Dorothy Pelanda Explained

Dorothy Pelanda
Office:Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture
Term Start:January 10, 2019
Term End:December 31, 2022
Appointer:Mike Dewine
Predecessor:David T. Daniels
Successor:Brian Baldridge
Office1:Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 86th district
Term Start1:July 28, 2011
Term End1:January 6, 2019
Preceded1:David Burke
Succeeded1:Tracy Richardson
Birth Name:Dorothy Liggett Pelanda
Birth Date:1 March 1956[1] [2]
Birth Place:Marysville, Ohio, U.S.
Party:Republican
Residence:Marysville, Ohio, U.S.
Education:Marysville High School
Alma Mater:Miami University
University of Akron
Profession:Lawyer
Spouse:Sam Gerhardstein
Children:3

Dorothy Liggett Pelanda (born March 1, 1956) is an American lawyer and former Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Personal

Pelanda is married to Sam Gerhardstein, retired Governmental Affairs Director for Columbia Gas of Ohio. She has three children: Brian Pelanda, Doug Pelanda and Zoe Pelanda.

Career

After graduating from the University of Akron School of Law, Pelanda returned to Marysville, Ohio where she began a career in law.[3] She has 30 years experience in the legal profession in private practice specializing in family law. After her appointment to the Ohio House, Pelanda opted to devote her full energies to her legislative duties, and she closed her law office in late 2011.

Prior to her appointment to the Ohio House, Pelanda served two terms as president of both the Marysville Library Board and U-CO Industries in Union County. Pelanda established the Criminal Indigents of Union County in 2005, before the Union County Criminal Defense Lawyers assumed the work of representing indigent persons charged with felonies.

Ohio House of Representatives

When Senator Karen Gillmor was appointed to the Industrial Commission of Ohio, it set off a chain of legislative appointments which saw Representative David Burke receive an appointment to the Ohio Senate to finish out Gillmor's term.[4] Pelanda was appointed to finish Burke's unexpired term. Pelanda then opted to seek election to Burke's former seat in the Ohio House.

Pelanda ultimately was elected to succeed Burke. She was seated on July 28, 2011. During her House service from 2011 through 2018, Pelanda served on the following House committees: Agriculture, Commerce and Labor, Government Accountability and Oversight, Criminal Justice, Judiciary, and Rules and Reference.

Pelanda was elected to her second full term in 2014, and her third full term in 2016. During her service in the House, Pelanda was elected by her peers to serve as House Majority Whip, and later as House Majority Floor Leader, the third-ranking leadership position in the House.[5]

In March 2017, Pelanda announced her candidacy for Ohio Secretary of State. Her campaign ended in October 2017.[6]

Ohio Department of Agriculture

On January 10, 2019, Gov. Mike DeWine announced that he was nominating Pelanda as Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. On January 14, 2019, Pelanda was sworn in as the first female Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rep. Dorothy Pelanda (R-OH 86th District) . June 25, 2015.
  2. Web site: Dorthy Pelanda: Meet Dorothy . June 25, 2015.
  3. Web site: Dorothy Pelanda - House District 86 . . June 25, 2015.
  4. News: Incumbent Pelanda challenged by Babik. Amy . Rogan. Marysville News: This Week Community News. October 20, 2014. 1 June 2015.
  5. Web site: Dorothy Pelanda.
  6. Web site: Dorothy Pelanda ends campaign to become Ohio's secretary of state. October 16, 2017. cleveland.
  7. Web site: First Woman Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture - WDLR 1550 AM 92.9 FM. Michelle. Gatchell. January 17, 2019.