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Husted to run for Ohio Senate
He'll seek the seat Jacobson is leaving.
Friday, October 12, 2007
> What do you think of Husted's decision?
COLUMBUS — With his days in the Ohio House numbered by term limits, Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, today is to formally announce that he's running for the Ohio Senate in 2008.
"I just feel that there's so much work left to be done," Husted, 40, said Thursday. "I want to build on our success and take it to the next level."
Extras
Husted will run for the 6th District Senate seat now held by Republican Jeff Jacobson, R-Butler Twp. Jacobson, like Husted, will be forced to leave office because of term limits at the end of next year.
The Ohio Constitution limits House members to four consecutive two-year terms and Senate members to two consecutive four-year terms. It has become common for members term-limited in one legislative chamber to run for a seat in the other chamber. Jacobson was one of them.
First elected to the House in 2000, Husted is serving his second two-year term as speaker of the 99-member House. This year, with control of state government divided between Democrats and Republicans for the first time in more than a decade, he joined forces with Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland and Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, to craft a bipartisan budget that only one legislator opposed on final passage.
"I think Jon's been very important to the Dayton area," said Christopher Duncan, chairman of the political science department at the University of Dayton.
As speaker, Husted earns $91,865 annually, compared to the $58,934 salary of a Senate member. Although Husted could face primary opposition, his name recognition and the $903,010 he had in his campaign treasury as of June 30 would make him a heavy favorite.
Mark Owens, Montgomery County Democratic chairman, said Democrats would field a candidate but that Husted would be "formidable."
As for his House seat, Montgomery County Republicans endorsed Kettering Council Member Peggy Lehner, although others have indicated interest as well.
Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com
Comments
By ohdave.net
October 12, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this
Husted certainly has a lot to do.
There are lobbyists to take trips from after all, and heck the Buckeyes could be in a bowl game again. How is he going to get a free trip to the game without being in state government and hitching a ride down with people who have business before the legislature?
So yeah, he still has a lot to do.
By X-Machinists L.L. 225
October 12, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this
You know it is ironic the Republikans wanted term limits and it bites them. Shame though the Dems can’t even get elected to experience a term limit.
By doug
October 12, 2007 8:55 AM | Link to this
This is just another product of term limits. Politicians just switch from one office to another. If Husted is so great where he is, eliminate term limits and let him continue to serve in that capacity.
By commonsense
October 12, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
It is good for the Dayton area he is running for the Senate, he is one of the few politicians that ever did anything good for us.
By randy
October 12, 2007 7:15 AM | Link to this
I live in Husted’s House district and have a pretty good feel on the pulse of the area. I can tell you that Husted would most likely lost to Guy Fogle last election. If Fogle’s campaign had more boost from the Democrats…well, Fogle had the goods to win. Further tribute to that is how far Husted, Blackwell, and the local Republicans went to keep Fogle off the ballott. If the local Dems had half a brain they’d put Fogle up against him this time also. Fogle would easily beat Lehner.