Teresa Fedor
Encyclopedia
Teresa Fedor is a Democratic
member of the Ohio House of Representatives
who has represented the 47th District since 2011. She represented the same district from 2001 to 2002, and was a member of the Ohio Senate
from 2003 to 2010.
. She served in the U.S. Air Force and Ohio Air National Guard for 6 and a half years.
In 2000, Fedor ran against incumbent Jim Mettler
for a seat in the Ohio House, and defeated the incumbent with 55.6% of the vote. She served in the House for a single term. Fedor was named Public Servant of the Year in 2002 by the Ohio Environmental Council.
With incumbent Linda J. Furney
unable to run again due to term limits, Fedor opted ran for the Ohio Senate
in 2002 instead of seeking a second term in the House. Unopposed in the primary, she defeated Republican Phillip Barbosa with 72.3% of the vote. She served as assistant minority whip in the 125th General Assembly
. Fedor won reelection in 2006 unopposed.
For the 127th General Assembly, Senate colleagues chose Fedor to serve as minority leader. However, in early 2008, Fedor was ousted in a political coup by Senator Ray Miller
, who had organized a coalition to replace her with himself. As a result, Fedor served the remainder of her Senate career without a leadership position.
in 2010, to replace the term limited Peter Ujvagi
. However, Ujvagi resigned early after he was hired as Lucas County
Administrator.
The appointment of Ujvagi set up what many thought was going to be a legislative shuffle, where Fedor was appointed to Ujvagi's seat, and Representative Edna Brown
then appointed to Fedor's Senate seat. However, this plan was foiled when Toledo City Councilman
Joe McNamara opted also to be appointed to the Senate. As a result, Fedor kept her seat, Brown hers, and Joe Walter
was appointed to a nine-month stint in Ujvagi's seat.
Nonetheless, Fedor was elected to the House seat, winning 64.37% of the vote in 2010. She began her first term on January 3, 2011. Currently, she serves on the committees of Agriculture and Natural Resources (as ranking member); Education; State Government and Elections; and Veterans Affairs. She also serves as the policy chair for the Ohio Women's Democratic Caucus.
Fedor is also a member of the Ohio Attorney General
's Human Trafficking Commission.
One of Fedor's landmark legislative victories relate to human trafficking
. She has stated, "Traffickers have walked away from the halls of justice," and has vowed to help stop and continue to fight for those victimized as victims. She has received support form both former Governor Ted Strickland
and current Ohio Governor John Kasich
on stopping human trafficking, and has successfully passed one measure. She plans on introducing more in the future.
Along with Ohio Attorney General
Mike DeWine
, Fedor has also introduced the safe harbor bill, which would prevent a young person with being charged with prostitution
if they were victims of human trafficking
. She has stated it is a critical portion of tackling the problem.
Fedor has also voiced concerns over the elimination of some education measures that would eliminate all-day kindergarten requirements. While new legislation has come forth to give more communities education choices, Fedor has stated that she thinks districts were offered some choice with the waiver for all-day kindergarten that were provided in the past.
While in the Senate, Fedor introduced legislation last session that would require boards of education to institute policies that address cyber-bullying, and plans of reintroducing a similar measure. "We have more instances where children are using electronic devices," she said. "It's part of their culture; it's a natural part of their growing up.... We need to be able to understand how it's being used or being misused." Fedor said cyber-bullying has a detrimental effect on students' academic performance and cases of suicide around the country have resulted from such harassment.
In regards to the initiative to privatize the Ohio Department Development, Fedor has stated that the proposed JobsOhio "is rife for another scandal that will make Coingate look like chump change."
Fedor opposed initiatives to raise funds by selling rights to state lands, including state parks to drill for crude oil and natural gas
. “Our picture-perfect parks in Ohio may certainly … be turned into picture-perfect toxic wastelands,’’she had stated. The General Assembly ultimately voted for allowing for oil exploration on state lands.
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...
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....
who has represented the 47th District since 2011. She represented the same district from 2001 to 2002, and was a member of 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 2003 to 2010.
Life and career
Fedor holds a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of ToledoUniversity of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
. She served in the U.S. Air Force and Ohio Air National Guard for 6 and a half years.
In 2000, Fedor ran against incumbent Jim Mettler
Jim Mettler
Jim Mettler was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1999-2000. His district consisted of a portion of Lucas County, Ohio. He was succeeded by Teresa Fedor.-References:*...
for a seat in the Ohio House, and defeated the incumbent with 55.6% of the vote. She served in the House for a single term. Fedor was named Public Servant of the Year in 2002 by the Ohio Environmental Council.
With incumbent Linda J. Furney
Linda J. Furney
Linda Furney was a member of the Ohio Senate from 1987 to 2002. She represented the 11th District, which encompasses all of Toledo, Ohio, and some surrounding communities. Barred by term limits in 2002, she was forced to leave office and was succeeded by Teresa Fedor.-External links:*...
unable to run again due to term limits, Fedor opted ran for 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 2002 instead of seeking a second term in the House. Unopposed in the primary, she defeated Republican Phillip Barbosa with 72.3% of the vote. She served as assistant minority whip in the 125th General Assembly
Ohio Senate membership, 125th General Assembly
The 125th General Assembly comprised the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. The senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly. Every two years, half of the senate seats come up for election. The 125th General Assembly was in session in 2003 and 2004...
. Fedor won reelection in 2006 unopposed.
For the 127th General Assembly, Senate colleagues chose Fedor to serve as minority leader. However, in early 2008, Fedor was ousted in a political coup by Senator Ray Miller
Ray Miller (Ohio legislator)
Ray Miller is a Democratic politician and a former member of the Ohio General Assembly.-Life and career:A graduate of the Ohio State University and a former staffer in the Carter Administration, Miller was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1982, succeeding Leslie Brown. He won...
, who had organized a coalition to replace her with himself. As a result, Fedor served the remainder of her Senate career without a leadership position.
Ohio House of Representatives, Second Tenure
In 2009, Fedor stated that she would be a candidate for the Ohio House of RepresentativesOhio 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 2010, to replace the term limited Peter Ujvagi
Peter Ujvagi
Peter Sandor Ujvagi is a former Hungarian-born American Democratic state representative of Ohio state in the 47th District, who represents Toledo and Lucas County.-Life and career:...
. However, Ujvagi resigned early after he was hired as Lucas County
Lucas County, Ohio
----...
Administrator.
The appointment of Ujvagi set up what many thought was going to be a legislative shuffle, where Fedor was appointed to Ujvagi's seat, and Representative Edna Brown
Edna Brown
Edna Brown of Toledo, Ohio, is a Democratic member of the Ohio Senate who has represented the 11th District since 2011. She served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2002-2010...
then appointed to Fedor's Senate seat. However, this plan was foiled when Toledo City Councilman
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
Joe McNamara opted also to be appointed to the Senate. As a result, Fedor kept her seat, Brown hers, and Joe Walter
Joe Walter (Ohio politician)
Joe Walter is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, who represented the 47th District briefly in 2010. He was appointed following the resignation of Peter Ujvagi, who resigned to take the position of Lucas County Administrator....
was appointed to a nine-month stint in Ujvagi's seat.
Nonetheless, Fedor was elected to the House seat, winning 64.37% of the vote in 2010. She began her first term on January 3, 2011. Currently, she serves on the committees of Agriculture and Natural Resources (as ranking member); Education; State Government and Elections; and Veterans Affairs. She also serves as the policy chair for the Ohio Women's Democratic Caucus.
Fedor is also a member of the Ohio Attorney General
Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Ohio in the United States. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Mike DeWine.-History:...
's Human Trafficking Commission.
Human trafficking
One of Fedor's landmark legislative victories relate to human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
. She has stated, "Traffickers have walked away from the halls of justice," and has vowed to help stop and continue to fight for those victimized as victims. She has received support form both former Governor Ted Strickland
Ted Strickland
Theodore "Ted" Strickland was the 68th Governor of Ohio, serving from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ....
and current 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...
on stopping human trafficking, and has successfully passed one measure. She plans on introducing more in the future.
Along with Ohio Attorney General
Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Ohio in the United States. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Mike DeWine.-History:...
Mike DeWine
Mike DeWine
Richard Michael "Mike" DeWine is the Attorney General for the state of Ohio. He has held numerous offices on the state and federal level, including Ohio State Senator, four terms as a U.S. Congressman, Ohio Lt. Governor, and was a two-term U.S. Senator, serving from 1995 to 2007.- Biography :Born...
, Fedor has also introduced the safe harbor bill, which would prevent a young person with being charged with prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
if they were victims of human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
. She has stated it is a critical portion of tackling the problem.
Education
Fedor has also voiced concerns over the elimination of some education measures that would eliminate all-day kindergarten requirements. While new legislation has come forth to give more communities education choices, Fedor has stated that she thinks districts were offered some choice with the waiver for all-day kindergarten that were provided in the past.
While in the Senate, Fedor introduced legislation last session that would require boards of education to institute policies that address cyber-bullying, and plans of reintroducing a similar measure. "We have more instances where children are using electronic devices," she said. "It's part of their culture; it's a natural part of their growing up.... We need to be able to understand how it's being used or being misused." Fedor said cyber-bullying has a detrimental effect on students' academic performance and cases of suicide around the country have resulted from such harassment.
Economic issues
In regards to the initiative to privatize the Ohio Department Development, Fedor has stated that the proposed JobsOhio "is rife for another scandal that will make Coingate look like chump change."
Fedor opposed initiatives to raise funds by selling rights to state lands, including state parks to drill for crude oil and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
. “Our picture-perfect parks in Ohio may certainly … be turned into picture-perfect toxic wastelands,’’she had stated. The General Assembly ultimately voted for allowing for oil exploration on state lands.
External links
- The Ohio House of Representatives: Representative Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) official site
- Teresa Fedor on the Ohio Ladies Gallery website
- Representative Teresa Fedor at Project Vote Smart
- Follow the Money - Teresa M Fedor
- 2006 2004