OHIO LAWMAKERS Womer Benjamin, Roman reflect on careers in House

Both women say they'd like to stay active in their communities and in government.
By MICHELE C. HLADIK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Ann Womer Benjamin and Twyla Roman have many things in common, including beginning and ending their Ohio legislative careers together.
Both women were elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1994, took office in 1995 and fell victim to legislative term limits this year. Both women have faced many issues in the house from a plethora of reform issues including welfare and tort reform, bringing more state funds into their local communities.
"I think we accomplished a lot," Roman said.
Womer Benjamin said there were many advantages to entering the House when she did, including the Republican Party gaining control and the Speaker of the House. Joann Davidson was the new Speaker of the House when Womer Benjamin took office. She said the fact Davidson was a woman and a friend helped.
One example of that help came when Womer Benjamin was immediately seated on the House Finance Committee.
"That had almost never occurred before," she said. "[Davidson] knew I was reliable in terms of doing my homework and getting things done."
Faced challenges
One of the first major challenges they faced was welfare reform aimed at getting welfare recipients back to work and limiting the amount of time a person could receive welfare.
"It changed their lives," Roman said. "I just feel good about that. Its helping people."
The Springfield Township Republican said she heard a lot of good comments about the reforms and what they did for people who were able to get an education, a job and get off welfare. Aurora Republican Womer Benjamin said she was successful in getting two important amendments to the welfare reform legislation that benefited single parents attending college.
"That made such a difference to single parents trying to get through college," she said.
Womer Benjamin said she is also proud of her part in campaign finance reforms, critical tort reform issues and changes to the juvenile justice system.
"I think I've had a tremendous opportunity to influence public policy," Womer Benjamin said.
She has introduced more than 40 pieces of legislation with about half of those passing and being signed into law. The latest is expected to be signed by Gov. Bob Taft any time.
"I'm proud of all of them," she said, noting that 19 bills is a lot for a legislator to get passed and signed into law. "To some extent, the laws you pass are just a part of the story."
Her first bill more clearly defined rape and made it easier to prosecute. Her latest bill expands the state's DNA database to include six more felonies, which she said could help solve past and future crimes.
Roman's successes
Roman counts hard work on improving school funding and improvements on workers' compensation benefits among the legislative successes during her term in office.
"When I first took office, the most common call was about workers' compensation," she said. "It's been very gratifying to me because I could personally help be part of the solution."
She added the number of calls she received on the issue dropped severely over the years.
Adding to Roman's memories of a successful legislative career are the numerous bills she personally introduced or worked on closely including a good Samaritan law enabling more doctors to volunteer at clinics, a law allowing abstinence to be taught in sex education classes, a law aimed at cutting down on frivolous lawsuits filed by prison inmates and shooting range protection laws.
But Roman admitted there were also a few disappointments over her career in the House including failure of legislation regulating partial-birth abortions and the defeated workers' compensation ballot initiative.
She admits other difficulties arose when she was asked to support issues she didn't believe in such as tax increases and gambling issues.
"Some difficult things for me were when issues came up I couldn't support," she said. "I just did not think it was necessary to raise taxes."
Staying active
Both women agree they would like to stay active in their communities and in government.
"I like to make a difference in a positive way," Roman said. "I'm not just looking for a job. It has to be the right fit. Its not about power or money."
Womer Benjamin said she plans to stay active in the community and to run for public office in the future, but she would not identify the position she would seek.
"I love public service," she said. "I really put my whole self into the job and I've loved it."