DeVitis sworn in as state rep; meeting set to find his replacement in Green
Beacon Journal staff report
Tony DeVitis was sworn in Wednesday as the new representative for the 43rd Ohio House District.
DeVitis, a one-term Green councilman who is the owner and vice president of DeVitis & Sons Inc., an Italian specialty food store on Akron’s North Hill, is replacing Todd McKenney.
Earlier this month, McKenney was sworn in as judge of Summit County Probate Court.
“I am honored to join the General Assembly and to serve the people,” DeVitis said in a news release.
House Speaker Bill Batchelder, R-Medina, said DeVitis will bring “a variety of public- and private-sector experience to the table.”
Redrawn map puts Toledo in 2 districts instead of 3
General Assembly reaches last-minute compromise
BY JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
COLUMBUS -- The city of Toledo will be represented by two members of the U.S. House instead of three under a long-awaited new congressional map approved Wednesday after a bitter, months-long partisan feud.
Under the redistricting compromise, portions of Toledo and eastern Lucas County that went to the largely rural 4th District now held by U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Urbana) under a law passed in September are to be restored to the 9th District held by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo).
Six western city wards are to remain part of the otherwise rural and suburban 5th District held by U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green).
http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/12/15/Redrawn-map-puts-Toledo-in-2-districts-instead-of-3.html
http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/12/15/Redrawn-map-puts-Toledo-in-2-districts-instead-of-3.html
Ohio bill reunites Ohio’s primaries to single day in March
John Michael Spinelli
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CGE) - Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) announced Wednesday that a revised congressional map has passed the Ohio House with strong bipartisan support. The new map, found in House Bill 369, was introduced by State Representative Matt Huffman (R-Lima) in early November after working closely with members of the House Minority Caucus.
Statement by Batchelder
“This map represents the second fair and legal map passed by the Ohio House of Representatives in recent weeks,” Speaker Batchelder said in prepared remarks. “I am pleased that the House Republican Caucus has led the charge in not only passing a competitive congressional map, but also in ensuring that Ohioans have only one state and federal primary in 2012.”
Legislature Agrees to Redistricting Deal, Primary Consolidation
Hannah Report 12/14/11
House Democrats relented and voted in favor of a new congressional redistricting map as well as a combined primary on March 6, 2012, bringing to the end a partisan battle that began in September and went through the Ohio Supreme Court.
Twenty-one House Democrats joined with all of the House Republicans in approving HB369 (Huffman), and nearly the same number approved an emergency clause to make the bill both effective on the signature of Gov. John Kasich and referendum proof. This action makes pursuing a referendum on the original congressional redistricting bill, HB319, moot.
After the House's actions, the Senate quickly moved on the legislation, suspending the rules and adopting the bill by a vote of 27-6, picking up four Democratic votes in the process.
House Democrats relented and voted in favor of a new congressional redistricting map as well as a combined primary on March 6, 2012, bringing to the end a partisan battle that began in September and went through the Ohio Supreme Court.
Twenty-one House Democrats joined with all of the House Republicans in approving HB369 (Huffman), and nearly the same number approved an emergency clause to make the bill both effective on the signature of Gov. John Kasich and referendum proof. This action makes pursuing a referendum on the original congressional redistricting bill, HB319, moot.
After the House's actions, the Senate quickly moved on the legislation, suspending the rules and adopting the bill by a vote of 27-6, picking up four Democratic votes in the process.
