MANSFIELD — Victoria Norris-Diez said Wednesday her plan is to make Mansfield work for everyone, an initiative she titled Mansfield Works.
One of two Democrats on the May 7 primary ballot for Mansfield mayor, the 37-year-old Norris-Diez spoke at the party’s weekly luncheon.
Her opponent, Mansfield City Councilman At-Large Don Bryant, will speak to the party faithful on May 1. The winner takes on two-term Republican incumbent Tim Theaker in November.
“I can relate to you. I see you. I see your struggles and your dreams and what you want to see happen in Mansfield. I know what you want, because I want it, too,” said the local entrepreneur, making her first run for public office.
Norris-Diez, a graduate of Galion High School and also The Ohio State University, was recruited as an undergrad to work for a brand marketing agency in Los Angeles, before returning to Mansfield. She is the mother of twin 6-year-old children.
Norris-Diez, who announced earlier this month the sale of her Mansfield start-up e-commerce business, NytStnd, announced her campaign in December. She recalled one of the toughest, earliest questions she fielded was why did she want to be mayor.
“At the time, that was a tough question for me because I wasn’t sure how to take something so complex and simplify it,” Norris-Diez said.
“I remember listening to former (Mansfield) Mayor Lydia Reid talk about how much she loves Mansfield and she loves our neighborhoods, and I related to that. I thought ‘Yeah, me too.’ That was one of the reasons I wanted to come back to Mansfield and raise my kids here.
“I am totally committed to our community. When I came back (to Mansfield), I didn’t want to commute out of town. I wanted to keep my talents local, so I became a small business owner.”
She said her Mansfield Works initiative is rooted in action.
“I want you to know it’s coming from a place where it’s not just words,” she said, “because we are done with the talk. It’s about actively creating an administration and a city that is working properly and working for you.
“We deserve a city that functions as a city. We deserve leadership that prioritizes the entire city and all of the wards. We deserve leadership that can go out and bring growth and jobs to Mansfield.
“You have watched me build a company. You have watched me create jobs and employ second-chance residents. You have watched me advocate for youth and families here in this city. You have watched me execute an innovative and positive campaign.
“That’s what you can expect from me. Hang tight for 13 more days. Stay hungry because on May 7 we are going to use our voice to vote for positive change in Mansfield.”
After her remarks, Norris-Diez was asked the most surprising thing she has learned as a first-time candidate.
“I think what I didn’t expect is how engaged our voters are. I think sometimes voting gets a reputation of people not really caring. They care. They really do. Everyone has an idea. They have an opinion. They see a problem, they have a solution tucked away, but they are not sure where to go with it.
“They are not sure whose door is open. We don’t have town halls, they don’t know how to get that information out. If you will just take the time go face to face and speak with our residents, you can learn from them what they are passionate about.”
