# 122nd Ohio General Assembly

The One Hundred Twenty-second Ohio General Assembly was the legislative body of the state of Ohio in 1997 and 1998. In this General Assembly, both the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives were controlled by the Ohio Republican Party. In the Senate, there were 21 Republicans and 12 Democrats. In the House, there were 60 Republicans and 39 Democrats. It used redistricted legislative districts from the 1990 United States census.

## Major events
### Vacancies

* January 6, 1997: Senator Dennis Kucinich (D-23rd) resigns to take a seat in the United States House of Representatives.
* February 5, 1997: Senator Joseph Vukovich (D-33rd) resigns to take a seat on the Ohio 7th District Court of Appeals.
* February 5, 1997: Representative Ron Mottl (D-20th) resigns.
* February 8, 1997: Senator Jan Michael Long (D-17th) resigns to take a seat on the Probate Court of Pickaway County, Ohio.
* February 8, 1997: Representative Mike Shoemaker (D-91st) resigns to take a seat in the Ohio Senate.
* August 8, 1997: Representative Bill Thompson (R-1st) resigns to take a seat on the Ohio Industrial Commission.
* October 14, 1997: Representative Mike Fox (R-59th) resigns to become a Butler County, Ohio Commissioner.
* December 5, 1997: Senator Karen Gillmor (R-26th) resigns to become a member of the State Employment Relations Board.
* January 4, 1998: Representative Lloyd Lewis Jr. resigns to become City Commissioner of Dayton, Ohio.
* February 20, 1998: Senator Nancy Dix (R-31st) resigns.
* February 20, 1998: Representative Jay Hottinger (R-77th) resigns to become state Senator of the 31st District.
* May 1, 1998: Representative Jim Mason (R-25th) resigns to become a judge on the 10th District Court of Appeals.
* May 12, 1998: Representative Rocco Colonna (R-18th) resigns.
* September 16, 1998: Representative Frank Sawyer (D-79th) resigns due to health concerns.
* December 8, 1998: Representative Mike Verich (D-66th) resigns.
* December 16, 1998: Senator Jeffrey Johnson (D-21st) resigns.

### Appointments

* January 6, 1997: Patrick Sweeney appointed to the 23rd Senatorial District due to the resignation of Senator Dennis Kucinich.
* February 5, 1997: Mike Shoemaker is appointed to the 17th Senatorial District due to the resignation of Senator Jan Michael Long.
* February 5, 1997: Ron Mottl is appointed to the 20th House District due to the resignation of Representative Ron Mottl.
* February 8, 1997: Bob Hagan is appointed to the 33rd Senatorial District due to the resignation of Senator Joseph Vukovich.
* February 8, 1997: Joseph P. Sulzer is appointed to the 91st House District due to the resignation of Mike Shoemaker
* August 8, 1997: John Willamowski is appointed to the 1st House District due to the resignation of Bill Thompson
* October 15, 1997: Greg Jolivette is appointed to the 59th House District due to the resignation of Mike Fox.
* December 5, 1997: Larry Mumper is appointed to the 26th Senatorial District due to the resignation of Senator Karen Gillmor.
* January 6, 1998: Dixie Allen is appointed to the 38th House District due to the resignation of Lloyd Lewis Jr.
* February 20, 1998: David R. Evans is appointed to the 77th House District due to the resignation of Jay Hottinger.
* February 20, 1998: Jay Hottinger is appointed to the 31st Senatorial District due to the resignation of Senator Nancy Dix.
* May 12, 1998: David Goodman is appointed to the 25th House District due to the resignation of Jim Mason.
* June 23, 1998: Erin Sullivan is appointed to the 18th House District due to the resignation of Rocco Colonna.
* September 16, 1998: William J. Hartnett is appointed to the 79th House District due to the resignation of Frank Sawyer.
* December 8, 1998: Chris Verich is appointed to the 66th House District due to the resignation of Mike Verich.

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

* President of the Senate: Richard Finan
* President pro tempore of the Senate: Robert R. Cupp
* Assistant pro tempore: Eugene J. Watts
* Whip: Nancy Dix

#### Minority leadership

* Leader: Ben Espy
* Assistant Leader: Linda J. Furney
* Whip: Jeffrey Johnson
* Assistant Whip: Leigh Herington

### Members of the 122nd Ohio Senate

| District | Senator | Party | First elected |
| 1 | M. Ben Gaeth | Republican | 1974 |
| 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 | Janet C. Howard | Republican | 1994 |
| 10 | Merle G. Kearns | Republican | 1991 (Appt.) |
| 11 | Linda J. Furney | Democratic | 1986 |
| 12 | Robert R. Cupp | Republican | 1984 |
| 13 | Alan Zaleski | Democrat | 1982 |
| 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 | Richard Schafrath | Republican | 1986 |
| 20 | James E. Carnes | Republican | 1995 (Appt.) |
| 21 | Jeffrey Johnson | Democratic | 1990 (Appt.) |
| 22 | Grace L. Drake | Republican | 1984 (Appt.) |
| 23 | Patrick Sweeney | Democratic | 1997 (Appt.) |
| 24 | Gary C. Suhadolnik | Republican | 1980 |
| 25 | Judy Sheerer | Democratic | 1992 (Appt.) |
| 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 House: William G. Batchelder
* Floor Leader: Randy Gardner
* Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Pat Tiberi
* Majority Whip: Jim Buchy
* Assistant Majority Whip: Bill Harris

#### Minority leadership

* Leader: Ross Boggs
* Assistant Leader: Johnnie Maier
* Whip: Charleta Taveres
* Assistant Whip: Tom Roberts

### Members of the 122nd 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 | Ross Boggs | Democratic | 1982 |
| 6 | Jon D. Myers | Republican | 1990 |
| 7 | Ron Amstutz | Republican | 1980 |
| 8 | C.J. Prentiss | Democratic | 1990 |
| 9 | Barbara Boyd | Democratic | 1992 |
| 10 | Troy Lee James | Democratic | 1967 |
| 11 | Peter Lawson Jones | Democratic | 1996 |
| 12 | Vermel Whalen | Democratic | 1986 (Appt.) |
| 13 | Barbara C. Pringle | Democratic | 1982 (Appt.) |
| 14 | Ed Jerse | Democratic | 1995 (Appt.) |
| 15 | Mike Wise | Republican | 1992 |
| 16 | Ed Kasputis | Republican | 1990 |
| 17 | Dan Brady | Democratic | 1996 |
| 18 | Erin Sullivan | Democratic | 1998 (Appt.) |
| 19 | Dale Miller | Democratic | 1996 |
| 20 | Ron Mottl | Democratic | 1997 (Appt.) |
| 21 | Otto Beatty Jr. | Democratic | 1980 (Appt.) |
| 22 | Charleta Tavares | Democratic | 1993 (Appt.) |
| 23 | Amy Salerno | Republican | 1994 |
| 24 | Jo Ann Davidson | Republican | 1980 |
| 25 | David Goodman | Republican | 1998 (Appt.) |
| 26 | Patrick Tiberi | Republican | |
| 27 | E. J. Thomas | Republican | |
| 28 | Priscilla D. Mead | Republican | 1992 |
| 29 | Bill Schuck | Republican | |
| 30 | Samuel T. Britton | Democratic | 1994 |
| 31 | Mark Mallory | Democratic | 1994 |
| 32 | Dale N. Van Vyven | Republican | |
| 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 | 1992 |
| 48 | Twyla Roman | Republican | 1994 |
| 49 | Jack Ford | Democratic | 1994 |
| 50 | John Garcia | Republican | 1994 |
| 51 | Lynn Olman | Republican | 1995 (Appt.) |
| 52 | Sally Perz | Republican | 1992 |
| 53 | Darrell Opfer | Democratic | 1992 |
| 54 | William J. Healy | Democratic | 1974 |
| 55 | Kirk Schuring | Republican | 1994 |
| 56 | Johnnie Maier Jr. | Democratic | 1990 |
| 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 | Chris Verich | Democratic | 1998 |
| 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 | David Hartley | Democratic | |
| 74 | Joe Haines | Republican | 1980 |
| 75 | Ann H. Womer Benjamin | Republican | 1994 |
| 76 | Marilyn Reid | Republican | 1992 |
| 77 | Jay Hottinger | Republican | |
| 78 | Larry Householder | Republican | 1996 |
| 79 | William J. Hartnett | Democratic | 1998 (Appt.) |
| 87 | Joan Lawrence | Republican | 1982 |
| 81 | William G. Batchelder | Republican | 1968 |
| 82 | Richard Hodges | Republican | 1992 |
| 83 | Lynn Wachtmann | Republican | 1984 |
| 84 | Jim Buchy | Republican | |
| 85 | Jim Jordan | Republican | 1994 |
| 86 | Chuck Brading | Republican | |
| 87 | Ed Core | Republican | |
| 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 | Bill Harris | Republican | 1994 |
| 94 | John Carey | Republican | 1994 |
| 95 | Joy Padgett | Republican | 1992 |
| 96 | Tom Johnson | Republican | 1976 |
| 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