro-life governor in the nation. With a stroke of a pen, he’s saved countless lives in the state of Ohio,” said Aaron Baer, president of CCV.
Citak, an active voice in the Ohio community, is now the CCV’s fourth registered lobbyist, making it the largest Christian public policy team in the state. She will join CCV President Aaron Baer, Barry Sheets, and Averel Meden. Baer has expressed his enthusiasm about the new addition to the team.
“Ohioans elected one of the most pro-life, pro-family General Assembly’s in our state’s history,” said Baer. “The heartbeat bill has passed, but our work to protect life, build up families, and defend religious freedom is only beginning. Rachel will help grow these efforts by bringing energy, passion, and expertise to the Statehouse.”
Citak received her undergraduate degree from Xavier University. She worked in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Cincinnati Prosecutor’s Office during her time in law school.
CCV’s legislative agenda is currently focused on blocking “sexual orientation/gender identity” legislation. In the press release from CCV announcing Citak’s hiring, the organization says that this issue “poses the greatest threat to religious freedom and parental rights in Ohio.”
CCV is also working to “expand educational opportunities for families, protect free speech on college campuses, and defend religious freedom in public schools.”
The group states very clearly that its mission is to “seek the good of our neighbors throughout Ohio by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel,” as well as “endeavor to create an Ohio where God’s blessings of life, family, and religious freedom are treasured, respected, and protected.”
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Mitch Shirley is a reporter for The Ohio Star and Battleground State News. Emails tips to [email protected].
