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The Ohio House & Senate on December 15th Passed HB 369 creating the new 2012 Congressional District Maps & Creating a single Primary Election to be held March 6, 2012.  

    After months of Republicans and Democrats trying to work through differences with the 2012 Congressional district maps, legislators finally were able to pass a compromise before the end of the year.  HB 369 also included provisions for Ohio to have a single primary in 2012.  Legislation passed earlier this fall had a March 6, 2012 primary for local elections, Ohio House and Senate districts, as well as a June primary for the office of President and Ohio’s Congressional Districts. 

HB 369 creates a single primary election to be conducted on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March (March 6, 2012) for the purpose of nominating candidates for all offices that are scheduled for election in 2012 and for the purpose of electing candidates who are scheduled for election on the day of the 2012 primary election. 

In year 2012, a political subdivision or taxing authority may conduct a special election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August. 

Additionally, HB 369 creates the Redistricting Reform Task Force, comprised of eight members of the General Assembly who shall be equally divided between the members of the two major political parties. Not later than thirty days after the effective date of the ACT, the legislative leader of the majority caucus and the legislative leader of the minority caucus in each house of the General Assembly shall each appoint two members to the Task Force.

The Ohio House scheduled session for November 3, 2011 with the hope to take up legislation to adopt a new Congressional map and create a single 2012 primary.  Ohio House vote to suspend rules failed to receive the required 66 Yes votes needed. There were only 58 Yes votes.  As a result, the House will continue to discuss options for a new congressional map and single 2012 primary.  In order to allow candidates time to circulate petitions which are due December 6, 2011 for the 2012 March Primary, any bill that is passed would require an emergency clause.  Currently, with the passage of HB 318 earlier this week, Ohio will have two primary elections in 2012.  March 2012 will be a primary election for Ohio House and Senate races, as well as for local races.  June 12, 2012 will be a primary election for the offices of President and Congress.

Apportionment Board Finalized New General Assembly Districts Map 

1    Final Apportionment Plan (Includes all districts and precincts included in each district)

2    House Map

3    Senate Map 

EDUCATION – State Superintendent Stan Heffner unveiled more details on his K-12 reform plan recently in a five-region tour of Ohio, telling school administrators a 21^st century model of education must include “high quality instruction.” “A Vision for Tomorrow: Ohio’s Path to Educational Success” reflects the list of priorities Heffner outlined last month, and reiterates many of the concerns identified by the Kasich administration during the recent budget debate.

PPA is pleased to announce that Governor John Kasich appointed Billie Fiore to the Board of Trustees of Central Ohio Technical College (COTC). Effective February 4, 2011, Ms. Fiore will serve as a member of the board through September 30, 2013.

Ms. Fiore works in Government Relations with Benesch’s Public Law Practice Group and Public Policy Advocates (a Benesch subsidiary). Ms. Fiore combines over 18 years of political and legislative experience to provide successful grassroots strategies and advocacy. Her experience encompasses consulting and research services for clients on public policy and legislative issues, as well as in strategic counseling involving matters before the Ohio General Assembly and Executive agencies.

Ms. Fiore received her B.S., magna cum laude, in International Business from The Ohio State University.

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