Michael Ashford is a Democratic politician from Toledo, Ohio, born on September 15, 1955. He previously served as Minority Whip of the Ohio House of Representatives and represented the 44th District from 2011 to 2018, serving over 116,000 constituents wholly within Toledo. Before that, he was a Toledo City Councilman for District 4 from 2002 to 2010, including as Council President in 2007 and Chairman of the Public Utilities Committee, where he championed Issue 79—a major EPA-mandated sewer improvement project completed by 2018. Later roles include Chairman of the Lucas County Democratic Party and current Lucas County Recorder .

Education and Political Experience

Education:

- Bachelor's degree from University of Nebraska-Omaha.

- Master's degree from Spring Arbor University.

Political Experience:

- Unit Director, Homer Hannah Boys and Girls Club; later worked for YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo; currently Vice President of Urban Affairs for YMCA/JCC.

- Served on Ohio House committees including Finance and Appropriations, Public Utilities, Insurance, Rules and Reference, and Joint Legislative Ethics Commission; also on Ohio Commission on Fatherhood.

- Community involvement includes University of Toledo Excel program, Partner in Education, and past Polemarch of Toledo Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi.