Who Will Control Ohio House of Representatives?
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 By David Owsiany
While there is an understandable preoccupation with the presidential race here in Ohio as both campaigns have made the buckeye state a priority, the battle for control of the Ohio House is shaping up to be razor thin as well. The Republicans have a 53-46 majority in the Ohio House of Representatives, which means if the Democrats have a net gain of four seats, they will take control for the first time since 1994. Statehouse insiders are watching several races that will likely determine which party controls the Ohio House next year. Those races include:
16th House District – Rep. Jennifer Brady (D-Westlake) vs. Westlake City Councilwoman Nan Baker (R- Westlake)
18th House District – State Board of Education member Colleen Grady (R-Strongsville) vs. Matt Patten (D-Strongsville)
20th House District – Rep. Jim McGregor (R-Gahanna) vs. Nancy Garland (D-New Albany)
22nd House District – Dublin City Councilman Mike Keenan (R-Dublin) vs. John Carney (D-Columbus)
28th House District – Sharonville Mayor Virgil Lovitt (R-Sharonville) vs. Connie Pillich (D-Montgomery)
42nd House District – Rep. Richard Nero (R-Hudson) vs. Hudson City Councilman Mike Moran (D-Hudson)
46th House District – Rep. Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania) vs. Darlene Dunn (D-Sylvania Township)
50th House District – Todd Snitchler (R-Uniontown) vs. Tuscarawas Township Trustee Celeste DeHoff (D-Tuscarawas Township)
58th House District – Former Huron County Commissioner Terry Boose (R-Norwalk) vs. Amherst City Councilman Terry Traster (D-Amherst)
63rd House District – Rep. Carol-Ann Schindel (R-Leroy) vs. Mark Schneider (D-Mentor)
85th House District – Rep. John Schlichter (R-Washington Court House) vs. Raymond Pryor (D-Chillicothe)
91st House District – Rep. Dan Dodd (D-Hebron) vs. William Hayes (R-Pataskala)
92nd House District – Athens County Auditor Jill Thompson (R-The Plains) vs. Athens City Councilwoman Debbie Phillips (D-Athens)
94th House District – Troy Balderson (R- Zanesville) vs. State Board of Education Vice President Jennifer Stewart (D-Zanesville)
The above races will likely determine which party controls the Ohio House of Representatives and elects the next Speaker. Current Speaker Jon Husted (R-Kettering) is leaving the House due to term limits and is running for the Ohio Senate. Regardless of which party has control for the new legislative session beginning in January, it will undoubtedly be by a very slim majority. Nonetheless, the party with the majority has significant advantages. If Republicans retain the majority, the Republican caucus will likely choose either Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) or Matt Dolan (R-Novelty) for Speaker. There will likely be some changes in committee assignments and chairmanships, but nothing like the changes that will occur if the Democrats take control. The Democrats would not only elect the new Speaker, likely Armond Budish (D-Beachwood), but would also significantly change the composition and even structure of the committees and set the agenda for the House. The Columbus Dispatch ran a recent story, written by Jim Siegel, on what it would mean for the Democrats if they took control of the Ohio House of Representatives.
It will likely be a long night for leaders of both parties.
