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Area state reps strike committee gold
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State Rep. Thomas Letson of Warren, D-64th
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Rep. Robert F. Hagan, D-Youngstown. (AP Photo/Larry Phillips)
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State Rep. Ronald Gerberry, D-59
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Mark Okey
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Sandra Stabile Harwood
On more than one occasion, I’ve made fun of the state legislators who represent the Mahoning Valley.
How could I ignore some of the ridiculous, outrageous, inappropriate or occasionally dumb comments or actions made by the legislators?
So when they succeed, it’s only fair to praise them — and they really succeeded this time.
All but one member of the Valley’s Ohio House delegation was selected by House Speaker Armond Budish, a fellow Democrat, to serve as a committee chair.
And the one not selected as a chair — state Rep. Linda Bolon of Columbiana, D-1st — probably made out the best among the local delegation. Budish appointed her vice chairman of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee, considered to be the most powerful and influential committee in the legislative body.
“Vice chair of that committee is a huge, huge deal,” said state Rep. Tom Letson of Warren, D-64th.
The committee is heavily involved in determining state spending and carries the governor’s budget through the House.
“Serving as vice chair is going to have a great impact on the Valley,” Bolon said. “The committee overseas where the [state] money is spent and what can be cut. Being on the committee will serve the Valley well. If there are areas for additional financing, [being vice chair] puts us at a great advantage. We’ll be well poised to make sure the Valley gets what it deserves.”
She’s the only Valley representative on finance, but as vice chairwoman she’ll have a lot of power and influence.
Bolon is also a member of four other committees.
After 14 years of Republican control over the House, the Democrats now have the majority.
Overall, there are 53 Democrats and 27 committees in the House. The six other legislators who represent the Valley will chair committees.
“We were very supportive of [Budish] as speaker,” said state Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, and Budish rewarded those who supported him.
Budish tapped Hagan to head the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Hagan, a locomotive engineer, chaired the committee for two years before Democrats lost control of the Ohio House after the 1994 election.
“I could not have been happier [with the appointment] on a personal note,” Hagan said. “On a public note, it has a great advantage for the Mahoning Valley.”
The committee handles legislation dealing with roads and public works projects as well as aviation and railroads.
A key component of President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package includes funding for roads and public works projects.
“The stimulus package has great potential for us” in the Valley, Hagan said.
Hagan will retain a seat on the health committee. He was selected to also serve on three other committees, most notably the newly-created environment and brownfield development committee. He is among only six Democrats on that committee, which will, in part, decide how to improve vacant industrial properties of which the Valley has quite a few.
Letson is chairing the House Ways and Means Committee, which deals with state tax issues. Letson is also the vice chairman of the insurance committee, and serves on two other committees.
State Rep. Ronald V. Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th, is the chairman of the state government committee, which oversees legislation related to state government with a focus on state agency rule making and government efficiencies. He also serves on public utilities, education, and elections and ethics.
State Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles, D-65th, is chairing the House Judiciary Committee, the first woman to ever have that honor. She’s also on three House committees as well as a member of the House-Senate’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.
State Rep. Mark Okey of Carrollton, D-61st, is heading the House Civil and Commercial Law Committee, is vice chairman of ethics and elections, and is a member of three other committees.
State Rep. Deborah Newcomb of Conneaut, D-99th, is the head of the aging and disabilities services committee, and serves on three other committees.
A majority of the legislators who represent the Valley are starting their second terms in the House. As long as Democrats retain control of the House, the Valley legislators’ influence will grow.
“We ended up with nice positions and pretty important committees,” Letson said. “It will benefit the Mahoning Valley. We’re at the table. It’s a nice position to be in.”