Issue 79 was a ten-year lawsuit by U.S. EPA against the City of Toledo to address and correct aging in fracture, sewage discharge, and combined sewer overflows.
Then Councilman Ashford tackled major budget issues while working closely with community development corporations and neighborhood organizations to secure dwindling government resources.
With incumbent Edna Brown unable to seek reelection to the House due to term limits, Ashford entered the race.
[3] He served on the committees of Finance and Appropriations where he was the Ranking Member of the Agriculture and Development subcommittee, Insurance, and Public Utilities, and the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood.
Ashford was critical of the Ohio Republican Party plan to end collective bargaining for state employees.