Cliff Hite
Encyclopedia
Cliff Hite was an American high school teacher and coach who represents the First District in the Ohio Senate
. He also serves as the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
in 1977 in Secondary Studies with an emphasis in social studies.
Upon graduating from UK, Hite served in four school districts as teacher. From 1977 to 1980, Hite taught in Danville, Kentucky
at Danville High School
. In 1980, Hite returned to Findlay for the first of three years as a teacher at Findlay High School
. Hite spent from 1983 to 1996 teaching at Bryan High School
in Bryan, Ohio
. In 1996, Hite returned to Findlay High School where he remained until 2006 when he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives
.
The decisions which probably garnered Hite the most national attention during his coaching tenure were those surrounding Ben Roethlisberger
, now the starting quarterback
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
. Roethlisberger did not play quarterback until his senior year of 1999-2000, giving way to the Cliff Hite's son, Ryan Hite. Roethslisberger played college quarterback at Division I Miami University
in Oxford, Ohio
. Roethlisberger holds every major passing record at the school and a number of passing records in the Mid-American Conference
although he only played for three years. Ryan Hite played college wide receiver at Division III Denison University
where he set numerous receiving records.
Hite was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives
in 2006, defeating Democrat John Kostyo with 59.94% of the vote. In 2008, he won reelection with 98.39% of the vote, and in 2010, won a third term with 70.78% of the vote over Democrat Jeffrey Detmer.
's pending resignation from the Ohio Senate
to head the Bureau of Worker's Compensation under Governor-elect John Kasich
, Hite was mentioned as a possible successor.
It was announced that Hite would be appointed to the Senate in January 2011. Upon announcement of the appointment, Senate President Tom Niehaus
stated “Cliff Hite knows the many challenges that are facing our state, but he is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and delve into the issues.”
On February 1, 2011, Hite was sworn into the Senate. He serves on the committees of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources (as Chairman); Education; Financial Institutions; and Government Oversight and Reform. He also serves on the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee; and the
Environmental Education Council.
In regards to a controversial voting bill, Hite is in favor of requiring photo ID to cast a ballot, but wants to ensure that the state is able to provide free IDs if necessary.
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...
. He also serves as the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
Career
Hite graduated from Findlay High School in 1972, and obtained his B.S. degree from the University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in 1977 in Secondary Studies with an emphasis in social studies.
Upon graduating from UK, Hite served in four school districts as teacher. From 1977 to 1980, Hite taught in Danville, Kentucky
Danville, Kentucky
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln counties....
at Danville High School
Danville High School (Kentucky)
Danville High School is a public high school serving the ninth through twelfth grades in Danville, Kentucky, USA. It is one of five schools and the only high school in the Danville School district.-School information:...
. In 1980, Hite returned to Findlay for the first of three years as a teacher at Findlay High School
Findlay High School
Findlay High School is a public high school in Findlay, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Findlay City School District, and the second largest high school in northwest Ohio. Their nickname is the Trojans. They are members of the Three Rivers Athletic Conference. The new conference is going to...
. Hite spent from 1983 to 1996 teaching at Bryan High School
Bryan High School (Bryan, Ohio)
Bryan High School is a public high school in Bryan, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Bryan City Schools district. Their nickname is the Golden Bears. They are members of the Northwest Ohio Athletic League and are the largest school participating in the league...
in Bryan, Ohio
Bryan, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,333 people, 3,528 households, and 2,155 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,821.7 people per square mile . There were 3,733 housing units at an average density of 816.1 per square mile...
. In 1996, Hite returned to Findlay High School where he remained until 2006 when he was 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....
.
The decisions which probably garnered Hite the most national attention during his coaching tenure were those surrounding Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
, now the starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. Roethlisberger did not play quarterback until his senior year of 1999-2000, giving way to the Cliff Hite's son, Ryan Hite. Roethslisberger played college quarterback at Division I Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
. Roethlisberger holds every major passing record at the school and a number of passing records in the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
although he only played for three years. Ryan Hite played college wide receiver at Division III Denison University
Denison University
Denison University is private, coeducational, and residential college of liberal arts and sciences founded in 1831. It is located in Granville, Ohio, United States, approximately 30 miles east of Columbus, the state capital...
where he set numerous receiving records.
Hite was 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 2006, defeating Democrat John Kostyo with 59.94% of the vote. In 2008, he won reelection with 98.39% of the vote, and in 2010, won a third term with 70.78% of the vote over Democrat Jeffrey Detmer.
Ohio Senate
Representative Hite was sworn into a third term on January 3, 2011, however, with Senator Steve BuehrerSteve Buehrer
Stephen P. Buehrer is a former Republican member of the Ohio Senate who represented the 1st District, and was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Congress in the special election for Ohio's 5th congressional district to replace the late Paul Gillmor...
's pending resignation from 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...
to head the Bureau of Worker's Compensation under Governor-elect 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...
, Hite was mentioned as a possible successor.
It was announced that Hite would be appointed to the Senate in January 2011. Upon announcement of the appointment, 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...
stated “Cliff Hite knows the many challenges that are facing our state, but he is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and delve into the issues.”
On February 1, 2011, Hite was sworn into the Senate. He serves on the committees of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources (as Chairman); Education; Financial Institutions; and Government Oversight and Reform. He also serves on the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee; and the
Environmental Education Council.
Initiatives, policies and positions
Hite was suddenly appointed to the Insurance, Commerce and Labor committee that then voted to pass Senate Bill 5, which increases taxpayer control over public employees' contracts, to the full Senate for a vote. Although the bill would impact public teachers (his former profession), Senator Hite voted for it. On the floor of the Senate, Sen. Hite explained his vote. He told a story about his senior year in high school, when he had finally worked hard enough to start for the Findlay football team. However, the teachers' union went on strike that year, placing his senior season in jeopardy. He explained how he voted for the bill out of respect for his former football coach, who crossed the picket line in order to coach.In regards to a controversial voting bill, Hite is in favor of requiring photo ID to cast a ballot, but wants to ensure that the state is able to provide free IDs if necessary.
External links
- The Ohio Senate: Senator Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) official site