Election results in significant changes at all levels of government.

• Position: Legislative DEVELOPMENTS

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In addition to helping elect Sen. Barack Obama as our nation's next president, Ohioans also exercised their voting rights to make significant changes at the state and federal levels--most significantly with the Democrats' regaining control of the Ohio House of Representatives after 14 years in the minority. Republicans continue to maintain a strong majority in the Ohio Senate. The Society was successful in endorsing and then helping to elect winning candidates in 91% of the 118 statewide, congressional and legislative races where endorsements were issued.

OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

A seven seat pick-up--which included losses by five incumbents--led Democrats to secure control of the Ohio House. Rep. Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) is Ohio's new speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. The minority leader position is Rep. Bill Batchelder (R-Medina).

Other members of the House leadership team include:

* Rep. Matt Szollosi (D-Toledo): Speaker Pro Tempore

* Rep. Jennifer Garrison (D-Marietta): Majority Floor Leader

* Rep. Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-Columbus): Assistant Majority Floor Leader

* Rep. Jay Goyal (D-Mansfield): Majority Whip

* Rep. Allan Sayre (D-Dover): Assistant Majority Whip

* Rep. Louis Blessing (R-Cincinnati): Assistant Minority Leader

* Rep. John Adams (R-Sidney): Minority Whip

* Rep. Kris Jordan (R-Delaware): Assistant Minority Whip

State Representative and the 127th Ohio General Assembly's lone CPA, Carol-Ann Schindel, lost her bid for a second term. Seth Morgan, a CPA from Huber Heights, was victorious in his open seat race, replacing Rep. Schindel as Ohio's lone CPA/state legislator. In the Ohio Senate, Republicans will maintain their 21-12 majority, with none of the 16 seats up for grabs changing party hands. While the majority was never in question, Democrats had hoped to pick up at least three seats in the Senate.

Members of the Senate leadership team include:

* Sen. Bill Harris (R-Ashland): Senate President

* Sen. Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond): President Pro Tempore

* Sen. Keith Faber (R-Celina): Majority Floor Leader

* Sen. Mark Wagoner (R-Toledo): Majority Whip

* Sen. Capri Cafaro (D-Warren): Minority Leader

* Sen. Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland): Assistant Leader

* Sen. Ray Miller (D-Columbus): Minority Whip

* Sen. Jason Wilson (D-Bridgeport): Assistant Minority Whip

STATEWIDE RACES

Leading the state ticket, all three Society-endorsed statewide...