Ohio Senate rejects 78 Strickland appointments, including SSCC board member
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The Ohio Senate has rejected 78 appointments made by Gov. Ted Strickland this year, including an appointment to the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees.
According to a report from the Senate's standing committee on rules, among the 78 rejected appointments was "Judith A. Craig, Democrat, from Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio, as a ember of the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees for a term beginning Aug. 25, 2010 and ending at the close of business May 11, 2016."
Craig is a member of the Fayette County Board of Elections and serves on the Democratic Executive Committee in Fayette County.
Sen. John Carey told The Highland County Press those appointed prior to the Nov. 2 midterm election were approved and those appointed after the election were rejected, as a group.
"This was about the timing of the appointments, not about the individuals," Carey said. "The Senate chose not to approve those appointed after the election."
Craig had been appointed by Strickland to the board in September, along with fellow Fayette County resident Donald Moore.
In June, Strickland had appointed Michelle Phillips Cimis of Highland County and Leilani Popp of Clinton County. Craig, Cimis, Moore and Popp were each sworn in to serve as board members by Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss during a Sept. 8 board meeting.
Cimis, Moore and Popp were each on a list of appointments approved by the Senate on Tuesday.
Carey said that while he did not know SSCC board member Judith Craig of Washington C.H., she could re-apply for her position on the board.
"The good news is that all of these appointments by the governor can re-apply."
Craig declined to comment to The Highland County Press on Tuesday.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, "Senate President Bill Harris, (R-Ashland) has said the Senate would reject appointees in 'key policy positions' to allow Republican Gov.-elect John Kasich to choose his own people."
This Dispatch also reported that "the Senate voted 18-12 to reject the appointments, with Republican Sen. Kevin Coughlin joining all the Democrats in supporting them."
In addition to rejections to various boards of education and boards of trustees, the senate also rejected "all seven members of the Casino Commission: Jerry Chabler, William Kirkham, Joseph Rugola of Westerville, Greta Hartgrove Russell of Columbus, Charles "Rocky" Saxbe of Columbus, John Wainscott and Vanessa Whiting; and Three members of the Bureau of Workers' Compensation Board: Alison Falls, James Harris of Gahanna, and William Lhota of Worthington," according to the Dispatch.
Sen. Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) said Tuesday, that the Senate had never previously rejected as many governor's appointments at one time, and that the largest number of rejections prior to Tuesday was 13 in 1990.
Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern issued a statement following Tuesday's vote calling it an act of "shameless political retribution"
"This partisan act dripping with political overtones will not soon be forgotten. Gov.-elect Kasich stood by as a witness instead of a leader as seventy-eight of Ohio's best leaders were thrown aside. Dedicated women, men, African Americans, Indian Americans and so many others were rejected in a wanton act of shameless political retribution," Redfern said.
The Ohio Senate has rejected 78 appointments made by Gov. Ted Strickland this year, including an appointment to the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees.
According to a report from the Senate's standing committee on rules, among the 78 rejected appointments was "Judith A. Craig, Democrat, from Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio, as a member of the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees for a term beginning Aug. 25, 2010 and ending at the close of business May 11, 2016."
Craig is a member of the Fayette County Board of Elections and serves on the Democratic Executive Committee in Fayette County.
Sen. John Carey told The Highland County Press those appointed prior to the Nov. 2 midterm election were approved and those appointed after the election were rejected, as a group.
"This was about the timing of the appointments, not about the individuals," Carey said. "The Senate chose not to approve those appointed after the election."
Craig had been appointed by Strickland to the board in September, along with fellow Fayette County resident Donald Moore.
In June, Strickland had appointed Michelle Phillips Cimis of Highland County and Leilani Popp of Clinton County. Craig, Cimis, Moore and Popp were each sworn in to serve as board members by Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss during a Sept. 8 board meeting.
Cimis, Moore and Popp were each on a list of appointments approved by the Senate on Tuesday.
Carey said that while he did not know SSCC board member Judith Craig of Washington C.H., she could re-apply for her position on the board.
"The good news is that all of these appointments by the governor can re-apply," Carey said.
Craig declined to comment to The Highland County Press on Tuesday.
SSCC President Dr. Kevin Boys said that the college will have to start the process over again in waiting for an appointment from the governor's office.
SSCC President Dr. Kevin Boys said that the college will have to start the process over again in waiting for an appointment from the governor's office.
"We have received no communication from the Senate about any of these appointments, and (Craig) hadn't been contacted or given any reason as well," Boys said. "We are surprised and disappointed. She was sworn in in September and has served faithfully on the board. And on a personal note, I have appreciated her contributions and participation on the board, and we will miss her."
SSCC has nine board positions, which represent Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette and Highland Counties. In addition to the board members appointed over the summer, the board includes Kay Ayres, Highland County; Rory Ryan, Adams County; Vicki Wilson, Clinton County; Paul Hall, Brown County; Ben Houser, Brown County.
"The governor-elect (John Kasich) has some high priorities, and we're not sure when he'll get to this," Boys said. "This may have been something as simple as a clerical error that put her on the wrong list, so perhaps if she reapplies she will be appointed. It certainly is out of our hands. It is the governor's prerogative to make these appointments that Senate confirms or rejects, and the college will, with whatever appointments are made, make an effective board."
Boys said that in the time Craig has been on the board he does not recall there being any close votes that could be called into question. However, he said that previously the college had received a legal opinion from the Ohio Attorney Generals' office that stated "even prior to confirmation, those trustees could vote on all matters."
According to The Columbus Dispatch, "Senate President Bill Harris, (R-Ashland) has said the Senate would reject appointees in 'key policy positions' to allow Republican Gov.-elect John Kasich to choose his own people."
The Dispatch also reported that "the Senate voted 18-12 to reject the appointments, with Republican Sen. Kevin Coughlin joining all the Democrats in supporting them."
In addition to rejections to various boards of education and boards of trustees, the senate also rejected "all seven members of the Casino Commission: Jerry Chabler, William Kirkham, Joseph Rugola of Westerville, Greta Hartgrove Russell of Columbus, Charles "Rocky" Saxbe of Columbus, John Wainscott and Vanessa Whiting; and Three members of the Bureau of Workers' Compensation Board: Alison Falls, James Harris of Gahanna, and William Lhota of Worthington," according to The Dispatch.
Sen. Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) said Tuesday, that the Senate had never previously rejected as many governor's appointments at one time, and that the largest number of rejections prior to Tuesday was 13 in 1990.
Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern issued a statement following Tuesday's vote calling it an act of "shameless political retribution"
"This partisan act dripping with political overtones will not soon be forgotten. Gov.-elect Kasich stood by as a witness instead of a leader as seventy-eight of Ohio's best leaders were thrown aside. Dedicated women, men, African Americans, Indian Americans and so many others were rejected in a wanton act of shameless political retribution," Redfern said.
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