Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Role: Attorney, Office of Research and Drafting, Ohio Legislative Service Commission
Years of legislative service: Four
NSCL connection: Edwards is a 2020 graduate of NCSL’s Legislative Staff Certificate Program.
The best advice he’s ever received: “I’m a believer that we have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
Why did you choose to work at the Legislature?
While I was an undergraduate student, I participated in an off-campus internship program in Columbus that focused on state government issues. During the program, I attended a briefing at the Legislative Service Commission offices where I learned about LSC’s role of providing high-quality, nonpartisan bill drafting and research services for the Ohio General Assembly. I was intrigued by the nature of the work and asked how I could get a job there. The response was to improve my research and writing abilities. So, I went to law school. Now, I work at LSC, where I enjoy working on challenging and complex labor and retirement law issues that are thrown our way on a daily basis.
What skill or talent are you most proud of?
Taking in life with a bit of humor.
Who or what inspires you?
My fiancée. In addition to working full time and attending law school, she always finds time to help others and make everyone around her feel special and important. I’m inspired by her selfless approach to work, life and learning.
What’s one thing you love about your state?
We have a number of professional sports teams to cheer for, including two football teams (Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals), two baseball teams (Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds), basketball (Cleveland Cavaliers), a hockey team (Columbus Blue Jackets) and a soccer team (Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati). Go Browns!
What are you currently reading/listening to/watching?
Reading: “Dune Messiah.” The recent “Dune” movie inspired me to revisit the novelization of the Dune storyline.
Listening to: The Black Keys. Over the summer, I attended a Black Keys concert at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. They rocked my socks off.
Watching: I recently watched the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” TV series (twice, actually). I enjoyed how the series filled in the gap between the prequel and original “Star Wars” trilogies with respect to the relationship between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan.
These email responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
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