COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Senate Majority Caucus elected three of its senators from northwest Ohio as Republican majority leaders in the 136th General Assembly earlier this week.
Napoleon's Rob McColley will serve as the Senate president, Bowling Green's Theresa Gavarone will serve as the majority floor leader and Tiffin's Bill Reineke will serve as president pro tempore beginning in January.
"It's such an honor to be elected by your colleagues to serve in a position of leadership in the Ohio Senate," Gavarone said. "It's a great responsibility and one I don't take lightly."
The trio represents different parts of northwest Ohio, making a team that McColley says is familiar and more than qualified.
"Their efforts and their legislative career speak for themselves," McColley said. "They're not afraid to take on weighty issues and issues that are going to be complex and, frankly, they're well respected by their entire caucus."
Even though their offices are in Columbus, each senator will continue to represent their constituencies and bring their northwest Ohio voices to the state Capitol.
"There are a lot of great cities and communities all across the state. Northwest Ohio, there's no exception to that," McColley said. "Toledo is a great city with a very rich history as are many of our other cities across northwest Ohio like Findlay and Napoleon."
Gavarone attested to that fact, too.
"When you're put in a position like this and you can have a stronger voice for your district, it's really important," she said. "To have three members of leadership coming from right here in northwest Ohio, it says a lot."