Callender appointed chairman of House Public Utilities Committee

State Rep. Jamie Callender, R-Concord Township, has been appointed chairman of the House Public Utilities Committee.

“I am humbled and honored that the Speaker has placed this responsibility on me and I will work hard to justify the faith he has placed in me,” Callender said, “This chairmanship will put me in the best position in order to try to protect the Perry Nuclear Power Plant which has been slated for closure.”

Callender’s district is home to the North Perry plant. Last March, FirstEnergy Solutions announced that it would be deactivating the plant, along with its two other nuclear plants — Ottawa County’s DavisBesse and Pennsylvania’s Beaver Valley Power Station — within the next few years.

The Perry plant is slated to close in 2021 and Davis-Besse in 2020.

The two Ohio plants together employ roughly 1,500 people.

In a December 2018 interview, Callender told the News-Herald that saving the Perry plant is one of his top priorities.

“It should be a high priority for anyone coming in to this position,” he said.

Callender took over the 61st District seat from Ron Young, R-Leroy Township, who was term limited and is now a Lake County commissioner.

Additionally, Callender is chairing the Joint Committee on Agency Rules and Review. He is the only freshman chairing two committees.

This isn’t Callender’s first go-round in Columbus, however. He previously served in the House from 1997 to 2004 before being term limited.

Callender is also serving as a member of the House committees on Finance, Civil Justice, and Rules and Reference. He is the only member of the House serving on six committees, according to his office.

He is also chairing the Special Committee on Rules.

Callender’s district is comprised of Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Mentor Wards 1-3, North Perry Village, Perry Village, Waite Hill, Willoughby Hills, the townships of Concord, Leroy, Madison, Perry and parts of Painesville Township.

Callender