2010 BFA endorsee Debe Terhar elected as president of the State Board of Education

The Gongwer News Service is reporting that Debe Terhar, a 2010 Buckeye Firearms Association endorsee, has been elected as president of the state board of education.

From the article:

The 10-9 selection of Ms. Terhar, who was elected to the panel in November, ousted previously elected Mr. Hovis, who in his eighth year on the board is the most senior member.

...The vote was conducted by the board's first open ballot in recent history. Responding to an attorney general opinion issued after the January vote, the panel opted to disclose which member voted for whom, reversing on board policy that has been in place for at least two decades. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, March 14, 2011)

The revote was held after the appointment of former member Martha Harris was brought into question in January and the validity of her vote for board officers also became a matter of concern.

The Senate clerk said the Strickland Administration never delivered appointment paperwork to the chamber for confirmation in 2009 when Ms. Harris began serving. Her term was to last until December 2012. She has sued the governor, state board and others in an attempt to retain her seat. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, March 9, 2011)

Gov. John Kasich's appointee to replace Ms. Harris, Angela Thi Bennett, voted for Ms. Terhar, according to ODE.

Also voting for the Cincinnati resident were Gov. Kasich's other appointees, Tess Elshoff, Joseph Farmer, Thomas Gunlock and C. Todd Jones; along with members Kathleen McGervey, Tammy O'Brien, Dennis Shelton, and Ms. Terhar.

"I congratulate Debbie Terhar on her election by her peers to be president of the State Board of Education," Gov. Kasich said in a statement. "I look forward to working with her to put more dollars in the classroom and less in bureaucracy, and empower parents and teachers to improve our schools for Ohio's children."

Buckeye Firearms Association extends our congratulations to President Terhar, and looks forward to working with her in the future.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.