STATE SENATE Democrats re-elect DiDonato

Democrats will replace Tim Ryan next month.
COLUMBUS -- Democrats in the state Senate have re-elected Greg DiDonato, whose district includes Columbiana County, as their leader.
DiDonato of Dennison has held the minority leader position since March 1, when he replaced state Sen. Leigh Herington of Ravenna, who stepped down from the post to unsuccessfully run for attorney general.
"This endorsement by my peers shows that we are on the right path," DiDonato said. "With the Republican stranglehold in the Ohio General Assembly, it is vital that the Senate Democratic Caucus have a strong leadership team to promote the values of Ohio's working men and women."
Democrats lost a Senate seat in last week's election, and, beginning next year, will hold 11 of the Senate's 33 positions. Also, Senate Democrats will replace state Sen. Timothy J. Ryan of Niles, D-32nd, who is resigning at the end of next month to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Others selected
Also elected to the Senate Democratic leadership Tuesday were state Sen. Mark Mallory of Cincinnati as assistant minority leader, promoted from minority whip; state Sen. C.J. Prentiss of Cleveland, who moves up from assistant minority whip to minority whip; and state Sen.-elect Teresa Fedor of Toledo, who will serve as assistant minority whip.
DiDonato's term in the state Senate expires in 2004. He cannot run for re-election that year because of the state term limits law. His district includes Columbiana, Jefferson, Harrison, Guernsey and Tuscarawas counties.