Oakley C. Collins
Encyclopedia
Oakley Collins was a Republican
member of the Ohio General Assembly
. A former school teacher from Ironton, Ohio
, Collins initially ran for the Ohio House of Representatives
, winning a seat in 1946, and was reelected in 1948. He opted to move to the Ohio Senate
in 1950, winning a seat to represent much of Appalachian Ohio
. He won reelection in 1952, 1954, and 1956.
In 1958, Collins opted for a fifth term, but lost to Democrat
J. Sherman Porter, a radio personality from Gallipolis. However, he opted again to run in 1962, after Ohio Senate
terms grew to four years. He won, and was again seated in 1963 to the Seventh/Eighth District, and would go forth to serve as Chairman of the Education Committee. Following the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Collins was elected to the new 18th District in 1966, and reelected in 1968.
Following redistricting in 1972, Collins found himself drawn out of his current district and into a different. With the district he currently lived in not up for reelection until 1974, Collins opted to relinquish his Senate seat instead of running in the new district and instead seek a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives
. He was successful, and was seated in the House for 1973.
Just two years into his House tenure, Collins again opted to run for the Senate, challenging incumbent and fellow Republican Harry Armstrong in the 1974 primary. In an upset, he narrowly defeated Armstrong to take the nomination, and went on to win the general election. He won reelection in 1978, and again in 1982. Up for reelection again in 1986, Collins initially was not considered vulnerable. However, surmounting ethics problems created an opening for his Democratic opponent, Jan Michael Long
. In the end, Long defeated Collins in an upset, ending his 22 year career in the Senate.
Following his defeat, Collins returned to Ironton
to his family mining company. He died on October 30, 1994, at the age of 82.
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...
member of 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...
. A former school teacher from Ironton, Ohio
Ironton, Ohio
Ironton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lawrence County. The municipality is located in southern Ohio along the Ohio River. The population was 11,211 at the 2000 census. Ironton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the...
, Collins initially ran for 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....
, winning a seat in 1946, and was reelected in 1948. He opted to move 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...
in 1950, winning a seat to represent much of Appalachian Ohio
Appalachian Ohio
Appalachian Ohio is a bioregion and political unit in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio characterized by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The Appalachian Regional Commission defines the region as consisting of twenty-nine counties...
. He won reelection in 1952, 1954, and 1956.
In 1958, Collins opted for a fifth term, but lost to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
J. Sherman Porter, a radio personality from Gallipolis. However, he opted again to run in 1962, after 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...
terms grew to four years. He won, and was again seated in 1963 to the Seventh/Eighth District, and would go forth to serve as Chairman of the Education Committee. Following the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Collins was elected to the new 18th District in 1966, and reelected in 1968.
Following redistricting in 1972, Collins found himself drawn out of his current district and into a different. With the district he currently lived in not up for reelection until 1974, Collins opted to relinquish his Senate seat instead of running in the new district and instead seek a seat 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 was successful, and was seated in the House for 1973.
Just two years into his House tenure, Collins again opted to run for the Senate, challenging incumbent and fellow Republican Harry Armstrong in the 1974 primary. In an upset, he narrowly defeated Armstrong to take the nomination, and went on to win the general election. He won reelection in 1978, and again in 1982. Up for reelection again in 1986, Collins initially was not considered vulnerable. However, surmounting ethics problems created an opening for his Democratic opponent, Jan Michael Long
Jan Michael Long
Jan Michael Long is a former member of the Ohio Senate. He served the 17th District, which encompassed much of Southeastern, Appalachian, Ohio. He served from 1987 to 1997.-References:...
. In the end, Long defeated Collins in an upset, ending his 22 year career in the Senate.
Following his defeat, Collins returned to Ironton
Ironton, Ohio
Ironton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lawrence County. The municipality is located in southern Ohio along the Ohio River. The population was 11,211 at the 2000 census. Ironton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the...
to his family mining company. He died on October 30, 1994, at the age of 82.