# 123rd Ohio General Assembly

The One Hundred Twenty-third Ohio General Assembly was the legislative body of the state of Ohio in 1999 and 2000. In this General Assembly, both the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives were controlled by the Republican Party. In the Senate, there were 21 Republicans and 12 Democrats. In the House, there were 59 Republicans and 40 Democrats.

## New Members of the Senate

| District | Previous Senator | Reason for change | New Senator | Date |
| 1st | M. Ben Gaeth (R) | Gaeth retired. Wachtmann elected with 61% of the vote. | Lynn Wachtmann (R) | January 3, 1999 |
| 9th | Janet C. Howard (R) | Howard defeated by Mark Mallory 59% to 41% in 1998 general election. | Mark Mallory (D) | January 3, 1999 |
| 13th | Alan Zaleski (D) | Zaleski retired. Armbruster elected with 47% of the vote. | Jeff Armbruster (R) | January 3, 1999 |
| 21st | Jeff Johnson (D) | Johnson retired. Prentiss elected with 86% of the vote. | C.J. Prentiss (D) | January 3, 1999 |
| 23rd | Patrick Sweeney (D) | Sweeney retired. Brady elected unopposed. | Dan Brady (D) | January 3, 1999 |
| 25th | Judy Sheerer (D) | Sheerer retired. Fingerhut elected with 80% of the vote. | Eric Fingerhut (D) | January 3, 1999 |
| 24th | Gary C. Suhadolnik (R) | Suhadolnik resigns to become a member of Governor Bob Taft's cabinet. Spada appointed. | Bob Spada (R) | February 2, 1999 |
| 19th | Richard Schafrath (R) | Schafrath resigns to become a lobbyist. Harris appointed. | Bill Harris (R) | August 15, 2000 |

### Vacancies

* January 5, 1999: Representative Tom Johnson (R-96th) resigns to become a member of the Cabinet of Governor Bob Taft.
* March 1, 1999: Representative Ross Boggs (D-5th) resigns.
* May 30, 1999: Representative Otto Beatty Jr. resigns.
* June 30, 1999: Representative Joy Padgett (R-95th) resigns.
* August 9, 1999: Representative Ed Core (R-87th) died.
* August 10, 1999: Representative Darrell Opfer (D-53rd) resigns to become Economic Development Director of Ottawa County.
* September 14, 1999: Representative Sally Perz (D-52nd) resigns to take a position with the University of Toledo.
* November 4, 1999: Representative E. J. Thomas (D-27th) resigns to take a job in the private sector.
* November 4, 1999: Representative Joe Haines (R-74th) resigns to work in the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
* December 31, 1999: Representative Johnnie Maier (D-56th) resigns to become Clerk of the Massillon Municipal Court.
* August 15, 2000: Representative Bill Harris (R-93rd) resigns to take a seat in the Ohio Senate.
* September 12, 2000: Representative David Robinson (R-27th) resigns.

### Appointments

* January 5, 1999: Michael G. Verich is appointed to House District 66.
* January 5, 1999: Nancy P. Hollister is appointed to House District 96.
* March 1, 1999: George Distel is appointed to House District 5.
* May 31, 1999; Joyce Beatty is appointed.
* June 30, 1999: Jim Aslanides is appointed to House District 95.
* September 8, 1999: Tony Core is appointed to House District 87.
* September 8, 1999: Chris Redfern is appointed to House District 53.
* October 20, 1999: Jim Mettler appointed to House District 52.
* December 8, 1999: David J. Robinson appointed to House District 27.
* December 8, 1999: Chris Widener appointed to House District 74.
* January 11, 2000: Mike Stevens appointed to House District 56.
* September 12, 2000: Thom Collier is appointed to House District 93.
* September 13, 2000: Jim Hughes is appointed to House District 27.

## Senate
### Leadership
#### Majority leadership

* President of the Senate: Richard Finan
* President pro tempore of the Senate: Robert Cupp
* Assistant pro tempore: Bruce E. Johnson
* Whip: Merle G. Kearns

#### Minority leadership

* Leader: Ben Espy
* Assistant Leader: Leigh Herington
* Whip: Rhine McLin
* Assistant Whip: Dan Brady

### Members of the 123rd Ohio Senate

| District | Senator | Party | First elected |
| 1 | Lynn Wachtmann | Republican | 1998 |
| 2 | Bob Latta | Republican | 1996 |
| 3 | Bruce E. Johnson | Republican | 1994 (Appt.) |
| 4 | Scott Nein | Republican | 1995 (Appt.) |
| 5 | Rhine McLin | Democratic | 1994 |
| 6 | Chuck Horn | Republican | 1984 |
| 7 | Richard Finan | Republican | 1978 (Appt.) |
| 8 | Lou Blessing | Republican | 1996 |
| 9 | Mark Mallory | Democratic | 1998 |
| 10 | Merle G. Kearns | Republican | 1991 (Appt.) |
| 11 | Linda J. Furney | Democratic | 1986 |
| 12 | Robert R. Cupp | Republican | 1984 |
| 13 | Jeff Armbruster | Republican | 1998 |
| 14 | Doug White | Republican | 1996 (Appt.) |
| 15 | Ben Espy | Democratic | 1992 (Appt.) |
| 16 | Eugene J. Watts | Republican | 1984 |
| 17 | Michael Shoemaker | Democratic | 1997 (Appt.) |
| 18 | Robert A. Gardner | Republican | 1996 |
| 19 | Bill Harris | Republican | 2000 (Appt.) |
| 20 | James E. Carnes | Republican | 1995 (Appt.) |
| 21 | C.J. Prentiss | Democratic | 1998 |
| 22 | Grace L. Drake | Republican | 1984 (Appt.) |
| 23 | Dan Brady | Democratic | 1998 |
| 24 | Robert Spada | Republican | 1999 (Appt.) |
| 25 | Eric Fingerhut | Democratic | 1998 |
| 26 | Larry Mumper | Republican | 1997 (Appt.) |
| 27 | Roy Ray | Republican | 1986 |
| 28 | Leigh Herington | Democratic | 1995 (Appt.) |
| 29 | Scott Oelslager | Republican | 1985 (Appt.) |
| 30 | Gregory L. DiDonato | Democratic | 1996 |
| 31 | Jay Hottinger | Republican | 1998 (Appt.) |
| 32 | Anthony Latell Jr. | Democratic | 1992 |
| 33 | Bob Hagan | Democratic | 1997 (Appt.) |

## House of Representatives
### Leadership
#### Majority leadership

* Speaker of the House: Jo Ann Davidson
* President pro tempore of the Senate: Randy Gardner
* Floor Leader: Pat Tiberi
* Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Jim Buchy
* Majority Whip: Bill Harris
* Assistant Majority Whip: Larry Householder

#### Minority leadership

* Leader: Jack Ford
* Assistant Leader: Barbara C. Pringle
* Whip: Dan Metelsky
* Assistant Whip: Charlie Wilson

### Members of the 123rd Ohio House of Representatives

| District | Representative | Party | First Elected |
| 1 | John R. Willamowski | Republican | 1997 (Appt.) |
| 2 | George E. Terwilleger | Republican | 1992 |
| 3 | Sean D. Logan | Democratic | 1990 (Appt.) |
| 4 | Randy Gardner | Republican | 1985 (Appt.) |
| 5 | George Distel | Democratic | 1999 (Appt.) |
| 6 | Jon D. Myers | Republican | 1990 |
| 7 | Ron Amstutz | Republican | 1980 |
| 8 | Shirley Smith | Democratic | 1998 |
| 9 | Barbara Boyd | Democratic | 1992 |
| 10 | Troy Lee James | Democratic | 1967 |
| 11 | Peter Lawson Jones | Democratic | 1996 |
| 12 | John E. Barnes Jr. | Democratic | 1998 |
| 13 | Barbara C. Pringle | Democratic | 1982 (Appt.) |
| 14 | Ed Jerse | Democratic | 1995 (Appt.) |
| 15 | Jim Trakas | Republican | 1998 |
| 16 | Sally Conway Kilbane | Republican | 1998 |
| 17 | Bryan Flannery | Democratic | 1998 |
| 18 | Erin Sullivan | Democratic | 1998 (Appt.) |
| 19 | Dale Miller | Democratic | 1996 |
| 20 | Dean DePiero | Democratic | |
| 21 | Joyce Beatty | Democratic | 1999 (Appt.) |
| 22 | Ray Miller | Democratic | 1998 |
| 23 | Amy Salerno | Republican | 1994 |
| 24 | Jo Ann Davidson | Republican | 1980 |
| 25 | David Goodman | Republican | 1998 (Appt.) |
| 26 | Patrick Tiberi | Republican | |
| 27 | Jim Hughes | Republican | 2000 (Appt.) |
| 28 | Geoffrey C. Smith | Republican | 1998 |
| 29 | Larry Wolpert | Republican | |
| 30 | Samuel T. Britton | Democratic | 1994 |
| 31 | Catherine L. Barrett | Democratic | 1998 |
| 32 | Dale N. Van Vyven | Republican | 1978 (Appt.) |
| 33 | Jerome F. Luebbers | Democratic | 1978 |
| 34 | Cheryl Winkler | Republican | 1990 (Appt.) |
| 35 | Patricia Clancy | Republican | 1996 |
| 36 | Bob Schuler | Republican | 1992 |
| 37 | Jacquelyn K. O'Brien | Republican | 1986 |
| 38 | Dixie Allen | Democratic | 1998 (Appt.) |
| 39 | Tom Roberts | Democratic | 1986 (Appt.) |
| 40 | Jeff Jacobson | Republican | |
| 41 | Don Mottley | Republican | 1992 |
| 42 | Bob Corbin | Republican | 1976 |
| 43 | Bob Netzley | Republican | 1967 |
| 44 | Vernon Sykes | Democratic | 1983 (Appt.) |
| 45 | Bryan C. Williams | Republican | 1996 |
| 46 | Kevin Coughlin | Republican | 1996 |
| 47 | Betty Sutton | Democratic | |
| 48 | Twyla Roman | Republican | 1994 |
| 49 | Jack Ford | Democratic | 1994 |
| 50 | Jeanine Perry | Democratic | 1998 |
| 51 | Lynn Olman | Republican | 1995 (Appt.) |
| 52 | Jim Mettler | Republican | 1999 (Appt.) |
| 53 | Chris Redfern | Democratic | 1999 (Appt.) |
| 54 | William J. Healy | Democratic | 1974 |
| 55 | Kirk Schuring | Republican | 1994 |
| 56 | Mike Stevens | Democratic | 2000 (Appt.) |
| 57 | Ron Hood | Republican | 1994 |
| 58 | Gary Cates | Republican | 1995 (Appt.) |
| 59 | Greg Jolivette | Republican | 1997 (Appt.) |
| 60 | Gene Krebs | Republican | |
| 61 | Dan Metelsky | Democratic | 1996 (Appt.) |
| 62 | John Bender | Democratic | 1992 |
| 63 | Bill Taylor | Republican | 1994 |
| 64 | Sylvester Patton | Democratic | 1997 (Appt.) |
| 65 | Ron Gerberry | Democratic | 1974 |
| 66 | Michael G. Verich | Democratic | 1999 (Appt.) |
| 67 | June Lucas | Democratic | 1986 |
| 68 | Diane Grendell | Republican | 1992 |
| 69 | Ron Young | Republican | |
| 70 | Jamie Callender | Republican | 1996 |
| 71 | Sam Bateman | Republican | |
| 72 | Rose Vesper | Republican | |
| 73 | Ron Rhine | Democratic | |
| 74 | Chris Widener | Republican | 1999 (Appt.) |
| 75 | Ann H. Womer Benjamin | Republican | 1994 |
| 76 | Steve Austria | Republican | 1998 |
| 77 | David R. Evans | Republican | 1998 (Appt.) |
| 78 | Larry Householder | Republican | 1996 |
| 79 | William J. Hartnett | Democratic | 1998 (Appt.) |
| 80 | Joan Lawrence | Republican | 1982 |
| 81 | Chuck Calvert | Republican | 1998 |
| 82 | Steve Buehrer | Republican | 1998 |
| 83 | Jim Hoops | Republican | 1998 |
| 84 | Jim Buchy | Republican | |
| 85 | Jim Jordan | Republican | 1994 |
| 86 | Chuck Brading | Republican | |
| 87 | Tony Core | Republican | 1999 (Appt.) |
| 88 | Dennis Stapleton | Republican | 1996 (Appt.) |
| 89 | Rex Damschroder | Republican | 1994 |
| 90 | Randy Weston | Democratic | 1990 |
| 91 | Joseph P. Sulzer | Democratic | 1997 (Appt.) |
| 92 | William L. Ogg | Democratic | 1994 |
| 93 | Thom Collier | Republican | 2000 (Appt.) |
| 94 | John Carey | Republican | 1994 |
| 95 | Jim Aslanides | Republican | 1999 (Appt.) |
| 96 | Nancy P. Hollister | Republican | 1999 (Appt.) |
| 97 | Kerry R. Metzger | Republican | 1994 |
| 98 | Jerry W. Krupinski | Democratic | 1986 |
| 99 | Charlie Wilson | Democratic | 1996 |
Appt.- Member was appointed to current House Seat