Office of the Governor Press Releases

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today established Advantage Ohio, a regulatory reform initiative that will work on easing the unnecessary burdens of regulations that prohibit and constrain business and development in Ohio.

Advantage Ohio, a component of Strickland’s Turnaround Ohio Plan, calls for a focused review of current regulations, eliminating those that are unnecessary, redundant and contradictory while ensuring quality of life and health protections for Ohioans.

“To give Ohio a competitive advantage, we must identify and eliminate inefficient and drawn-out regulatory processes and turn to a common-sense approach to regulation,” Strickland said.

Advantage Ohio will continue through the first year of the Strickland administration and rely upon existing state resources for implementation. The plan calls for a review of selected regulations and practices in executive branch agencies that have significant links with the business community.

“We must make sure that business regulation is clear, predictable and stable to allow businesses to plan and invest in Ohio,” Strickland said.

Strickland designated Columbus lawyer Scott North as the Governor’s Special Representative on Regulatory Reform to direct the Advantage Ohio initiative. He will begin work effective immediately.

North will lead working groups consisting of representatives from business, government and the general public that will make recommendations to reduce unnecessary regulatory impediments to economic growth, while continuing to protect the interests of consumers and the health and safety of Ohio’s citizens.

“I am honored that Governor Strickland has asked me to head this important effort, which I believe will go a long way toward achieving the governor’s goal of job creation and retention,” North said. “This initiative will demonstrate that lasting progress can be made by working hand-in-hand with the business community, government and consumers.”

North, 48, is a native of Dayton. Before joining the Strickland administration, North served as a litigation partner in the Columbus office of Porter, Wright, Morris and Arthur. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1980 with an honors degree in economics and received his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1983.

North resides in Columbus with his wife, Debbie, who is also a native of Dayton.

Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Judicial Appointments Recommendation Panel is currently accepting applications to fill a vacant seat on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

Applicants for the Court of Common Pleas position must be a resident and registered elector of Cuyahoga County and not yet 70 years old on the day they begin their duties, as dictated by Ohio law. In addition, they must be admitted to practice law in Ohio and have maintained their legal license for six years prior to assuming the judicial post or served as a judge of a court of record in any jurisdiction in the United States.

The term of the Cuyahoga County appointment will extend until January 2, 2009. To continue service in the position, the appointee must run in the November 2008 judicial election.

In the case of all judicial vacancies, applicants must follow the guidelines set forth by the Ohio Judicial Appointments Recommendation Panel to ensure their eligibility for appointment.

Applications must be submitted directly to the judicial panel and will then be distributed to the at-large and regional panel members. Details and the full text of the application procedure are available on the judicial panel’s section of the governor’s Web site, http://www.governor.ohio.gov/.

Requirements for all applicants include submitting a letter of interest, resume, panel questionnaire available by clicking here and no more than six letters of recommendation.

All materials submitted by applicants for a judicial vacancy will be considered public record under Ohio law. Applicant communication with panel members must be directed to the entire panel; all attempts to contact or influence a panel member are prohibited. Applicant questions and concerns should be addressed to Kent Markus or Jeff Ruppert in the Governor’s Office at (614) 466-3555.

Applications for the Cuyahoga County appointment must be received by 5 p.m. March 12.

Governor Strickland has selected the following individuals to serve on the regional committee for the current Cuyahoga County vacancy: Bill Mason, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor; Kenneth Fisher, attorney; Darlene Evans McCoy, attorney; Rob Rybak, business manager, Plumbers Local 55; Pamela Marshall Holmes, vice president for Community Relations and Development for Huron Road Meridia Hospital; and Peter Lawson Jones, Cuyahoga County Commissioner.

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced today appointments to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Governor’s Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives.

Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

Strickland will retain Terry Collins as the director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

“Terry has shown that he has the leadership and experience needed to guide the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction,” Strickland said. “He takes his responsibilities seriously, and knows that a safe, law-abiding society is dependent on proper security, supervision and appropriate rehabilitation of offenders.”

Collins has been employed with the State of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) since 1977. He has served in a variety of positions including social worker, labor relations officer, warden, deputy director of prisons and assistant director. He was appointed director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in May 2006.

Collins received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and corrections from Morehead State University, in Morehead, Ky. and a master’s degree in corrections from Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Collins is a member of the American Correctional Association (ACA), the Association of State Correctional Administrators, the Ohio Correctional and Courts Services Association, the National Association of Wardens and Superintendents and the Ohio Wardens and Superintendents Association and the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, Ohio Chapter. He has served as a consultant to the National Institute of Corrections and an auditor for ACA.

“I am honored to work with Governor Strickland and continue the critical duties of the department,” Collins said.

The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction protects and supports Ohioans by ensuring that adult, felony offenders are effectively supervised in environments that are safe, humane and appropriately secure. In partnership with communities, the department promotes citizen safety and victim reparation. Through rehabilitative and restorative programming, the department seeks to instill to the offenders an improved sense of responsibility and the capacity to become law-abiding members of society.

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

Paul Centolella, of Worthington, will serve as a commissioner on the five-person Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

“The actions taken by the PUCO impact the lives of all Ohioans, every day,” Strickland said. “Paul’s knowledge of the public utilities industry, law, economics and policy will serve to balance the need for fair prices and safe, reliable services for Ohio’s utility consumers with fair regulation of utility companies.”

Centolella previously served as a senior economist for Science Applications International Corporation since 1992. While working for SAIC he managed major projects in the following areas: energy and environmental market design and analysis, directing one of the first major studies of power market structures; power system operations, working on grid modernization; economic and policy consulting; and management consulting.

“My accumulated experience has prepared me to address the complex issues facing the Commission,” Centolella said. “I will work to ensure that Ohio benefits from competitive markets and develops an efficient and reliable utility infrastructure for the 21st Century.”

From February 1982 to January 1992, Centolella served as a senior energy policy advisor and senior utility attorney for the Ohio Office of the Consumers’ Counsel. As the senior utility attorney he took the lead on cases and issues resulting in $500 million in direct savings to consumers. Prior to joining the Ohio Office of Consumers’ Counsel, was in private practice in Northern California and was a legal services attorney in Seattle, Washington.

He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Oberlin College and his law degree from The University of Michigan Law School.

Governor’s Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives

Eric McFadden, of Dublin, will serve as director of the Governor’s Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives. Prior to joining the Strickland Administration, McFadden served as field director for the Catholic Alliance for the Common Good. His primary responsibilities were implementation of the Catholic Alliance’s field and media organizing initiative in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

The Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives is charged with three main tasks: making it easier for faith-based and community organizations to compete for public funding; encouraging partnerships among and between public agencies, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations who share a common mission; and measuring the impact of these partnerships to reduce the suffering of citizens in need.

Columbus, OH - Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today established a 120 day standard to determine if locked-out workers are unlikely to return to work, allowing those workers to become eligible for retraining programs after that time.

“After a 120 day period, I think it's appropriate that we make available to locked-out workers additional economic opportunities,” Strickland said. “I have directed the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services to implement this policy change to give workers the ability to pursue those opportunities.”

Previously, local Workforce Investment Areas created local policies to determine when workers were unlikely to return to their former job before they could be considered for re-training services. This created inconsistent timeframes for workers wishing to use the retaining services. The Strickland Administration’s policy will give guidance to the local Workforce Investment Areas, but will also provide workers with the assurance of a 120-day deadline before retraining services become available.

The federal Workforce Investment Act allows the states to determine when workers are deemed unlikely to return to work after a lockout.

The new Strickland Administration policy will allow workers who have been out of work as the result of a labor dispute, determined by ODJFS to be a lockout longer 120 days, to pursue retraining services through the Dislocated Worker Program. Services in that program include:

• Core Services such as assessment, job search assistance, resume writing and career counseling are provided to return individuals to work as quickly as possible.
• Intensive Services can be provided to guide dislocated workers through a career change. These services include an in-depth vocational assessment, counseling and career planning. Services could include literacy and technical training and even college classes. Many times people choose to train or retrain for a new career.
• Training Services help dislocated workers to obtain the skills necessary to start a new career or upgrade skills to be valuable to employers.

“Retraining displaced workers is one of the most important things we can do to boost Ohio’s economy and help to create a better educated workforce,” Strickland said. “Affected workers will now be able to transition more quickly into new jobs armed with the skills they need. And our economy will be strengthened by creating a highly-educated workforce prepared for the jobs of the future.”

Last month, Strickland met with a delegation of local leaders, including Jackson Mayor Shane Goodman, State Senator John Carey (R- Senate District 17), State Representative Clyde Evans (R- House District 87) and district and local representatives of the United Steelworkers to discuss the situation facing workers locked out of the Meridian Automotive Systems plant in Jackson. The lockout at Meridian began last April.

ATTACHED:

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Transmittal Letter No. 29

To: Local Elected Officials, WIA Local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), Fiscal Agents, Administrative Entities, and One- Stop Operators

From: Helen E. Jones-Kelley, Director

Subject: Dislocated Worker Eligibility Determination for Locked-Out Workers

I. Purpose

This communication provides state policy to enable provision of WIA services to locked-out workers. For lockout situations, it defines “unlikely to return to a previous industry or occupation” in the WIA definition of dislocated worker.

II. Effective Date

Immediately

III. Background

The Workforce Investment Act, Public Law 105-220, dated August 7, 1998, Section 101 defines the term “dislocated worker” as an individual who meets specific criteria, primarily that an individual must be: (1) laid off or terminated from employment, (2) eligible for unemployment compensation, and (3) unlikely to return to his/her previous industry or occupation (see WIA section 101(9)(A)(iii)). Questions have been raised regarding if an employee locked-out by his or her employer could be considered eligible as a dislocated worker.

In addition, the ODJFS Office of Workforce Development (OWD) wants to ensure that any possible concern about potential impact on WIA performance does not interfere with provision of services to locked-out workers who qualify under this policy.

IV. Policy Statement

When an ODJFS Office of Unemployment Compensation hearing officer has issued a determination that a lockout exists, individuals prevented from working for a period of 120 days as a result of that lockout shall be considered “unlikely to return to a previous industry or occupation”. The 120 day duration starts on either the date of layoff or date of lockout, whichever is earlier, at which point the locked-out workers are considered to be unemployed for WIA dislocated worker eligibility purposes. Eligibility for services does not constitute an entitlement to services for locked-out workers. Local workforce investment areas will still maintain responsibility for determining the individual need for services, including the appropriateness of specific training given the skills of the applicant and the requirements of the labor market.

If desired, local Workforce Investment Boards may establish policies that consider individuals in a lockout situation “unlikely to return to a previous industry or occupation” if the individuals have been laid off for a duration of less than 120 days. Local policies may not require duration greater than 120 days.

For purposes of WIA performance results, local workforce investment areas will be held harmless for locked-out individuals served under this policy and reported according to instructions that will be provided by OWD. OWD will re-negotiate performance standards with local workforce investment areas that request re-negotiation as a result of services to locked-out individuals. Local areas must follow the OWD reporting instructions, so that individuals may be tracked separately and performance may be re-negotiated. OWD will assist local areas in the re-negotiation process, using existing WIA policy.

If local funds are not sufficient to serve locked-out workers eligible as a result of this policy, the local workforce investment area should submit a request for additional funds by mail or fax to: Office of Workforce Development, Bureau of Workforce Services, 4020 E. Fifth Ave., P.O. Box 1618, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1618, fax number (614) 728-5938.

V. Technical Assistance

For additional information, you may send your questions to the Bureau of Workforce Services: wiaqna@odjfs.state.oh.us.

VI. References

Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Public Law 105-220: Section 101 (9)

29 USC 2801

Rescissions: None

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today presented his budget for the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Department of Public Safety to the Ohio General Assembly.

Strickland’s total recommended transportation budget for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 biennium are $3.9 and $3.8 billion respectively.

“I believe this budget defines and funds our transportation and public safety priorities in a fiscally responsible way,” Strickland said. “This budget represents the challenges, opportunities, priorities and realities we currently face.”

Ohio Department of Transportation

Strickland’s budget for the Department of Transportation calls for a top-to-bottom reassessment of major new construction projects and criteria used to choose those projects, set by the Transportation Review Advisory Council, to ensure the department is on solid financial footing and that the state is a more reliable partner to local communities. The reassessment will include a review of how to maximize the Department of Transportation’s use of federal dollars.

“Our transportation policy must renew and revitalize our cities and towns, connect our isolated economies to national markets, and maintain the pristine nature of Ohio’s rural areas,” Strickland said. “The investments we make in our roads, highways and state infrastructure should contribute to job creation.”

During this review, efforts will be made to be as minimally disruptive as possible to the Department of Transportation’s new construction schedule for the next two years.

The Department of Transportation makes up 80 percent of the total budget with total appropriations of about $3.2 billion in fiscal year 2008 and over $3.1 billion in fiscal year 2009.

Ohio Department of Public Safety

Most significantly in the Department of Public Safety, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is facing a $29 million shortfall in 2009 because the patrol will no longer be receiving a share of the gas tax.

In order to keep the patrol from facing a $29 million deficit, Strickland will propose a change in the gasoline shrinkage and evaporation allowance.

“Safety is a top priority of this administration, and our state troopers work with our counties and municipalities to keep Ohio as safe as possible,” Strickland said. “We must not weaken the troopers strong presence on our highways, and we must provide them with the resources they need to keep Ohioans safe.”

The Ohio gasoline shrinkage and evaporation allowance, which exists to offset the costs to petroleum companies for evaporation at the pump, was to be raised to 3.0 percent in this biennium, but it will be lowered to 1.0 percent, which is the national median for the last fully compiled set of data from 2001. This change in the allowance will generate $38 million.

Consumers should not pay the price for this change. The portion of the shrinkage and evaporation allowance transmitted to retailer will not change, so Ohioans should be protected at the pump from any added costs.

The Department of Public Safety budget represents 18 percent of the total budget with appropriations of $685 million in fiscal year 2008 and $690 million in fiscal year 2009.

For the complete transportation budget bill please click here.

Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, director of the Ohio Department of Development, today expressed support for Haverhill North Coking Company (HNCC), which announced it will invest $230 million to expand its Green Township (Scioto County) coke manufacturing facility. The project represents the second phase of the company’s growth plan and will retain 70 positions and create 49 jobs.

"I'm thrilled that Haverhill North Coke is committed to growing its Scioto County operation," Strickland said. "Southern Ohio is home to hardworking men and women. I'm so happy that their skills and strong work ethic are being recognized and rewarded with outstanding, living-wage jobs that will create a significant economic benefit throughout the region."

HNCC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Sun Coke Company, which is a subsidiary of Sunoco, Inc. Haverhill North Coke has been operating in Scioto County since 2005 and plans to expand its heat recovery coke plant with the construction of an additional 100 coke ovens and the establishment of a 50-megawatt power generation facility on land it already owns. HNCC's proprietary technology virtually eliminates coke oven emissions, utilizes heat generated as a by-product of the coking process for the generation of steam and electric power, and reduces costs compared to competing technologies.

“The company’s investment and commitment to expand its Haverhill North Coke operation is commendable,” said Lt. Governor Fisher. “The Ohio Department of Development is proud to assist in supporting the achievements of this company, which is creating jobs and strengthening the economy in southern Ohio while utilizing exciting, new technology to process coke more effectively and generating electric power in the process.”

The State of Ohio, through the Ohio Department of Development, has committed to provide a variety of incentives to assist in the expansion of HNCC, including: a $100,000 Business Development (412) Grant; a $50,000 Ohio Investment in Training Program Grant; an amended Job Creation Tax Credit valued at $912,000; and significant benefits in exemptions from the manufacturing machinery and equipment sales tax and tangible personal property tax.

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Transition Chair Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman announced today the appointment of Brown County Engineer James Beasley, P.E., P.S, as the director of the Ohio Department of Transportation.

“Jim understands that an efficient and reliable transportation network contributes to and enhances economic growth,” Strickland said. “I am confident that he will not only be a tremendous leader in developing and maintaining safe roads for Ohioans, but will guide the department in a way that helps create jobs.”

“I’ve known Jim for more than 30 years,” Strickland said. “And I know – without a doubt – that he has the character and integrity needed to manage this crucial department.

Beasley will begin his duties March 5. His appointment marks Strickland’s 17th cabinet appointment.

“ODOT is critical to Ohio's future, connecting our cities, counties, businesses and citizens to the world, and we've found someone who understands this complex system and can be a great team player as Governor Strickland's cabinet gets working to turn around Ohio,” Mayor Coleman said.

James Beasley, director of the Ohio Department of Transportation

James Beasley, 57, has served as Brown County Engineer since 1980. In this role, Beasley has supervised all public improvements and maintenance of the county’s highway system, including all safety projects, and the design, construction and maintenance of bridges, roads and culverts.

Prior to becoming Brown County Engineer, Beasley worked as the county’s deputy engineer from 1975-1979. He served as the sole proprietor for Beasley Engineer and Surveying from 1975-1984 and worked for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources from 1973-1975.

Beasley graduated from Ohio State University in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and earned his master’s degree in hydraulic and hydrologic engineering from Ohio State University in 1973.

Beasley has served two separate terms as vice chair and chair of the District 15 Ohio Public Works Committee. He has been awarded a life membership by the Township Trustees Association of Brown County and has received an Award of Merit for Outstanding Accomplishments in Resource Conservation from the Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District. In 2000, he was recognized by ODOT for Covered Bridge Preservation.

Beasley resides on a farm outside Georgetown with his wife, Alta.

“I am eager to work with our state’s various regions and cities to ensure that all Ohioans have access to a quality, statewide transportation system,” Beasley said. “This cooperation is absolutely necessary to ensure that economic development and job creation in every part of the state remain key priorities of the Ohio Department of Transportation.”

As the director of ODOT, Beasley will earn an annual salary of $124,758, the same amount as the previous director.

The Ohio Department of Transportation oversees Ohio’s $2.1 billion annual transportation program. The department is responsible for designing, building and maintaining Ohio’s nearly 20,000 miles of state, U.S. and interstate highways. Ohio has the second largest inventory of bridges, the fourth largest interstate highway system and the 10th largest highway system in the nation. ODOT also helps coordinate and develop Ohio’s public transportation and aviation programs. These include 56 public transit systems and nearly 200 public airports.

This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Ohio Senate.

Columbus, Ohio –Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, director of the Ohio Department of Development, today made $5 million in grants available for the Ohio Wind Production and Manufacturing Incentive. Currently, in the United States, Ohio ranks second only to California in the potential for new job creation for manufacturing wind components.

“These grants by the Ohio Department of Development are a great example of what we can do across state government to invest in Ohio’s energy industry,” Strickland said. “For our state to become a leader in next generation energy development and to earn the economic benefits that come with it we will need every department working together to fulfill the plan I put forth in my executive order.”

Last month, Strickland signed an energy executive order that directed state agencies to work with his newly appointed energy advisor to find ways to increase energy efficiency and to find ways to boost next generation energy production and distribution through investment in technology.

Eligible applicants for this grant program include large, utility-scale wind projects (producing over 5 megawatts of electricity) and for smaller, community wind projects (producing 500 kilowatts up to 5 MW). Once the project is approved the production incentive will be paid at a rate of 1 cent per kilowatt-hour generated. An additional incentive of 0.2 cents per kilowatt-hour generated will be available to projects that utilize Ohio-manufactured wind turbines. Wind turbines, both large and small, produce electricity for utilities, communities, and homeowners.

The Ohio Wind Production & Manufacturing Incentive Program is made possible with funds collected through the Advanced Energy Fund. To be eligible for wind energy production incentives, projects must begin commercial operation on or before December 31, 2008.

The authority for funding for the wind production incentive program comes from recently passed House Bill 251, introduced by Representative Joseph Uecker (R- House District 66), which allowed the Ohio Department of Development to offer the production incentive through the Advanced Energy Fund.

The Ohio Department of Development also supports wind development in Ohio by maintaining an on-line high resolution, interactive Ohio wind map and by participating actively in the Ohio Wind Working Group. More information is available at www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/oee.

“The Ohio Wind Production and Manufacturing Incentives will boost Ohio’s development of next generation energy sources and create tremendous economic opportunities for Ohioans,” Fisher said. “The Ohio Department of Development will continue to encourage economic development that supports innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives in Ohio’s energy industry.”

Letters of intent for the Ohio Wind Production and Manufacturing Incentive are to be received by 3:00 pm on Monday, April 16, 2007. Applications are due to the Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Energy Efficiency by 3:00 pm on Friday, Monday, July 16, 2007. The application and application instructions can be downloaded at www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/oee/GrantsLoans.htm.

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today announced that his State of the State address is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 12:00 noon.

The 127th General Assembly has scheduled a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives to convene in the House Chambers at that time to receive the Governor’s presentation of his State of the State address.

Additional planning details for news media will be made available in March.

Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Judicial Appointments Recommendation Panel is currently accepting applications for a vacant seat on the Franklin County Municipal Court. In addition, Governor Ted Strickland has announced the selection of the regional panel members that will assist the at-large members in recommending appointees to the position.

“I am confident that our new recommendation process for judicial appointments will be carried out fairly and will help ensure that the most qualified judges serve our state,” Strickland said.

Applicants for the municipal court post must be a resident and registered elector of Franklin County and not yet 70 years old on the day they begin their duties, as dictated by Ohio law. In addition, they must be admitted to practice law in Ohio and have maintained their legal license for six years prior to assuming the judicial post.

The term of the Franklin County judgeship extends until January 1, 2008.

In the case of all judicial vacancies, applicants must follow the guidelines set forth by Ohio Judicial Appointments Recommendation Panel to ensure their eligibility for appointment. All materials submitted by applicants for a judicial vacancy will be considered public record under Ohio law. Applicant communication with panel members must be directed to the entire panel; all attempts to contact or influence a panel member are prohibited. Applicant questions and concerns should be addressed to the Governor’s Office.

Applications must be submitted directly to the panel and will then be distributed to the at-large and regional panel members. Details and the full text of the application procedure are available below and on the judicial panel's section of the governor’s Web site, http://governor.ohio.gov/GovernorsOffice/JudicialAppointments/tabid/127/Default.aspx/.

Requirements for all applicants include submitting a letter of interest, resume, panel questionnaire and no more than six letters of recommendation.

Applications must be received within 15 days of the vacancy notice (unless otherwise posted by the panel). Applications for the position on the Franklin County Municipal Court must be received by 5 p.m. February 20.

Governor Strickland has selected the following individuals to serve on the regional panel for the current Franklin County vacancy: William Anthony, Franklin County Democratic Party Chairman; Kevin Boyce, Columbus City Council; Delena Edwards, attorney; David Hetzler, DLZ Inc., business and industry representative; James Hudson, Laborers Local 423, labor and consumer representative; and Mark Serrot, attorney.

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Transition Chair Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman announced today the appointments of Hugh Quill as the director of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, Joe Secrest as president and legislative director of the Ohio Controlling Board, and Steve Campbell as chief of staff of the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Quill, 50, will begin service on February 12. His appointment marks Strickland’s 16th cabinet appointment.

“Hugh’s management experience and good judgment make him very qualified to direct the Department of Administrative Services,” Strickland said. “I know that he can help move Ohio government toward greater efficiency and with better results for Ohio families.”

Secrest, 60, will begin as president of the Controlling Board, an arm of the Office of Budget and Management, effective February 5.

“Joe will offer a sage mind and a steady hand in guiding the work of the Controlling Board,” Strickland said.
Campbell, 43, will begin as chief of staff of the Ohio Department of Transportation on February 20.

“Steve’s significant leadership abilities have shined in Mayor Coleman’s office and during my transition,” Strickland said. “He will be a tremendous asset to the Ohio Department of Transportation.”

“Hugh, Joe and Steve are all public servants whose experience and qualifications will serve our state well,” Coleman said.

Hugh Quill, director of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services

Hugh Quill is currently the Montgomery County Treasurer and has served in that position since 1993. As the county's fiscal officer, Quill is responsible for the custody, collection and disbursement of cash assets as well as the marketing agent for the sale of notes and bonds. The treasurer serves as the depository for all county agencies and manager of the county's $500 million investment portfolio.

As treasurer, Quill has led Montgomery County in safely earning more than $270 million in investment income and establishing a $20 million local Linked Deposited Program for job creation, retention and targeted housing development. In 2005, he initiated a real estate tax lien program that has recouped more than $45 million in delinquent taxes through sales and run-up collections. Before becoming treasurer, Quill worked as chief deputy treasurer for Montgomery County and also served as the county's assistant treasurer for taxpayer services and assistant treasurer for tax delinquency.

Prior to his service in the Montgomery County Treasurer's Office, Quill worked as an investigator at the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office from 1984-1987, and as a public information officer from 1987-1991 for then Secretary of State Sherrod Brown.

Quill has served as the chairman for the Artemis Center for Alternatives to Domestic Violence, president of the County Treasurers Association of Ohio and chairman of the Montgomery County E-Government Task Force. He is currently the chairman of the Montgomery County Investment Advisory Committee, the vice-chairman of the Montgomery County Budget Commission and the former chairman of the Montgomery County Automated Data Processing Board.

Quill received a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Dayton in 1979. He currently resides in Dayton.

"DAS plays an absolutely critical role in the day-to-day operations of state government," Quill said. "I will work hard to make sure that its responsibilities are carried out in the most effective and efficient manner possible."

Administrative Services provides quality centralized services, specialized support and innovative solutions to state agencies, boards and commissions as well as local governments and state universities. The department helps deliver mail and information technology, recruits and trains personnel, promotes equal access to the state workforce, procures goods and services, oversees state construction projects, provides data and voice transmissions, leases and manages office space, processes payroll, prints publications and performs a variety of other services.

As director of the Department of Administrative Services, Quill will earn an annual salary of $125,000. The annual salary of the current director is $129,792.

Joe Secrest, president of the Ohio Controlling Board

Secrest, a former state representative, has served on the Guernsey County Board of Commissioners since 2002. From 1993-2002, he worked as Ashland Inc.’s regional manager for State Government Relations, where his primary duty was to represent the company’s interest within Ohio’s legislature and regulatory agencies.

Secrest received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Muskingum College and a master’s degree in counseling from West Virginia University. He was a caseworker for the Guernsey County Children’s Services Board from 1971-73, and served as the assistant director for the Six County Mental Health Center in Cambridge from 1973-1983.

Secrest was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1982 and served more than nine years as a representative for the 95th House district. Throughout his tenure, he served on several committees, including Energy and Environment, Financial Institutions, Public Utilities, Public Safety and Highways, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Economic Development and Small Businesses.

Secrest currently serves on several boards and committees, including the Board of Trustees for the Ohio County Commissioners Association, the Guernsey County Investment Advisory Committee and the Guernsey County Board of Revision.

“I look forward to leading the Controlling Board and carefully executing its important oversight duties,” Secrest said.

Secrest resides in Cambridge. He is married to Linda Secrest and has two children: Courtney is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, and Whitney is a senior at Miami University.

The Controlling Board provides legislative oversight over certain capital and operating expenditures by state agencies and has approval authority over various other state fiscal activities. The seven-member board meets approximately every two weeks to consider and vote on requests for action that are submitted by state agencies and universities. The board consists of: the President of the Board, the chair of the Finance and Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, the chair of the Finance and Financial Institutions Committee of the Senate, two members of the House appointed by the Speaker of the House, and two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate.

Steve Campbell, Chief of Staff for the Ohio Department of Transportation

Since February 2006, Campbell has served as senior adviser on regional affairs for Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman. In this role, Campbell has worked as a liaison to local governments, regional authorities and community organizations to improve communication, cooperation and collaboration in Central Ohio, especially on issues of economic development.

From 2000 to 2005, Campbell served as Mayor Coleman’s deputy chief of staff and director of policy. At Coleman's direction, Campbell led policy staff and departmental efforts to create several signature initiatives. These initiatives include “Welcome Home Columbus,” which has led to the development of hundreds of new, affordable homes and apartments, and Neighborhood Pride, which coordinates city services to clean up neighborhoods and help families improve homes.

Campbell also guided critical Public Safety Department policies to ensure proper staffing of the Divisions of Police and Fire, improve relations between police and the communities, prevent discrimination, and engage more residents as partners in fighting neighborhood crime.

Campbell and the policy office also developed the city's historic 21st Century Growth Policy, which will allow for sustainable economic, commercial and residential services for the next 50 years. As a part of addressing regional growth issues, Campbell also led the charge to develop new environmentally beneficial policies and principles that have since been adopted by the city and are helping drive new investment in green housing, commercial development and jobs. To help assure that the city hire quality contractors for construction, Campbell also led an inter-agency effort to adopt responsible contracting procedures.

"From his years of experience as a leader in city hall, Steve Campbell's commitment to innovative public policy will be especially important as ODOT moves forward to be a partner with cities, counties and all the regions of our state, not only building great roads, but also helping drive economic development,” Coleman said.

Campbell served as the director of Coleman's 1999 campaign committee and director of Coleman for Ohio in 2005. He directed the Ohio House Democratic Caucus campaign in 1998 and served as political director and legislative director of the Iowa Democratic Party from 1994 to 1997. Campbell also worked on the 1992 Ohio Clinton-Gore coordinated campaign. In 1993, Campbell served as the economic development director for the city of Chillicothe and directed the city's economic initiatives and advised Chillicothe’s mayor on development matters.

From 1987 to 1991, Campbell served as a research associate with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. He has also worked as a research contractor with the Kettering Foundation, where he studied the role of non-governmental organizations in international governance.

“I will work tirelessly to help manage and enhance our state’s vast transportation network, while constantly ensuring that Ohioans are traveling on safe, well-maintained roadways, ” Campbell said.

Campbell received a bachelor of arts from the University of Dayton with a double major in international studies and economics and a minor in the Russian language. He also has completed graduate-level courses in international affairs and policy analysis at the Ohio State University.

He is married to Kara Crombie-Campbell, and they have two children.

ODOT oversees Ohio’s $2.1 billion annual transportation program. The department is responsible for designing, building and maintaining Ohio’s nearly 20,000 miles of state, U.S. and interstate highways. Ohio has the second largest inventory of bridges, the fourth largest interstate highway system and the tenth largest highway system in the nation. ODOT also helps coordinate and develop Ohio’s public transportation and aviation programs. These include 56 public transit systems and nearly 200 public airports.