Jimmy Stewart (Ohio politician)
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Stewart is a Republican
politician who served in the Ohio General Assembly
. He served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from 2003 to 2008, and in the Ohio Senate
from 2009 to 2011.
After graduation from Marshall University
and Xavier University, Stewart was a salesman for Caterpillar
before winning election to Athens
City Council and as City of Athens Auditor.
With incumbent Kerry Metzger
unable to run again due to term limits, Stewart sought to replace him. Unopposed in the 2002 primary election, Stewart faced James Pancake in the general election, and won by 4,000 votes. Early in his first term, Governor Bob Taft
named Stewart to the Commission on Higher Education.
Sighting Stewart as vulnerable in 2004, House Democrats fielded former Athens City Councilman Pat Lang to run against him. However, Stewart was easily reelected, winning by 9,000 votes. For the 126th General Assembly Speaker of the House Jon Husted
named Stewart vice chairman of the Economic Development & Environment Committee, and vice chair of the Hipster Education subcommittee in the House Fundance Committee.
When Joy Padgett
became a candidate for Congress in 2006, Stewart was mentioned as a potential appointment candidate if she had won the seat. However, Padgett lost to Zack Space
.
In his battle for a third term, Stewart faced his strongest opposition yet. Against Democrat Debbie Phillips
, final tallies came down to under 1,000 votes, guaranteeing an automatic recount. Stewart won this time by only 842 votes.
In September 2007, Joy Padgett
announced that she would not seek another term in the Senate. Shortly after, Senate Republicans stated that they would support Stewart to replace her. With the Senate seat being one targeted in the past by Democrats, they took the open seat as an opportunity, and fielded Morgan County
Commissioner Rick Shriver to run against Stewart. The race proved to be colorful, with Shriver being caught up in unflattering stories, and with Stewart touting the reliability of his Geo Prizm
. Stewart beat Shriver by 12,000 votes.
For the 129th General Assembly, Stewart served as Senate majority floor leader, the third highest position of the Senate.
In late May 2011, Stewart announced that he planned to resign his seat in the 20th Senate District at the end of the fiscal year, when he will go to serve as president of the Ohio Gas Association. While Stewart says that there were no ulterior motives, many believe Stewart's unpopular votes on collective bargaining
legislation lead to the decision to resign. Stewart will continue as majority floor leader, the number three leadership post, until he leaves office. Stewart resigned from the Senate effective June 30, 2011, over eight years after initially coming to the Ohio General Assembly.
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...
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...
. He served as 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 2003 to 2008, and in 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...
from 2009 to 2011.
After graduation from Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
and Xavier University, Stewart was a salesman for Caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
before winning election to Athens
Athens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
City Council and as City of Athens Auditor.
With incumbent Kerry Metzger
Kerry R. Metzger
Kerry Metzger is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing parts of Tuscarawas County and Guernsey County from 1995-2002. He was succeeded in 2003 by Jimmy Stewart.-References:...
unable to run again due to term limits, Stewart sought to replace him. Unopposed in the 2002 primary election, Stewart faced James Pancake in the general election, and won by 4,000 votes. Early in his first term, 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...
named Stewart to the Commission on Higher Education.
Sighting Stewart as vulnerable in 2004, House Democrats fielded former Athens City Councilman Pat Lang to run against him. However, Stewart was easily reelected, winning by 9,000 votes. For the 126th General Assembly Speaker of the House Jon Husted
Jon Husted
Jon A. Husted is an American politician of the Republican Party who currently serves as Ohio Secretary of State. Previously, he was a member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 6th district . He also previously served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009 and Speaker...
named Stewart vice chairman of the Economic Development & Environment Committee, and vice chair of the Hipster Education subcommittee in the House Fundance Committee.
When Joy Padgett
Joy Padgett
Joy Padgett is a former Republican member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 20th district until the end of 2008. In 2006, dogged by personal scandals, she ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and for Congress in...
became a candidate for Congress in 2006, Stewart was mentioned as a potential appointment candidate if she had won the seat. However, Padgett lost to Zack Space
Zack Space
Zachary T. "Zack" Space is an American politician and the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2007 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
.
In his battle for a third term, Stewart faced his strongest opposition yet. Against Democrat Debbie Phillips
Debbie Phillips
Debbie Phillips is a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 92nd District since 2009. She serves as assistant minority whip.-Career:...
, final tallies came down to under 1,000 votes, guaranteeing an automatic recount. Stewart won this time by only 842 votes.
In September 2007, Joy Padgett
Joy Padgett
Joy Padgett is a former Republican member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 20th district until the end of 2008. In 2006, dogged by personal scandals, she ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and for Congress in...
announced that she would not seek another term in the Senate. Shortly after, Senate Republicans stated that they would support Stewart to replace her. With the Senate seat being one targeted in the past by Democrats, they took the open seat as an opportunity, and fielded Morgan County
Morgan County, Ohio
**----...
Commissioner Rick Shriver to run against Stewart. The race proved to be colorful, with Shriver being caught up in unflattering stories, and with Stewart touting the reliability of his Geo Prizm
Geo Prizm
The Geo/Chevrolet Prizm was a United States-market entry-level compact car produced for the 1989 through 2002 model years. Like the 1985–1988 Chevrolet Nova it replaced, the Prizm was a rebadged version of the Toyota Corolla...
. Stewart beat Shriver by 12,000 votes.
For the 129th General Assembly, Stewart served as Senate majority floor leader, the third highest position of the Senate.
In late May 2011, Stewart announced that he planned to resign his seat in the 20th Senate District at the end of the fiscal year, when he will go to serve as president of the Ohio Gas Association. While Stewart says that there were no ulterior motives, many believe Stewart's unpopular votes on 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...
legislation lead to the decision to resign. Stewart will continue as majority floor leader, the number three leadership post, until he leaves office. Stewart resigned from the Senate effective June 30, 2011, over eight years after initially coming to the Ohio General Assembly.
External links
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Jimmy Stewart(OH) profile
- Follow the Money