Happy Birthday Boss

Fifty-six years ago this week, our boss, Kurt Young, was born. Kurt's parents, James Young and Mary Anne (formerly Schultz), were high school sweethearts. His dad was supposed to go to college and play football for the University of Michigan, but due to a car accident and on-field injuries, he couldn't pass his scholarship physical. Instead, he joined the US Navy and served for over 20 years.


Because of his dad's service, Kurt lived everywhere but Toledo for his first 25 years of life. He followed his dad from Newport, Rhode Island, to Detroit, Michigan, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Norfolk, Virginia, and finally to Akron, Ohio. Kurt finished high school and college in Akron, then moved to Cleveland for law school and his first year of practice. Finally, he returned to the Toledo area.


In 1997, Kurt married Cheri, and his adventure as a pastor's spouse began. Cheri was helping with a church turnaround or revitalization in Findlay, Ohio, when they married. Kurt was part of a team that started a cutting-edge worship service at that church. He then helped Cheri revitalize another church and start one from scratch. Kurt has undergone extensive training in worship planning, church marketing, and starting new churches. He is still actively involved in his church today.


Kurt's favorite job, outside of the firm, is being a father. He and Cheri have a daughter, Rebecca, and a son, James. They raised them in Toledo's Old West End and have all been active in that community and non-profit organizations advocating for the LGBTQ community, combating youth homelessness, and promoting voting Kurt holds an undergraduate degree with a certification in campaign and interest group management. He has worked as an intern on Congressional campaigns, in a Congressional District Office, and in the Mayor of Akron's office, assisting with intergovernmental lobbying. He has been actively involved in campaigns since the age of 12, holding various positions such as volunteer coordinator, targeting director, general counsel, and campaign manager. Additionally, he was appointed to a term on the Toledo City Council.


Kurt has been actively engaged in Democratic Politics across Summit, Cuyahoga, Wood, and Lucas Counties. He has served on the Central Committees of Cuyahoga and Lucas County, as well as on the Executive Committees of Summit, Wood, and Lucas Counties, and the Ohio Democratic Party. He is a strong advocate for programs benefiting young political operatives, having held positions such as President of the University of Akron College Dems and a Young Dem in Summit, Cuyahoga, and Wood Counties. In recognition of his dedication, he was bestowed the title of Honorary University of Toledo College Democrat for Life in 2012, as well as an Honorary Lucas County Young Democrat. In 2022, the Lucas County Young Democrats renamed the award to the "Kurt Forever Young Honorary Lucas County Young Dem for Life." Moreover, he served as the Parliamentarian of the Lucas County Democratic Central and Executive Committees and later became the Chair of the Lucas County Democratic Party.


After the 2000 election debacle in Florida, Kurt helped found the Lucas County Democratic Promote the Vote Team. He trained and deployed hundreds of attorneys and other volunteers as election observers, protecting the voting rights of thousands of voters. He has been named by the County and Ohio Democratic Party as the Board of Elections, also known as the "Super Observer," in over a dozen counties. For almost a decade, Kurt and our team have hosted the Toledo Area Jobs with Justice/Interfaith Worker Justice Ride to the Polls effort, providing thousands of Toledo area voters with free rides to the polls.


In 2019, Kurt was appointed as one of the four members of the Lucas County Board of Elections. This year, he became the first Democrat to be reappointed to a second term in decades. He is also a member of the Ohio Association of Election Officials.


Kurt has been an active attorney since November 1993. He is licensed to practice in Ohio, the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Twenty years ago this March, Kurt started the Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC. With the help of added attorneys, paralegals, and secretaries, they have assisted thousands of working people in obtaining the legal help they need.


So, Happy Birthday, Kurt!