Ohio Senate leader announces replacement for vacated seat

COLUMBUS -- Summit County Council member Kimberly Zurz will be appointed to the state Senate seat being vacated by Leigh E. Herington, the Senate's top Democrat said Thursday.
Senate Minority Leader Gregory L. DiDonato and other caucus leaders interviewed Zurz, 44, Thursday and concluded that she was the right person for the job.
& quot;At the end of the day, our decision was based on who we feel can do the best job there and someone who would be positioned to ... hold the seat for the Democrats, & quot; DiDonato said.
Democratic senators will formally vote on the appointment when the Legislature returns from summer recess in September. Zurz is to be sworn into the Senate on Sept. 18.
Herington, 58, is resigning his seat that covers a portion of Summit County and all of Portage County next month with more than one year remaining on his second and final four-year term. Herington has announced he'll run for Portage County common pleas judge next year.
Zurz, who lives in Green in southern Summit County, will have to seek a new four-year term next November.