Lawmakers from the Miami Valley among those eyeing speaker seat

Lawmakers from the Miami Valley could be in the running for the state’s top two legislative posts — House speaker and Senate president — when those jobs open up at the end of next year.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for the entire story, and OFCC PAC commentary.

Republican state Reps. Jon Husted of Kettering, Kevin DeWine of Fairborn, Tom Raga of Mason and Keith Faber of Celina are all mentioned as contenders for the job in January 2005, when Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, leaves due to term limits. All four were 2002 OFCC PAC endorsees.

Raga, Husted and DeWine are considered by many to be viable candidates.

Elected in 2000 — when term limits first caused significant Statehouse turnover — Raga, Husted and DeWine were among 46 freshmen lawmakers, including 29 Republicans, in the 99-member House. All three were re-elected last fall.

None will say he wants to be speaker — nor that he doesn’t. Coming out too early puts contenders in the crosshairs of their competitors.

As far as the Senate Presidency is concerned, State Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Butler Township, who now holds the Senate’s No. 4 leadership post as majority whip, has been eyeing the president’s seat for some time.

OFCC PAC Commentary:
Rep. Tom Raga is polling constituents on his website concerning their support for concealed carry reform. He has been a consistent pro-CCW voter, and would be required to vote again on HB12 should the Senate adopt any changes, and should Bob Taft veto the bill.

Senator Jacobson chaired the committee which adopted several poison-pill amendments that killed HB274 last December. Many believe his boss, former Sen. President Dick Finan, was protecting Gov. Taft by working to delay, and eventually destroy, the bill.

As majority whip in the 125th General Assembly, Sen. Jacobson's job is to "whip-up" votes for bills proposed by the majority party. Thus, he is likely very involved in the process of ensuring that HB12 passes the Senate with enough votes to over-ride a veto.

Click here to read the letter in the Middletown Journal.