Bill Seitz
Encyclopedia
Bill Seitz is a Republican
member of the Ohio Senate
, who has represented the 8th District since his appointment in October 2007. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from 2001 until 2007.
, Seitz worked as a member of the Cincinnati Board of Education, and as a Green Township Trustee
. Since 1978, Seitz has been a partner a partner in the Taft, Stettinius and Hollister law firm.
With incumbent Representative Cheryl Winkler
unable to run again due to term limits, Seitz was nominated to succeed her in 2000. He handily won election in 2000, and was reelected in 2002, 2004 and 2006.
In 2004, Seitz was mentioned as a potential successor to Lou Blessing
in the Ohio Senate. However, he chose to remain in the House, and the Senate seat was won by Patty Clancy
. When Merle Kearns resigned midway through 2005 to take a place in the cabinet of Governor Bob Taft
her assistant majority whip position became open, and colleagues appointed Seitz to take her place. Seitz served as majority whip in the 127th General Assembly.
announced that she would resign her seat midway through 2007, Seitz was mentioned as the frontrunner for the appointment to replace her. In October 2007, Senate Republicans appointed Seitz to finish the remainder of Clancy's term. Seitz easily won election to the seat in 2008.
For the 129th General Assembly, Seitz ran for a leadership position, but lost President Pro Tempore to Keith Faber
and Majority Leader to Jimmy Stewart. He is a non-voting member of the Hamilton County Transportation Improvement District. He sits on the committees of Energy and Public Utilities; and Judiciary. He also serves on the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, and the RECLAIM Advisory Committee.
After Seitz voted against the controversial legislation that would greatly hamper collective bargaining
for public employees, Senate President Tom Niehaus
stripped him of his chairmanship of the Senate Government Oversight Committee. While Niehaus stated that it was due to him failing to keep another member informed about changes to a bill, many have speculated it was a political repercussion for voting against the measure. Seitz has called the move unacceptable and disagrees with the decision. Seitz later struck back with a memo stating that Faber had falsely accused him of doing so, stating that both Niehaus and Faber had acted disingenuously.
A former roommate with Niehaus, Seitz moved out following his removal as chairman, saying, "I don't have the money for those high-priced digs since I lost my chairmanship."
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
, who has represented the 8th District since his appointment in October 2007. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
from 2001 until 2007.
Career
After graduating from the University of CincinnatiUniversity of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, Seitz worked as a member of the Cincinnati Board of Education, and as a Green Township Trustee
Green Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Green Township is one of the twelve townships of Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 55,660 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the west central part of the county, it borders the following townships and city:...
. Since 1978, Seitz has been a partner a partner in the Taft, Stettinius and Hollister law firm.
With incumbent Representative Cheryl Winkler
Cheryl Winkler
Cheryl Winkler was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, serving a suburban Cincinnati, Ohio district from an appointment in 1990 until 2000. Winkler began her career in public service as a Green Township Trustee, and went on to become the Clerk of Green Township. In 1990, Representative...
unable to run again due to term limits, Seitz was nominated to succeed her in 2000. He handily won election in 2000, and was reelected in 2002, 2004 and 2006.
In 2004, Seitz was mentioned as a potential successor to Lou Blessing
Lou Blessing
Louis W. Blessing Jr. of Cincinnati, Ohio, is an American politician of the Republican party. He is Speaker pro tempore of the Ohio House of Representatives.-Career:...
in the Ohio Senate. However, he chose to remain in the House, and the Senate seat was won by Patty Clancy
Patty Clancy
Patricia M. Clancy is a former Republican member of the Ohio General Assembly, representing the 8th District from 2005 to 2007. She is the daughter of former Cincinnati Mayor and U.S. Congressman Donald D. Clancy. Clancy first ran for the Ohio House of Representatives in 1996, after Representative...
. When Merle Kearns resigned midway through 2005 to take a place in the cabinet of Governor Bob Taft
Bob Taft
Robert Alphonso "Bob" Taft II is an Ohio Republican Party politician. He was elected to two terms of office as the 67th Governor of the U.S. state of Ohio between 1999-2007. After leaving office, Taft started working for the University of Dayton beginning August 15, 2007.-Personal background:Taft...
her assistant majority whip position became open, and colleagues appointed Seitz to take her place. Seitz served as majority whip in the 127th General Assembly.
Ohio Senate
When Senator Patty ClancyPatty Clancy
Patricia M. Clancy is a former Republican member of the Ohio General Assembly, representing the 8th District from 2005 to 2007. She is the daughter of former Cincinnati Mayor and U.S. Congressman Donald D. Clancy. Clancy first ran for the Ohio House of Representatives in 1996, after Representative...
announced that she would resign her seat midway through 2007, Seitz was mentioned as the frontrunner for the appointment to replace her. In October 2007, Senate Republicans appointed Seitz to finish the remainder of Clancy's term. Seitz easily won election to the seat in 2008.
For the 129th General Assembly, Seitz ran for a leadership position, but lost President Pro Tempore to Keith Faber
Keith Faber
Keith Lloyd Faber is a Republican member of the Ohio Senate who has represented the 12th District since his appointment in January 2007. He also serves as President pro tempore, the second highest post in the Senate and as Chairman of the Committee on Government Oversight and Reform...
and Majority Leader to Jimmy Stewart. He is a non-voting member of the Hamilton County Transportation Improvement District. He sits on the committees of Energy and Public Utilities; and Judiciary. He also serves on the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, and the RECLAIM Advisory Committee.
After Seitz voted against the controversial legislation that would greatly hamper collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
for public employees, Senate President Tom Niehaus
Tom Niehaus
Tom Niehaus is a Republican member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 14th District since 2005. Previously he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2000 until 2004. Niehaus succeeded Ohio Senate President Doug White, who was prevented by Ohio's term limits law from running for...
stripped him of his chairmanship of the Senate Government Oversight Committee. While Niehaus stated that it was due to him failing to keep another member informed about changes to a bill, many have speculated it was a political repercussion for voting against the measure. Seitz has called the move unacceptable and disagrees with the decision. Seitz later struck back with a memo stating that Faber had falsely accused him of doing so, stating that both Niehaus and Faber had acted disingenuously.
A former roommate with Niehaus, Seitz moved out following his removal as chairman, saying, "I don't have the money for those high-priced digs since I lost my chairmanship."
External links
- The Ohio Senate: Senator Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) official site
- Senator William Seitz at Project Vote Smart
- Follow the Money - Bill Seitz