Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera endorses Matt Dolan for U.S. Senate

Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera has endorsed State Sen. Matt Dolan for the U.S. Senate.

In a news release from the Dolan campaign, Barrera said: “Matt Dolan understands that families and communities cannot prosper without first feeling safe. He always has the backs of Ohio’s police and first responders. He stands with individuals who protect our state. Matt Dolan has earned our trust and support. He’s a man of integrity, and that is why I enthusiastically endorse Matt Dolan for U.S. Senate.” 
 
“I’m incredibly honored to have the strong endorsement and support of Sheriff Barrera," Dolan said. "As a state senator, I have made funding Ohio’s sheriffs and police departments a priority. In the U.S. Senate, I will oppose any effort by Democrats to restrain the ability of our nation’s law enforcement community to keep Ohio and America safe.” 
 
Barrera joins 20 other Ohio sheriffs or prosecutors who have publicly endorsed Dolan’s candidacy for U.S. Senate, including: Logan County Sheriff Randall Dodds, Clark County Sheriff Deb Burchette, Hardin County Sheriff Keith Everhart, Shelby County Sheriff Jim Frye, Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser, Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman, Lake County Sheriff Frank Leonbruno, Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas, Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville, Morgan County Sheriff Doug McGrath, Champaign County Sheriff Matt Melvin, Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks, Ashtabula County Sheriff Bill Niemi, Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton, Knox County Sheriff David Shaffer, Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti, Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth, Madison County Sheriff John Swaney, Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp and Auglaize County Sheriff Mike Vorhees.

The following list includes examples of Matt Dolan’s work in support of Ohio’s law enforcement community.

• Dolan established a local law enforcement training program and invested $15 million to fund it and protect local communities from violent crime.

• Dolan co-sponsored a bill to establish May 24th as Ohio’s First Responders’ Appreciation Day.

• Dolan empowered local law enforcement to keep human traffickers off the street by increasing penalties on repeat offenders.

• Dolan worked with religious organizations and law enforcement to obtain funding to secure and protect houses of worship and faith-based non-profits across Ohio.

• Dolan co-sponsored a bill to align Ohio’s criminal background check system with federal law.

• Dolan led the charge on legislation that invested $250 million for Ohio’s police officers and first responders, local schools, childcare facilities and healthcare workers across the state to continue economic recovery.

• Dolan was recognized by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network as a champion and advocate for victims of domestic violence in 2021.

Dolan is currently serving his second term in the Ohio Senate, representing portions of Cuyahoga County. His background in the private and public sectors is extensive as well as diverse. He is currently a partner at the law firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan, where he represents business clients in a variety of matters, in addition to handling municipal law and real estate matters, including zoning and land use issues. He is also vice president of 7th Avenue Properties, where he manages several area businesses as well as real estate properties. He has been an adjunct professor at the Case Western Reserve School of Law, as well as Kent State University’s Geauga Campus. He is a former chief assistant prosecutor for Geauga County and assistant attorney general for the state of Ohio.