127th Ohio General Assembly explained

The One Hundred Twenty-seventh Ohio General Assembly was the legislative body of the state of Ohio in 2007 and 2008. The biennium corresponded with the final days the Bob Taft administration, and the first two years of Ted Strickland's tenure as Ohio Governor. The districts were drawn in accordance to the 2000 United States census and the 2002 redistricting process. Both the Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives were retained by the Ohio Republican Party.

Major events

Vacancies

• January 2, 2007: Representative Keith Faber (R-77th) resigns to take a seat in the Ohio Senate.
• January 28, 2007: Senator Kimberly Zurz (D-28th) resigns to become Director of Commerce for Governor Ted Strickland.
• April 29, 2007: Representative Kenneth Carano (D-59th) resigns to become a member of the cabinet of Governor Ted Strickland.
• October 9, 2007: Senator Patricia Clancy (R-8th) resigns.
• October 9, 2007: Representative Bill Seitz (R-30th) resigns to take a seat in the Ohio Senate.
• December 12, 2007: Representative William J. Healy II (D-52nd) resigns to become mayor of Canton, Ohio.
• December 13, 2007: Representative Bob Latta (R-6th) resigns to become a member of the United States House of Representatives.
• December 31, 2007: Representative Robert J. Otterman (D-45th) resigns.
• January 9, 2008: Senator Randy Gardner (R-2nd) resigns to take a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives.
• January 15, 2008: Representative Mark Wagoner (R-46th) resigns to take a seat in the Ohio Senate.
• March 31, 2008: Representative George Distel (D-99th) resigns.
• April 28, 2008: Representative Matt Barrett (D-58th) resigns due to involvement with a scandal involving school children and pornography.
• May 28, 2008: Representative John Widowfield (R-42nd) resigns.
• August 15, 2008: Representative Jim Raussen (R-28th) resigns.
• September 16, 2008: Senator Lance Mason (D-25th) resigns to take a seat on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.
• October 31, 2008: Senator Jeff Jacobson (R-6th) resigns.
• November 2, 2008: Senator Robert Spada (R-24th) resigns.
• December 31, 2008: Senator John Boccieri (D-33rd) resigns to take a seat in the United States House of Representatives.

Appointments

• January 2, 2007: Appointment of Keith Faber as Senator of the 12th District due to the resignation of Jim Jordan.
• January 2, 2007: Appointment of Jason Wilson as Senator of the 30th District due to the resignation of Charlie Wilson.
• January 2, 2007: Appointment of Capri Cafaro as Senator of the 32nd District due to the resignation of Marc Dann.
• February 20, 2007: Appointment of Thomas C. Sawyer as Senator of the 28th District due to the resignation of Kimberly Zurz.
• February 20, 2007: Appointment of Jim Zehringer as Representative of the 77th District due to the resignation of Keith Faber.
• May 1, 2007: Appointment of Ron Gerberry as Representative of the 59th District due to the resignation of Kenneth Carano.
• October 9, 2007: Appointment of Robert Mecklenborg as Representative of the 30th District due to the resignation of Bill Seitz.
• October 10, 2007: Appointment of Bill Seitz as Senator of the 8th District due to the resignation of Patricia Clancy.
• January 8, 2008: Appointment of John Otterman as Representative of the 45th District due to the resignation of Robert J. Otterman.
• January 10, 2008: Appointment of Randy Gardner as Representative of the 6th District due to the resignation of Bob Latta.
• January 15, 2008: Appointment of Mark Wagoner as Senator of the 2nd District due to the resignation of Randy Gardner.
• January 15, 2008: Appointment of Barbara Sears as Representative of the 46th District due to the resignation of Mark Wagoner.
• March 11, 2008: Appointment of Stephen Slesnick as Representative of the 52nd District due to the resignation of William J. Healy II.
• May 21, 2008: Appointment of Deborah Newcomb as Representative of the 99th District due to the resignation of George Distel.
• May 21, 2008: Appointment of Tom Heydinger as Representative of the 58th District due to the resignation of Matt Barrett.
• June 10, 2008: Appointment of Richard Nero as Representative of the 42nd District due to the resignation of John Widowfield.
• September 17, 2008: Appointment of Nina Turner as Senator of the 25th District due to the resignation of Lance Mason.
• November 18, 2008: Appointment of Peggy Lehner as Senator of the 6th District to serve as a placeholder.
• November 18, 2008: Appointment of Tom Patton as Senator of the 24th District due to the resignation of Robert Spada.
• December 5, 2008: Appointment of Andrew Ciarfardini as Representative of the 28th District as a placeholder.

Senate

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Republican	Democratic		Vacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	End of previous legislature		22	11	33	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Begin		21	12	33	0
Latest voting share		63.6%	36.4%

Leadership

Majority leadership

• President of the Senate: Bill Harris
• President pro tempore of the Senate: Jeff Jacobson (January 2007-November 2008)
• Floor Leader: Randy Gardner (January 2007-January 2008) Tom Niehaus (January 2008-December 2008)
• Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Robert Spada (January 2007-December 2008)
• Whip: Steve Austria

Minority leadership

• Leader: Teresa Fedor (January 2007-January 2008), Ray Miller (January 2008-December 2008)
• Assistant Leader: Tom Roberts (January 2007-January 2008), Shirley Smith (January 2008-)
• Whip: Ray Miller (January 2007-January 2008), Lance Mason (January 2008-October 2008)
• Assistant Whip: Lance Mason (January 2007-January 2008), Capri Cafaro (January 2008-December 2008)

Members of the 127th Ohio Senate

District	Senator	Party	Residence	First elected	Term Limited
1	Steve Buehrer		Republican	Delta	2006	2014
2	Mark Wagoner		Republican	Toledo	2008 (Appt.)	2016
3	David Goodman		Republican	New Albany	2001 (Appt.)	2010
4	Gary Cates		Republican	West Chester	2004	2012
5	Tom Roberts		Democratic	Dayton	2002 (Appt.)	2010
6	Peggy Lehner		Republican	Kettering	2008 (Appt.)	2016
7	Robert Schuler		Republican	Cincinnati	2002	2010
8	Bill Seitz		Republican	Cincinnati	2007 (Appt.)	2016
9	Eric Kearney		Democratic	Cincinnati	2005 (Appt.)	2014
10	Steve Austria		Republican	Beavercreek	2000	2008
11	Teresa Fedor		Democratic	Toledo	2002	2010
12	Keith Faber		Republican	Celina	2007 (Appt.)	2016
13	Sue Morano		Democratic	Lorain	2006	2014
14	Tom Niehaus		Republican	New Richmond	2004	2012
15	Ray Miller		Democratic	Columbus	2002	2010
16	Steve Stivers		Republican	Columbus	2003 (Appt.)	2012
17	John Carey		Republican	Wellston	2002	2010
18	Timothy Grendell		Republican	Chesterland	2004	2012
19	Bill Harris		Republican	Ashland	2000 (Appt.)	2010
20	Joy Padgett		Republican	Coshocton	2004	2012
21	Shirley Smith		Democratic	Cleveland	2006	2014
22	Ron Amstutz		Republican	Wooster	2000	2008
23	Dale Miller		Democratic	Cleveland	2006 (Appt.)	2014
24	Tom Patton		Republican	Strongsville	2008 (Appt.)	2016
25	Nina Turner		Democratic	Cleveland	2008 (Appt.)	2018
26	Larry Mumper		Republican	Loudonville	1997 (Appt.)	2008
27	Kevin Coughlin		Republican	Cuyahoga Falls	2001 (Appt.)	2010
28	Tom Sawyer		Democratic	Akron	2007 (Appt.)	2016
29	Kirk Schuring		Republican	Canton	2002	2010
30	Jason Wilson		Democratic	Columbiana	2007 (Appt.)	2016
31	Tim Schaffer		Republican	Lancaster	2006	2014
32	Capri Cafaro		Democratic	Hubbard	2007 (Appt.)	2016
33	John Boccieri		Democratic	New Middletown	2007	2014

House of Representatives

Composition

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Democratic	Republican		Vacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	End of previous legislature	38		60	99	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Begin	46		53	99	0
Latest voting share	46.5%		53.5%

Leadership

Majority leadership

• Speaker of the House: Jon Husted
• President pro tempore of the Senate: Kevin DeWine
• Floor Leader: Larry L. Flowers
• Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Jim Carmichael
• Majority Whip: Bill Seitz (January 2007-August 2007)
• Assistant Majority Whip: Michelle G. Schneider

Minority leadership

• Leader: Joyce Beatty
• Assistant Leader: Todd Book
• Whip: Steve Driehaus
• Assistant Whip: Fred Strahorn

Members of the 127th Ohio House of Representatives

District	Representative	Party	Residence	First Elected	Term Limited
1	Linda Bolon		Democrat	East Palestine	2006	2014
2	Jon Peterson		Republican	Delaware	2000	2008
3	Jim Carmichael		Republican	Wooster	2000	2008
4	Matt Huffman		Republican	Lima	2006	2014
5	Gerald Stebleton		Republican	Lancaster	2006	2014
6	Randy Gardner		Republican	Bowling Green	2008 (Appt.)	2016
7	Kenny Yuko		Democrat	Richmond Heights	2004	2012
8	Armond Budish		Democrat	Beachwood	2006	2014
9	Barbara Boyd		Democrat	Cleveland Heights	2006	2014
10	Eugene Miller		Democrat	Cleveland	2006	2014
11	Sandra Williams		Democrat	Cleveland	2006	2014
12	Michael DeBose		Democrat	Cleveland	2002 (Appt.)	2010
13	Michael J. Skindell		Democrat	Lakewood	2002	2010
14	Michael Foley		Democrat	Cleveland	2006 (Appt.)	2014
15	Timothy J. DeGeeter		Democrat	Parma	2003 (Appt.)	2012
16	Jennifer Brady		Democrat	Westlake	2006	2014
17	Josh Mandel		Republican	Lyndhurst	2006	2014
18	Tom Patton		Republican	Strongsville	2002	2010
19	Larry L. Flowers		Republican	Canal Winchester	2000	2008
20	Jim McGregor		Republican	Gahanna	2001 (Appt.)	2010
21	Kevin Bacon		Republican	Columbus	2006	2014
22	Jim Hughes		Republican	Clintonville	2000	2008
23	Larry Wolpert		Republican	Hilliard	2000	2008
24	Ted Celeste		Democrat	Upper Arlington	2006	2014
25	Dan Stewart		Democrat	Columbus	2002	2010
26	Tracy Maxwell Heard		Democrat	Columbus	2006	2014
27	Joyce Beatty		Democrat	Columbus	1999 (Appt.)	2008	-	28	Andrew Ciarfardini		Republican	Springdale	2008 (Appt.)	2018
29	Lou Blessing		Republican	Cincinnati	2004	2012
30	Robert Mecklenborg		Republican	Cincinnati	2007 (Appt.)	2016
31	Steve Driehaus		Democrat	Cincinnati	2000	2008
32	Dale Mallory		Democrat	Cincinnati	2006	2014
33	Tyrone Yates		Democrat	Cincinnati	2002	2010
34	Tom Brinkman Jr.		Republican	Cincinnati	2000	2008
35	Michelle G. Schneider		Republican	Cincinnati	2000	2008
36	Arlene Setzer		Republican	Vandalia	2000	2008
37	Jon Husted		Republican	Kettering	2000	2008	-	38	John White		Republican	Kettering	2000	2008
39	Clayton Luckie		Democrat	Dayton	2006 (Appt.)	2014	-	40	Fred Strahorn		Democrat	Dayton	2000	2008
41	Brian Williams		Democrat	Akron	2004	2012
42	Richard Nero		Republican	Cuyahoga Falls	2008 (Appt.)	2016
43	Steve Dyer		Democrat	Green	2006	2014
44	Vernon Sykes		Democrat	Akron	2006	2014
45	John Otterman		Democrat	Akron	2008 (Appt.)	2016
46	Barbara Sears		Republican	Sylvania	2008 (Appt.)	2016
47	Peter Ujvagi		Democrat	Toledo	2002	2010
48	Edna Brown		Democrat	Toledo	2001 (Appt.)	2010
49	Matt Szollosi		Democrat	Toledo	2006	2014
50	John Hagan		Republican	Canton	2000	2008
51	Scott Oelslager		Republican	Canton	2002	2010
52	Stephen Slesnick		Democrat	Canton	2008 (Appt.)	2016
53	Shawn Webster		Republican	Millville	2000	2008
54	Courtney Combs		Republican	Hamilton	2004 (Appt.)	2012
55	Bill Coley		Republican	West Chester Twp.	2004	2012
56	Joseph Koziura		Democrat	Lorain	2001 (Appt.)	2010
57	Matt Lundy		Democrat	Elyria	2006	2014
58	Tom Heydinger		Democrat	Norwalk	2008 (Appt.)	2016
59	Ron Gerberry		Democrat	Austintown	2007 (Appt.)	2016
60	Bob Hagan		Democrat	Youngstown	2006	2014
61	Mark Okey		Democrat	Carrollton	2006	2014
62	Lorraine Fende		Democrat	Willowick	2004	2012
63	Carol-Ann Schindel		Republican	Mentor	2006	2014
64	Tom Letson		Democrat	Warren	2006	2014
65	Sandra Harwood		Democrat	Niles	2002	2010
66	Joe Uecker		Republican	Loveland	2004	2012
67	Shannon Jones		Republican	Springboro	2006	2014
68	Kathleen Chandler		Democrat	Kent	2002	2010
69	William G. Batchelder		Republican	Medina	2006	2014
70	Kevin DeWine		Republican	Beavercreek	2000	2008
71	Jay Hottinger		Republican	Newark	2006	2014
72	Ross McGregor		Republican	Springfield	2005 (Appt.)	2014
73	Jay Goyal		Democrat	Mansfield	2006	2014
74	Bruce Goodwin		Republican	Defiance	2006	2014	-	75	Lynn Wachtmann		Republican	Napoleon	2006	2014
76	Cliff Hite		Republican	Findlay	2006	2014
77	Jim Zehringer		Republican	Fort Recovery	2007 (Appt.)	2016
78	John Adams		Republican	Sidney	2006	2014
79	Diana Fessler		Republican	New Carlisle	2000	2008
80	Chris Redfern		Democrat	Port Clinton	1999 (Appt.)	2008
81	Jeff Wagner		Republican	Sycamore	2002	2010
82	Steve Reinhard		Republican	Bucyrus	2000	2008
83	Tony Core		Republican	Marysville	2000	2008
84	Chris Widener		Republican	Springfield	2002	2010
85	John M. Schlichter		Republican	Washington Court House	2002	2010
86	David T. Daniels		Republican	Greenfield	2002	2010
87	Clyde Evans		Republican	Rio Grande	2002	2010
88	Danny Bubp		Republican	West Union	2004	2012
89	Todd Book		Democrat	McDermott	2002	2010
90	Thom Collier		Republican	Mount Vernon	2000 (Appt.)	2008
91	Dan Dodd		Democrat	Hebron	2006	2014
92	Jimmy Stewart		Republican	Athens	2002	2010
93	Jennifer Garrison		Democrat	Marietta	2004	2012
94	Jim Aslanides		Republican	Coshocton	1999 (Appt.)	2008
95	John Domenick		Democrat	Smithfield	2002	2010
96	Allan Sayre		Democrat	Dover	2004	2012
97	Bob Gibbs		Republican	Lakeville	2003	2010
98	Matt Dolan		Republican	Chagrin Falls	2004	2012
99	Deborah Newcomb		Democrat	Conneaut	2008 (Appt.)	2016

Appt.- Member was appointed to current House Seat

See also

• Ohio House of Representatives membership, 126th General Assembly
• Ohio House of Representatives membership, 125th General Assembly
• List of Ohio state legislatures

References

• Ohio House of Representatives official website
• Project Vote Smart - State House of Ohio
• Map of Ohio House Districts
  • Ohio District Maps 2002-2012
• 2006 election results from Ohio Secretary of State