List of governors of Ohio
| Governor of Ohio | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Governor | |
 Standard of the Governor | |
 | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Residence | Ohio Governor's Mansion Resides in his private home in Westerville, Ohio. |
| Term length | Four years, two consecutive with four-year pause thereafter |
| Inaugural holder | Edward Tiffin |
| Formation | March 3, 1803 |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Ohio |
| Salary | $148,886 (2015)[1] |
| Website | governor.ohio.gov |
The Governor of Ohio is the head of the executive branch of Ohio's state government[2] and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Ohio Legislature,[4] the power to convene the legislature,[5] and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.[6]
There have been 63 governors of Ohio, serving 69 distinct terms. The longest term was held by Jim Rhodes, who was elected four times and served just under sixteen years in two non-consecutive periods of two terms each (1963–1971 and 1975–1983). The shortest terms were held by John William Brown and Nancy Hollister, who each served for only 11 days after the governors preceding them resigned in order to begin the terms to which they had been elected in the United States Senate; the shortest-serving elected governor was John M. Pattison, who died in office five months into his term. The current governor is Republican John Kasich, who took office on January 10, 2011.
Qualifications
To become governor of Ohio, a candidate must be a qualified elector in the state. This means that any candidate for governor must be at least 18 years old at the time of his/her election, a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election, and a U.S. citizen. Convicted felons and those deemed by the courts as incompetent to vote are not eligible.
Powers
The governor is the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws; the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Ohio State Legislature; the power to convene the legislature; and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.
Other duties and privileges of the office include:
- Executing all laws and requiring written information on any office from the head of that office
- Making an annual address to the General Assembly, with recommendation for legislation
- Convening extraordinary sessions of the legislature with limited purposes
- Adjourning the legislature when the two chambers cannot agree to do so themselves, not to include the privilege of adjourning the legislature past the sine die set for the regular session
- Keeping and using "The Great Seal of the State of Ohio"
- Signing and sealing all commissions granted in the name of the state of Ohio
- Nominating, in the event of a vacancy in the Lieutenant Governor's office, a new officer, subject to a confirmatory vote of both chambers of the legislature
- Making vacancy appointments for all "key state officers" (the Auditor, the Treasurer, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General. Such appointments are for the remainder of the term when the next general election is less than 40 days away and until the next general election otherwise
- Accepting a report from the head of each executive department at least once a year, not later than five days before the regular session of the legislature convenes, and including the substance of those reports in her annual address to the legislature
- Making all appointments not otherwise provided for, with the advice and consent of the Senate, unless the Senate refuses to act, in which case the Governor's appointee takes offices by default
Initially after the American Revolution, parts of the area now known as Ohio were claimed by New York, Virginia, and Connecticut; however, New York ceded its claim in 1782, Virginia in 1784, and Connecticut in 1786, though it maintained its Western Reserve in the area until 1800.[7] On July 13, 1787, the Northwest Territory was formed. As territories were split from it, one of them eventually came to represent the area of present-day Ohio.[8]
Governors of Northwest Territory
Throughout its 15-year history, Northwest Territory had only one governor, Arthur St. Clair. He was removed from office by President Thomas Jefferson November 22, 1802, and no successor was named, with Charles Willing Byrd, Secretary of the Territory, becoming Acting Governor, serving until Tiffin was inaugurated March 3, 1803.[9] There was no Ohio Territory; Ohio is considered the successor state to the Northwest Territory.
| # | Governor | Appointed | Left office | Party | Appointed by | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
style="background: Template:Federalist Party (United States)/meta/color;"| | Arthur St. Clair (1737–1818) |
October 5, 1787 | November 22, 1802[10] | Federalist | Continental Congress [note 1] |
| 2 | style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| | Charles Willing Byrd (1770–1828) |
November 22, 1802[9] | March 3, 1803 | Democratic-Republican | Not appointed; assumed position of Acting Governor when St. Clair was removed[9] | |
Governors of the State of Ohio
Ohio was admitted to the Union on March 1, 1803. Since then, it has had 62 governors, six of whom served non-consecutive terms.
The first constitution of 1803 allowed governors to serve for two three-year terms, limited to six of any eight years, commencing on the first Monday in the December following an election.[12] The current constitution of 1851 removed the term limit, and shifted the start of the term to the second Monday in January following an election.[11] In 1908, Ohio switched from holding elections in odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, with the preceding governor (from the 1905 election) serving an extra year.[13] A 1957 amendment[11] lengthened the term to four years and allowed governors to only succeed themselves once, having to wait four years after their second term in a row before being allowed to run again.[14] An Ohio Supreme Court ruling in 1973 clarified this to mean governors could theoretically serve unlimited terms, as long as they waited four years after every second term.[11]
Succession
Should the office of governor become vacant due to death, resignation, or conviction of impeachment, the lieutenant governor assumes the title of governor. Should the office of lieutenant governor also become vacant, the president of the senate becomes the acting governor.[15] If the vacancy of both offices took place during the first twenty months of the term, a special election is to be held on the next even-numbered year to elect new officers to serve out the current term.[16] Prior to 1851, the speaker of the senate acted as governor for the term.[17] Since 1978, the governor and lieutenant governor have been elected on the same ticket; prior to then, they could be (and often were) members of different parties.[11]
Governors
- Parties
Democratic (23) Democratic-Republican (9) National Republican (2) Republican (29) Unionist (1) Whig (5)
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Other high offices held
This is a table of other governorships, congressional and other federal offices, and ranking diplomatic positions in foreign countries held by Ohio governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Ohio.
- * Denotes those offices for which the governor resigned the governorship.
- † Denotes those offices from which the governor resigned to take the governorship.
Living former U.S. governors of Ohio
As of January 2018[update], there are four former governors of Ohio who are currently living at this time, the oldest Governor of Ohio being Dick Celeste (served 1983–1991, born 1937). The most recent death of a former Governor of Ohio was that of George Voinovich (served 1991–1998, born 1936) on June 12, 2016, aged 79. Voinovich is also the most recently serving Governor of Ohio to die.
| Governor | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth (and age) |
|---|---|---|
| Dick Celeste | 1983–1991 | November 11, 1937 |
| Nancy Hollister | 1998–1999 | May 22, 1949 |
| Bob Taft | 1999–2007 | January 8, 1942 |
| Ted Strickland | 2007–2011 | August 4, 1941 |
See also
Notes
- ^ St. Clair was appointed governor by the Continental Congress; being governor of the first territory of the United States, he predated presidential appointments (and indeed the presidency itself).[11]
- ^ The office of lieutenant governor was not created until the 1851 Constitution, first being filled in 1852.
- ^ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
- ^ a b c d Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
- ^ a b c d As speaker of the senate, acted as governor for unexpired term.
- ^ The 1808 election was actually won by Return J. Meigs, Jr., but he was declared ineligible for office for failing the residency requirements.
- ^ Resigned to be U.S. Postmaster General.
- ^ Resigned to be Minister to Mexico.
- ^ a b William Bebb's term officially ended in December 1848. However, due to the large number of close elections that year, the general assembly was delayed in qualifying governor-elect Seabury Ford, and William Bebb remained in office for an extra few weeks.
- ^ Wood's first term was truncated to one year, due to the 1851 constitution moving elections one year back to odd-numbered years.
- ^ Resigned to be consul in Valparaíso, Chile.
- ^ As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, with no lieutenant, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
- ^ a b Died in office.
- ^ a b c d e As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
- ^ Resigned to be President of the United States.
- ^ a b A 1905 amendment to the state constitution shifted elections forward one year, to take place on even years; thus, Pattison's term (completed by Lt. Governor Harris) was extended to three years.[18]
- ^ a b Was prevented from running for a third term due to a limit on consecutive terms; ran successfully for a third term against the governor who followed his first terms, John Gilligan.
- ^ Governor Kasich's second term expires on January 14, 2019. He is term limited.
References
- General
- "Former Governors' Bios: Ohio". National Governors Association. National Governors Association. 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
- "Governors of the State of Ohio: 1788 - present". Joh Husted, Ohio Secretary of State. State of Ohio. 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- "The Governors of Ohio, 1803–1971". Ohio Historical Society. May 30, 2008. Archived from the original on August 27, 1999.
- "Lieutenant Governors of the State of Ohio: 1852 - present". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
- Constitutions
- "Constitution of the State of Ohio". Ohio General Assembly. 1851. Retrieved May 29, 2008.
- "Constitution of the State of Ohio". Ohio Historical Society. 1802. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2008.
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- Specific
- ^ "Governors' Salaries, 2015" (PDF). The Council of State Governments. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
- ^ Ohio Constitution article III, § 5
- ^ Ohio Constitution article III, § 10
- ^ Ohio Constitution article II, § 16
- ^ Ohio Constitution article III, § 8
- ^ Ohio Constitution article III § 11
- ^ "Ownership of the Northwest". Heritage Pursuit. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
- ^ "Evolution of Territories and States from the Old "Northwest Territory"". John Lindquist. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
- ^ a b c Smith, William Henry, ed. (1882). The Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. Vol. 1. Robert Clarke and Company. p. 246.
- ^ "History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County". Heritage Pursuit. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Steinglass, Steven H.; Scarselli, Gino J. (2004). The Ohio State Constitution: A Reference Guide. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 7. ISBN 0-313-26765-0. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
- ^ Ohio Constitution article II, § 3
- ^ Article XVII (adopted November, 1905) of Constitution, section 2: "And the General Assembly shall have power to so extend existing terms of office as to effect the purpose of section 1 of this article." and section 3 : "Every elective officer holding office when this amendment is adopted shall continue to hold such office for the full term for which he was elected and until his successor shall be elected and qualified as provided by law." source: Sandles, A P; Doty, E W (eds.). The biographical annals of Ohio 1906-1907-1908 : A handbook of the Government and Institutions of the State of Ohio. State of Ohio. p. 123.
- ^ Ohio Constitution article III, § 2
- ^ Ohio Constitution article III, § 15
- ^ Ohio Constitution article III, § 17
- ^ Ohio Constitution article II, § 12
- ^ "Andrew L. Harris". Ohio Historical Society. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "St. Clair, Arthur". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Tiffin, Edward". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Meigs, Return Jonathan, Jr". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
- ^ "Worthington, Thomas". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
- ^ "Brown, Ethan Allen". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Morrow, Jeremiah". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "McArthur, Duncan". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Robert Lucas". Ohio History Central. Ohio Historical Society. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Vance, Joseph". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Shannon, Wilson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Corwin, Thomas". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Bartley, Mordecai". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Medill, William". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Chase, Salmon Portland". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "William Dennison Jr". Ohio Historical Society. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Chiefs of Mission for Brazil". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Cox, Jacob Dolson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Hayes, Rutherford Birchard". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ a b "Chiefs of Mission for France". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Allen, William". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Young, Thomas Lowry". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Foster, Charles". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Foraker, Joseph Benson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Campbell, James". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "McKinley, William". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Pattison, John M." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Judson Harmon". Office of the Attorney General. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Cox, James Middleton". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
- ^ "Willis, Frank Bartlett". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
- ^ "Donahey, Alvin Victor". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "White, George". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Davey, Martin Luther". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Bricker, John William". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Lausche, Frank John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Gilligan, John Joyce". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Chiefs of Mission for India". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Voinovich, George Victor". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Strickland, Ted". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Kasich, John Richard". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
External links
Statewide political officials of Ohio | ||
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| U.S. senators |  | |
| State government | ||
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| Supreme Court |
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