Beachwood City Councilman Eric Synenberg won the Democratic nomination for Ohio House of Representatives in the 21st District on Mar. 19 against Angel Washington of North Collinwood and incumbent Elliot Forham of South Euclid.
Synenberg received 5,573 votes (45.4 percent), defeating Washington, who received 5,226 votes (42.6 percent) and Forhan who finished with 1,475 votes (12 percent), according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
Synenberg, an attorney with Synenberg & Associates, announced his candidacy in early 2024.
“I have the background and knowledge of someone who has worked or interned over the years for city law departments and federal judges, [and] I worked for seven years for the state of Ohio,” Synenberg told the Beachcomber in February.
The importance of this primary election lies in the fact that historically, Democrats have won the 21st District with an overwhelming majority, meaning the winner of the Democratic primary will most likely win the seat.
House District 21 represents Beachwood, Euclid, Lyndhurst, South Euclid and University Heights as well as an eastern portion of Cleveland’s wards 8 and 10, including North and South Collinwood and Euclid Park.
[I want] to know what [constituents] think their needs are and what they need from their representative.
— Eric Synenberg
Synenberg told the Beachcomber why he made the decision to challenge first term incumbent Rep. Elliot Forhan.
“What drew me to the position was really the position of being a legislator or lawmaker, the research that goes into it, and talking to constituents about ideas that could possibly become a law, a policy, or a program,” Synenberg said.
Synenberg said he has been waiting for the right opportunity to be a legislator on a bigger scale beyond City Council.
State representatives serve two year terms with a four term limit. It is typical for candidates from the same party to wait until the incumbent has completed a full eight years in office.
“In this case, the representative that we elected, Elliot Forhan, has not, in my estimation–as well as the estimation of many of the elected officials and leaders in the area–has not performed the job well, to the point that people feel he should not be re-elected for another term,” Synenberg said.
“I have the energy and passion to make a go for it and run for this position,” he added.
Forhan received disciplinary action from House Speaker Jason Stephens for repeated confrontations with constituents and other lawmakers, hostility, profanity and dangerous, violent remarks, reportedly documented by a House Democratic memo on Forhan, which was obtained by Cleveland.com.
After Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Forhan, representing the largest Jewish community in Ohio, “us[ed] his office to call Israel’s response a ‘war crime’ and to make a personal appeal to the Israeli Prime Minister,” the memo stated.
“Forhan finds combative outbursts where there should be collaborative conversation…he threatens self-harm and violence when he should be leading to protect others against it,” the memo concluded.
In the general election on Nov. 5, Synenberg will face Joshua Thomas Malovasic, a student at Grove City College in Pennsylvania.
Malovasic ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
“I am running for office primarily for this … reason: I am a Christian,” Malovcasic’s campaign website states. “Over the past several years, I have learned more and more that no good legislation comes from those who do not fear the Lord and submit to his Word. Only from the Bible do we get a true standard of justice and goodness, and only from there can legislators and rulers govern in the way they ought.”
Synenberg has been endorsed by a number of local politicians and organizations, including the editorial board of cleveland.com.
“Steeped in the political arena from an early age…Synenberg offers a combination of life experience, legislative experience and a collaborative approach that suggests he would be the most effective representative in a legislature that is dominated by the Republican Party,” wrote cleveland.com.
The Republican party controls 66 of the 99 districts and has recently passed numerous conservative bills.
Columnist Marilou Johanek, listed Ohio House Bill 68 criminalizing transgender medical treatment for minors, Bill 8, forcing all teachers and staff to out LGBTQ+ students to their parents, and Bill 214, aiming to keep politics out of the classroom per a code of conduct as examples of extremist laws.
I believe very much in grassroots local politics. [I hope to stay] in touch and [maintain] relationships with local mayors, local city council members, local school board members, local nonprofit leaders and companies and business owners.
— Councilman Eric Synenberg
Synenberg discussed his goals as a state representative.
“I believe very much in grassroots local politics,” he said. “[I hope to stay] in touch and [maintain] relationships with local mayors, local city council members, local school board members, local nonprofit leaders and companies and business owners.”
“[I want] to know what they think their needs are and what they need from their representative,” he added.
To achieve this goal, Syneberg plans to work within the community, holding town hall meetings and sending out newsletters to explain what is going on in Columbus. He mentioned that state Senator Kent Smith wrote updates for the Beachwood Buzz, and he hopes to do something similar.
Synenberg’s son Ari Synenberg, a BHS freshman, supports his father’s candidacy.
“It’s a great opportunity for him, and he’s a great fit for the spot,” Ari said. “He’s got experience as a lawyer, he’s been on Beachwood City Council for about six years now, and he’s very smart.”
Ari reminded Beachcomber readers to vote for Eric Synenberg.
Eric Synenberg emphasized the importance of voting.
“Every year there are elections that are decided by one vote all throughout the country…and every vote is important,” Syneberg said. “Even if they were not voting for him, he encouraged all readers to vote in this coming election.
