Chris Widener

Chris Widener
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 10th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 5, 2009
Preceded by	Steve Austria
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 84th district
In office January 3, 2003-December 31, 2008
Preceded by	Ron Rhine
Succeeded by	Bob Hackett
In office December 8, 1999-December 31, 2000
Preceded by	Joe Haines
Succeeded by	Merle G. Kearns
Personal details
Born	August 22, 1963 (1963-08-22) (age 48) Springfield, Ohio
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Sally Widener
Residence	Springfield, Ohio
Alma mater	University of Cincinnati
Profession	Architect
Religion	Methodist

Chris Widener is a member of the Ohio Senate. Widener represents the 10th Senate District, which includes Madison, Clark and Greene counties. Before the Senate, he served three terms in the Ohio House of Representatives. He is the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Career

After graduation from the University of Cincinnati, Widener served two terms on the Mad River-Greene Local Board of Education before starting his legislative career. His resume includes a stint as a civil service architect at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he also served as the base's first full-time historic preservation officer.

Widener was appointed to his first term as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives in 1999, however, he lost his primary bid for reelection to Merle G. Kearns, a prominent state Senator who was facing term limits. However, after redistricting occurred in 2002, Widener won a term beginning in 2003.

In the 2004 cycle, Widener again faced a primary challenge against fellow Republican Robert Rogers III. He defeated Rogers by about 10,000 votes.^[1] He easily won reelection in 2006.

Ohio Senate

With incumbent Steve Austria term limited and running for Congress, Widener declared his candidacy for the seat in 2008. In the primary, he faced W. Reed Madden and James Howard, and won about 67% of the electorate.^[2] In the general election, Widener faced Clark County Commissioner Roger Tackett.^[3] While Democrats initially thought the district as potentially competitive, Widener won by 39,000 votes.^[4]

Widener served as Chairman of the Energy & Public Utilities Committee in the 128th General Assembly. In the 129th General Assembly, Senate President Tom Niehaus has named Widener as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee,^[5] as well as a member of the Senate Rules and Reference Committee; Government Oversight and Reform Committee; and Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee.^[6] He is also serving on the Controlling Board;^[7] and the State Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

Policies, platforms and initiatives

Aeronautics

With Wright Patterson Air Force Base and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Widener's district, he has introduced a proposal to bring a retired space shuttle to the area after they are taken out of commission. Ohio was ultimately ruled out as a currator Space Shuttle.

Finance and budgetary issues

A Chairman of the Finance Committee, Widener will plays a leading role in shaping the biennium budget. Notable issues will include local government, education, and the privatization measure JobsOhio.^[8] With Ohio Governor John Kasich introducing a budget that brings expansive cuts to much of the budget, Widener has presided over one of the more difficult budgets in recent Ohio history.

Widener was a key player on the conference committee on the budget, where the budget was finished,^[9] and helped to pass the final budget for 2012-2013.^[10]

References

1. ^ Blackwell, Kenneth 2004 primary election results (2004-03-02)
2. ^ Brunner, Jennifer 2008 primary election (2008-03-04)
3. ^ Chris Widener, Republican Senate Candidate, Boasts About Tax Cuts, But How Will He Solve Ohio’s Budget Crisis?
4. ^ Brunner, Jennifer 2008 general election results (2008-11-04)
5. ^ Sen. Chris Widener to be Senate Finance Committee Chairman
6. ^ Hershey, William (2011-01-16). "Area’s state lawmakers take leadership spots". Dayton Daily News. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/areas-state-lawmakers-take-leadership-spots-1055779.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage. Retrieved 2011-04-18. 
7. ^ Widener named committee chair
8. ^ Vardon, Joe; Jim Siegel (2011-04-18). "Is state's jobs entity really needed?". Columbus Dispatch. http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/04/17/copy/is-jobs-entity-really-needed.html?adsec=politics&sid=101. Retrieved 2011-04-18. 
9. ^ Guillen, Joe (2011-06-29). "State budget conference committee passes unified budget on party-line vote". The Plain Dealer. http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/06/state_budget_conference_commit.html. Retrieved 2011-06-28. 
10. ^ Carr Smyth, Julie (2011-06-29). "State Senate passes budget that will change Ohio". Columbus Dispatch. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/06/28/state-senate-passes-budget.html?sid=101. Retrieved 2011-06-29. 

External links

• The Ohio Senate: Senator Chris Widener (R-Springfield) official website

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Persondata
Name	Widener, Chris
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 22, 1963
Place of birth	Springfield, Ohio
Date of death
Place of death