Facebook/Bethany Goodman
The wife of a disgraced Ohio Republican is an anti-choice campaigner and former aide to a congressman. Wes Goodman has been married to his wife Bethany since 2012. The couple regularly touts their Christian values on social media. On November 15, Wes Goodman, who has represented Ohio’s 87th District since 2016, resigned after he was allegedly found having sex in his office with a man. The Columbus Dispatch reports that the alleged sex happened “weeks ago.” Wes Goodman’s resignation came after Ohio House Chief of Staff Mike Dittoe learned of the incident, according to the Dispatch’s report. Prior being a state rep, Wes Goodman worked at the Conservative Action Project.
Here’s what you need to know about Mrs. Wes Goodman:
1. Goodman Is the Assistant Director at the March for Life Education & Defense Fund
According to her LinkedIn page, Goodman, a native of Abingdon, Maryland, works as an assistant director at the March for Life and Defense Fund. Goodman writes, “I oversee the digital strategy for the March for Life Education and Defense Fund as well as our annual event which brings tens of thousands of people to Washington D.C. every year.” Goodman adds, “Additionally, I outreach to schools, organization, and churches to build the coalition efforts of the March for Life.”
Facebook/Bethany Goodman
Goodman also says on her LinkedIn that she is a volunteer board member for both Speak for the Unborn and Voice of Hope Pregnancy Centers, both anti-choice groups. Among her likes on Facebook is a movie about Planned Parenthood titled Babies Are Murdered Here.
In March 2014, Goodman received an award at the Susan B. Anthony gala “for leadership in the Pro-life movement.” An article on the March for Life website reads, “Thanks to Bethany both #WhyWeMarch and #MarchforLife trended as two of the top hashtags used worldwide on Twitter on the day of the March for Life, January 22, 2014.” Goodman’s work was profiled by the Eternal Word Television Network (above), that includes an article on their website titled, “Why is Masturbation Wrong?”
2. Goodman Is ‘Pro-Family Legislation’
Facebook/Bethany Goodman
Between 2009 and 2013, Goodman worked for Congressman Bob Latta, according to her LinkedIn page. During her time in D.C., Goodman worked as legislative assistant. Goodman adds, “I developed a monthly family values e-newsletter that was sent to thousands of people in the Congressman’s district.”
Facebook/Bethany Goodman
During her time in the capital, Goodman also worked at the Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center. Between 2008 and 2009, Goodman was a political intern for the National Republican Congressional Committee. In one online profile, Goodman writes that she is “pro-life and pro-family legislation and family.”
Before being elected as a state representative, Wes Goodman had been an aide to conservative and anti-LGBT rights Congressman Jim Jordan. The Human Rights Campaign has put Jones in their “Hall of Shame” over his attempts to block marriage equality in Ohio in 2014.
3. In 2015, the Couple Moved to Ohio & Got ‘Plugged Into Their New Community’
Facebook/Bethany Goodman
Goodman, whose maiden name is Beck, moved to her husband’s district in 2015, according to her profile at the conservative Forge Leadership website. That profile adds that, “Bethany and her husband recently moved to the Columbus, Ohio area and are enjoying getting plugged into their new community.”
Facebook/Bethany Goodman
Goodman’s profile at the March for Life website says that, “She and her husband reside in beautiful central Ohio and enjoy cooking, the outdoors, hosting friends and family, and keeping up with their energetic dogs, Hunter and Scout.” An article about her on the March for Life website says, “Bethany is a woman of virtue, humble, not one to complain and a very hard worker. She tackles what some would consider daunting tasks with a note of confidence. Bethany is a fan of Reeces peanut butter eggs and less a fan of being in the spotlight. Bethany possesses a beautiful combination of intellectual capability, creative motivation, and a deeply spiritual and noble perspective on life.”
4. Goodman Was Acknowledged in a Book by Conservative Commentator Paul Kengor
Facebook/Bethany Goodman
Goodman is a graduate of Grove City College in western Pennsylvania where she studied political science and history, according to her LinkedIn page. She has described herself as a “history nerd.” During her time at the school, Goodman was a soccer star.
In the book, Dupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century, conservative pundit and Grove City lecturer, Paul Kengor, name checked Goodman as helping with his book.
Goodman’s Twitter name @bethany1027 which may be a reference to Mark 10:27 from the Bible which reads, “With man this is impossible, but now with God; all things are possible with God.” Since her husband has been accused of having sex with a man in his office, Goodman’s Twitter has gone private.
5. In 2013, Wes Goodman Said that He & His Wife Believed in ‘Faith & Family’
Facebook/Bethany Goodman
In a 2013 statement, Wes Goodman said, “Faith, family, service, stewardship, strong education, and investment in our local communities are what Ohioans value. My wife Bethany and I value those same things and are ready to get to work to serve you.” On November 17, Wes Goodman said in his resignation statement, “We all bring our owen struggles and our own trials into public life. That has been true for me, and I sincerely regret that my actions and choices have kept me from serving constituents and our state in a way that reflects the best ideals of public service. For those whom I have let down, I’m sorry. As I move onto the next chapter of my life, I sincerely ask for privacy, my family, and my friends.”
While Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberg said, “I was alerted to details yesterday afternoon regarding his involvement in inappropriate behavior related to his state office. I met with him later in the day where he acknowledged and confirmed the allegations. It became clear that his resignation was the most appropriate course of action for him, his family, the constituents of the 87th House District and this institution.”
On his now-removed campaign website, Wes Goodman wrote, “Healthy, vibrant, thriving, values-driven families are the source of Ohio’s proud history and the key to Ohio’s future greatness. The ideals of father and mother, a committed natural marriage, and a caring community are well worth pursuing and protecting.”