127th Ohio General Assembly

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
End of previous legislature	22	11	33	0
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
End of previous legislature	38	60	99	0
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