Schiavoni will lead Senate Democratic caucus

Staff report

COLUMBUS

The 11-member Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus elected state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, as its leader Wednesday.

The Senate minority leader position opened because state Sen. Eric Kearney of Cincinnati, D-9th, stepped down from the post to concentrate on running as the Democratic Party’s lieutenant-governor candidate.

The Vindicator first reported Nov. 22 that Schiavoni, assistant minority leader, would become leader.

Schiavoni was selected assistant minority leader in January 2012. Two members of the Senate’s minority leadership who are running for statewide offices next year are stepping down, and the caucus has named two other members to take their places.

Kearney, who is running for lieutenant governor with Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, will be replaced by Schiavoni.

Sen. Charleta Tavares of Columbus will become the new assistant minority leader, taking Schiavoni’s current slot.

Also stepping down is Sen. Nina Turner of Cleveland, who has served as minority whip. She is running for secretary of state and will be replaced by Sen. Edna Brown of Toledo, the current assistant minority whip.

Sen. Lou Gentile of Steubenville will become assistant minority whip.

The new leadership slate was elected by the caucus at the end of Wednesday’s Senate session, the last of the year.

“My goal is always to work together first,” Schiavoni said. “I think working together is what people elected us to do — work together to achieve goals, improve the quality of life at home, improve quality of life throughout Ohio.”

He added, “With that being said, you don’t want to be run over or taken advantage of when you’re in this deep a minority, so there’s a delicate balance to do both.”