Toledoan paints Ohio's former Speaker

Painted by portrait master Leslie Adams, JoAnn Davidson was Ohio's only female speaker of the House.

A portrait of Jo Ann Davidson, Ohio's only female speaker of the House.

A portrait of Jo Ann Davidson, Ohio's only female speaker of the House, was unveiled Wednesday. The portrait is the ninth painted by Toledo artist Leslie Adams to hang in the Statehouse and nearby Ohio Judicial Center. Ms. Davidson was speaker from 1995 to 2000. The artist portrayed her on the dais, ‘with her gavel laid next to her, but with a pen in her hand to symbolize and emphasize the fact that she is still diligently working and is a vital contributor,’ Ms. Adams said.