Chris Widener
Encyclopedia
Chris Widener is a member of the Ohio Senate
. Widener represents the 10th Senate District, which includes Madison, Clark and Greene counties. Before the Senate, he served three terms in the Ohio House of Representatives
. He is the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
, Widener served two terms on the Mad River-Greene Local Board of Education before starting his legislative career. His resume includes a stint as a civil service architect at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
, where he also served as the base's first full-time historic preservation officer.
Widener was appointed to his first term as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives in 1999, however, he lost his primary bid for reelection to Merle G. Kearns
, a prominent state Senator who was facing term limits. However, after redistricting occurred in 2002, Widener won a term beginning in 2003.
In the 2004 cycle, Widener again faced a primary challenge against fellow Republican Robert Rogers III. He defeated Rogers by about 10,000 votes. He easily won reelection in 2006.
term limited and running for Congress, Widener declared his candidacy for the seat in 2008. In the primary, he faced W. Reed Madden and James Howard, and won about 67% of the electorate. In the general election, Widener faced Clark County
Commissioner Roger Tackett. While Democrats initially thought the district as potentially competitive, Widener won by 39,000 votes.
Widener served as Chairman of the Energy & Public Utilities Committee in the 128th General Assembly. In the 129th General Assembly, Senate President Tom Niehaus
has named Widener as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, as well as a member of the Senate Rules and Reference Committee; Government Oversight and Reform Committee; and Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee. He is also serving on the Controlling Board; and the State Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
With Wright Patterson Air Force Base and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Widener's district, he has introduced a proposal to bring a retired space shuttle
to the area after they are taken out of commission. Ohio was ultimately ruled out as a currator Space Shuttle.
A Chairman of the Finance Committee, Widener will plays a leading role in shaping the biennium budget. Notable issues will include local government, education, and the privatization measure JobsOhio. With Ohio Governor John Kasich
introducing a budget that brings expansive cuts to much of the budget, Widener has presided over one of the more difficult budgets in recent Ohio history.
Widener was a key player on the conference committee on the budget, where the budget was finished, and helped to pass the final budget for 2012-2013.
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...
. Widener represents the 10th Senate District, which includes Madison, Clark and Greene counties. Before the Senate, he served three terms in 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....
. He is the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
Career
After graduation 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....
, Widener served two terms on the Mad River-Greene Local Board of Education before starting his legislative career. His resume includes a stint as a civil service architect at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
, where he also served as the base's first full-time historic preservation officer.
Widener was appointed to his first term as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives in 1999, however, he lost his primary bid for reelection to Merle G. Kearns
Merle G. Kearns
Merle Kearns is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives representing the 72nd House district and serving as Majority Leader in the 126th General Assembly. Prior to her stint in the Ohio House, Kearns was a member of the Ohio Senate from 1991 to 2000, representing the 10th Senate...
, a prominent state Senator who was facing term limits. However, after redistricting occurred in 2002, Widener won a term beginning in 2003.
In the 2004 cycle, Widener again faced a primary challenge against fellow Republican Robert Rogers III. He defeated Rogers by about 10,000 votes. He easily won reelection in 2006.
Ohio Senate
With incumbent Steve AustriaSteve Austria
Stephen Clement "Steve" Austria is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches from Springfield to the southern suburbs of Columbus....
term limited and running for Congress, Widener declared his candidacy for the seat in 2008. In the primary, he faced W. Reed Madden and James Howard, and won about 67% of the electorate. In the general election, Widener faced Clark County
Clark County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 144,742 people, 56,648 households, and 39,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 362 people per square mile . There were 61,056 housing units at an average density of 153 per square mile...
Commissioner Roger Tackett. While Democrats initially thought the district as potentially competitive, Widener won by 39,000 votes.
Widener served as Chairman of the Energy & Public Utilities Committee in the 128th General Assembly. In the 129th General Assembly, 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...
has named Widener as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, as well as a member of the Senate Rules and Reference Committee; Government Oversight and Reform Committee; and Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee. He is also serving on the Controlling Board; and the State Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
Aeronautics
With Wright Patterson Air Force Base and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Widener's district, he has introduced a proposal to bring a retired space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
to the area after they are taken out of commission. Ohio was ultimately ruled out as a currator Space Shuttle.
Finance and budgetary issues
A Chairman of the Finance Committee, Widener will plays a leading role in shaping the biennium budget. Notable issues will include local government, education, and the privatization measure JobsOhio. With Ohio Governor John Kasich
John Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
introducing a budget that brings expansive cuts to much of the budget, Widener has presided over one of the more difficult budgets in recent Ohio history.
Widener was a key player on the conference committee on the budget, where the budget was finished, and helped to pass the final budget for 2012-2013.
External links
- The Ohio Senate: Senator Chris Widener (R-Springfield) official website