My name is Collin Docterman. I was born in Cincinnati in 1985. At age eight, my family moved to Huntington, West Virginia, and later to Philippi, West Virginia, during my high school years. Through all those moves, we stayed connected to Adams County, Ohio, where my grandparents lived.
In my twenties, I returned to Cincinnati, working in jobs ranging from coffee roaster to Direct Support Professional, where I helped adults with developmental disabilities build autonomy and lead fulfilling lives. That work shaped my belief that everyone deserves dignity, opportunity, and the tools to succeed.
When my brother and his family moved to Scioto County, I often visited from Cincinnati. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to settle here myself. I returned to the developmental disabilities field, met my wife, and became part of her life with her two wonderful daughters.
Like all of us, life has sent unexpected challenges, but those challenges have made us stronger. We have been truly blessed and so, we felt the drive to bless others. With space in our home and love in our hearts, we became foster parents. Foster care sits at the intersection of many challenges facing our community: addiction, healthcare, and poverty. We’ve made it our mission to approach everyone involved with compassion, because sometimes understanding can change a life in ways judgment never will.
Public service runs in my family. My mother-in-law worked as an election official for decades, and one year, she suggested I volunteer on Election Day. I did—and I kept coming back. Those experiences led me to get involved in my local Democratic Party, first as events committee chair and later, when the previous chair stepped down, as county party chair.
Over the years, I’ve worked on many campaigns and built relationships with people from every walk of life. My focus has always been on finding common ground and working toward solutions that help everyone in our community.
I may be active in my party, but my commitment is to work with all people, regardless of political affiliation, to make our communities stronger. I believe in collaboration over partisanship, compassion over conflict, and problem-solving over point-scoring.
I’m running for State Representative to ensure that the voices of real people — not special interests — are heard in Columbus. Together, we can build a healthier, more prosperous, and more united future for all of us.
Let’s work together for the community we all deserve.