Local GOP legislator joins leadership
The new Ohio House Republican leadership team includes two members — one of them from Franklin County — who did not back Speaker Larry Householder in last month’s contentious vote for that post.
The Glenford Republican won a close leadership victory over then-speaker Ryan Smith four weeks ago, thanks to 26 votes from House Democrats, plus 26 of 60 Republican votes in the 99-member chamber.
Normally, all caucus leaders are selected on opening day, but the bitter speaker’s fight and the uncertainty of the outcome left most leadership slots for Republicans and the Democratic minority unfilled until Wednesday.
Rep. Jim Butler, R-oakwood, a top Householder supporter, was named the No. 2 leader, speaker pro tempore. He is followed by Majority Leader Bill Seitz of Cincinnati, a veteran legislator who voted for Smith in January. Rounding out the GOP majority’s leadership are Reps. Tony Devitis of Green, Jay Edwards of Nelsonville, and Laura Lanese of Grove City, the lone woman on the team.
Lanese, the only House Republican left in Franklin County, also backed Smith for speaker. She said she did not seek out a leadership position and learned on Monday that she would be nominated as assistant majority whip.
Lanese said of Householder, “I’m grateful that he’s willing to work with the Smith team and Lanese willing to bring the caucus together, and we can start a new day and move forward.”
Householder said it was important to have some Smith supporters on the leadership team.
In an unusual move, both Republican and Democratic leadership teams were elected under the same resolution instead of individually. The move made for a quick, unanimous vote and ensured there was no effort to reject anyone.
The new Democratic leadership team reflects a shake-up last month. Rep. Fred Strahorn of Dayton stepped down as the leader after he backed Smith for speaker while more than two-thirds of his caucus went for Householder.
Rep. Emilia Sykes of Akron replaces him. Rep. Kristin Boggs of Columbus was elected assistant leader. Reps. Kent Smith of Euclid and Paula Hicks-hudson of Toledo complete the team. All four voted for Householder.
Sykes said it is the first majority-woman leadership team in the House.
She thanked Householder “for reaching out across the aisle to form a historic coalition … to address the pressing problems facing our state.”
Householder said he will announce committee assignments later this week, with the first bills to be introduced next week.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans also named Sen. Jay Hottinger of Newark to their leadership team, filling a gap created when Sen. Randy Gardner was appointed by Gov. Mike Dewine as the state chancellor for higher education.