11/14/2018

Beth's Message -- November 16, 2018

Election 2018 Results are in!

After many months of anticipation, media blitzes, robo-calls and direct mail to our in-boxes and snail mail boxes, the election is over.  While the election was expected to be closer, in the end, Republicans in Ohio maintain control over all statewide offices, the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate.  In total over 4.3 million votes were cast out of approximately 8 million registered Ohio voters.

Ohio’s next Governor will be Mike DeWine with Jon Husted serving as Lieutenant Governor. ACEC Ohio has been able to spend time with our new Governor and Lt. Governor, providing our members opportunities through roundtable discussion meetings, visits to our committees, and our PAC events over the last 18 months.  We have presented position statements and policy issues to the campaign and are excited to work with the new Governor and his transition team. While Governor-elect DeWine suggested that a “Blue Ribbon Commission” will be created as part of his approach to solving the transportation funding shortfall, what that commission will look like and who will serve on it has yet to be announced.

What has been announced is Laurel Dawson will be director of Mr. DeWine's transition committee, where she will guide efforts to line up key cabinet members and other staff over the coming weeks to prepare for the inauguration in January. Ms. Dawson was chief of staff for Mr. DeWine for a combined 20 years during his time in the U.S. House and Senate.

Lisa Peterson, who has been communications director for Mr. DeWine during his eight years as attorney general, will follow her boss to the governor's office in that same role. She first joined Mr. DeWine's team when he was lieutenant governor.

LeeAnne Cornyn has been appointed as Director of Children's Initiatives, a position Mr. DeWine labeled as a key plank in his early childhood plan during the campaign.

In a speech following the election, Mr. DeWine stated “This is going to be an open administration. This administration is going to be involved in gathering data, facts, opinions and ideas. Don't confuse that for an administration that does not know where we’re going; we know where we're going. I've had a long time to think about it. I've always told my team, and I did this the 12 years I was in the United States Senate, that there's somebody out there that knows a hell of a lot more than we do about whatever subject it is. The question is finding that person. The mistakes I've made throughout my career have been made because we didn't have enough facts, or we didn't gather enough facts.” (Gongwer Report 11.8.18)

We would expect Lt. Governor Husted to head up the Innovate Ohio effort announced during the campaign-- https://www.mikedewine.com/innovationohio/ and possibly hold a cabinet position.

From a Statewide perspective, the Republicans swept all offices.  (Attorney General, State Auditor, Secretary of State and State Treasurer) This sweep means they will determine the make-up of Ohio’s apportionment board, which draws legislative district lines.

In the Ohio House of Representatives, the Democrats picked up 5 seats to give them 38 but the House Republicans still hold a majority with 61 seats. The House Speaker race continues to be a source of controversy, hopefully with a vote scheduled and decision soon.

The Ohio Senate Republicans picked up one additional seat, bringing their super majority to 25-8 for the next Ohio General Assembly. Senate President Obhof will maintain his leadership role, with Senators Peterson, Gardner and Huffman as part of his leadership team.

For additional information, see the election report from  Government Advantage Group- Click Here

As always, please feel free to contact me with questions.

~Beth