Guaranteed Healthcare

Bill O’Neill in Ohio’s 14^th Congressional District

WICKLIFFE, Ohio – What in the world is an RN doing in a race like this?  Well, ask Bill O’Neill, and this Vietnam vet, journalist turned judge and finally pediatric emergency department RN will tell you that when he is elected in November, healthcare reform will be center stage in his first term’s work.

O’Neill is running in Ohio’s 14^th Congressional District, which is in the far northeastern corner of the state and borders both Lake Erie and neighboring Pennsylvania.  His candidacy embodies the spirit and energy of Ohio’s citizenry.

And plenty of Bill’s future constituents are hurting for healthcare. 

The U.S. Census Bureau said that as of 2007, fewer Ohioans are receiving any health benefits through their employers and the ranks of the uninsured are growing. And of particular concern to Bill are the estimated 240,000 Ohio children with no health coverage at all.  Overall, 1.1 million Ohio residents are not part of any private or public plan with which they can pay for healthcare.

Bill has seen first-hand how the lack of preventative care for kids can be costly for all – our system and our families – in addition to our youngest and most vulnerable patients. “I’ve seen kids with asthma come in (to the ER) and they haven’t had a rescue inhaler available for days,” he shared while sitting in the back room of a local diner he and his staff have affectionately dubbed “our studios.”

 “I favor the Medicare model,” Bill says, as he reflects on all the possible fixes available for the broken healthcare system in Ohio and in the nation.  “I work evenings and weekends caring for ill and injured children in the Pediatric Emergency Department of Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights. This work on behalf of kids is not only satisfying intellectually and personally,  it has provided me  with direct insight into one of our most pressing struggles right now, that of providing excellent health care to all our citizens.”

Justice and equality have been the two lynchpins of his political philosophy for many years, and he knows healthcare policy must reflect those ideals. 

Bill is also the father of four, and he raised his children as a single dad after his wife died in an automobile accident in 1995. His commitment to serving his family, his community and nation is unwavering.  So running for a seat in Congress seems a natural progression for such a devoted private and public servant.

This race means so much to advocates for guaranteed healthcare because it is so winnable.  It’s by no means a slam-dunk, but incumbent Steve LaTourette is a scandal-tainted Congressman in a district that trending blue…and Bill O’Neill will be his first strong opponent in years.

For healthcare advocates around the country, though, this remains a highly-anticipated race.  Few candidates have the depth of background on the healthcare issue that O’Neill has picked up in his work as a pediatric emergency room RN.  Even fewer candidates combine that with an ability to advocate for guaranteed healthcare on the single-payer model and the gravitas that comes from being a judge and a vet.

You can make a difference in this race by visiting O’Neill ActBlue page here: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/18159

Editor's Note: Bill is the debut candidate for the new healthcare heroes caucus, dedicated to members of Congress and candidates who are willing to stand up for guaranteed healthcare.  Bill is featured this week on  the Guaranteed Healthcare blog, and we invite him to post regular campaign updates.