Clara Weisenborn
Encyclopedia
Clara E. Weisenborn was a Republican Ohio
politician who served in the Ohio General Assembly
. Born in Dayton
, Weisenborn was a journalist
by trade for the Journal Herald, a prominent Dayton newspaper. She was initially elected to the Ohio House of Representatives
in 1952, and served seven consecutive terms in the House. In 1966, Weisenborn was elected to the Ohio Senate
, following the Voting Rights Act of 1965. She was reelected to a second term in 1970.
An advocate for women's rights
, Weisenborn challenged and was critical of the fact that no women served as committee chairs in the Ohio legislature. Ultimately, she became one of the first, as chair of the Senate Education Committee.
By 1974, the Fifth Senate District was equally distributed among Republicans and Democrats, and Weisenborn was considered vulnerable in her bid for a third term. She was challenged by Neal Zimmers
, who was an attorney in Dayton. Ultimately, Weisenborn lost the election, in a year where Democrats took control of both houses of the state legislature. In all, Weisenborn served twenty two years as a legislator.
Following her time in elected office, Weisenborn returned to Dayton where she remained active in gardening and her local historical society
, as well as championing many park districts throughout the Miami Valley
. She died in 1985.
Ohio Republican Party
The Ohio Republican Party is the Ohio state affiliate of the United States Republican Party. It was founded in Columbus, Ohio on February 13, 1854. Kevin DeWine has been chairman of the Ohio GOP since 2009...
politician who served in the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
. Born in Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, Weisenborn was a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
by trade for the Journal Herald, a prominent Dayton newspaper. She was initially elected to 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....
in 1952, and served seven consecutive terms in the House. In 1966, Weisenborn was elected to 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...
, following the Voting Rights Act of 1965. She was reelected to a second term in 1970.
An advocate for women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
, Weisenborn challenged and was critical of the fact that no women served as committee chairs in the Ohio legislature. Ultimately, she became one of the first, as chair of the Senate Education Committee.
By 1974, the Fifth Senate District was equally distributed among Republicans and Democrats, and Weisenborn was considered vulnerable in her bid for a third term. She was challenged by Neal Zimmers
Neal Zimmers
Neal Zimmers is an Ohio Democratic politician and a former member of the Ohio Senate. An attorney, Zimmers initially opted to run for elected office in 1974, when he challenged Senator Clara Weisenborn for the Fifth District. A competitive district, Weisenborn was initially favored, but Zimmers...
, who was an attorney in Dayton. Ultimately, Weisenborn lost the election, in a year where Democrats took control of both houses of the state legislature. In all, Weisenborn served twenty two years as a legislator.
Following her time in elected office, Weisenborn returned to Dayton where she remained active in gardening and her local historical society
Historical society
A historical society is an organization that collects, researches, interprets and preserves information or items of historical interest. Generally, a historical society focuses on a specific geographical area, such as a county or town or subject, such as aviation or rail. Many historical...
, as well as championing many park districts throughout the Miami Valley
Miami Valley
The Miami Valley, broadly, refers to the land area surrounding the Great Miami River in southwest Ohio, USA, and also includes the Little Miami, Mad, and Stillwater rivers as well...
. She died in 1985.