White elected Senate President
For State Senator Doug White, Wednesday Nov. 13 was a historic day. Shortly after 8:30 a.m., the year-long speculation about who will be the next Senate president ended.
White, R-Manchester, serves as senator to the 14th district, namely Adams, Brown, Clermont, Fayette, Highland, and Pike counties.
He will be one of the voices who calls the shots on what bills move in the Senate. He will serve as chairman of the Rules Committee — the committee that decides what bills make it to a vote on the floor.
Commentary by Chad D. Baus:
Please consider passing on congratulatory message to Sen. White, and let him know you'll be looking forward to his continued vigorous support for the self-defense rights of Ohioans.
Although he won't be President until the 125th General Assembly, he can vote and obviously has considerable influence in the Senate now. You might also express your desire to have HB274 passed by the Senate, unchanged, in the remaining days of the 124th General Assembly.
Click on the "Read More..." link below for contact information, and for more of the news story.
Senator White may be reached in his Columbus office by dialing:
Phone: (614) 466-8082
Letters of congratulations may be faxed to:
Fax: (614) 466-7018
Or mailed to:
Senator Doug White
Senate Building
Room #220, Second Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Republicans elected White, an Adams County farmer, to the post. He will succeed Richard Finan.
"I am proud to have worked side by side with Senate President Finan and honored to follow in his able footsteps," White said. "With many new faces and a number of issues on our plates that are crucial to the people of Ohio, I know that my colleagues have entrusted me with a great responsibility. I welcome the challenge."
Finan said White is an excellent choice to replace him. Because of term limits, Finan was prohibited from running for another term.
"He was very supportive of me," Finan said. "I think it’s wonderful, well-deserved and good for the Republican Caucus."
State Senator Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, will take over White’s position as president pro tem.
"I’ve worked with Doug White since 1990, and I have a long and strong relationship with him," Gardner said. Despite White only being able to serve two more years because of term limits, Gardner said White will be able to make a real difference in the Ohio Senate.
One of the differences is that White will not allow senators attacking the character or motivations of other members of the Senate.
White said it was fair to judge another senators’ work, but not their motivations.
He said he learned a long time ago on the farm that people sometimes take different paths to reach the same goal. When he would let cattle out into the pasture, they all eventually made it to a pond on the other side. However, White said he noticed that there were three different paths the cows took to get their water.
"The Democrats don’t have to follow the same path if it brings us to a common goal," White said.
Franklin County Senator David Goodman said that in order to serve as president, one has to get along with everyone, and White does just that. He said White is an honest man who has the respect of the senators.
As for the future, White echoed what he told those gathered at Fayette County Farm Bureau’s annual meeting earlier this year. Instead of speaking about what lies ahead in practical or philosophical terms, he took a spiritual turn.
White said he wants to concentrate on being a good president the next two years and hopes that he can help others.
"God has already given me more than I deserve."
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