Gillmor receives key state Senate finance role
2/10/2010COLUMBUS - Sen. Karen Gillmor (R., Tiffin) yesterday served her first day as a member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.
The change was one of several made by Senate President Bill Harris (R., Ashland) after Sen. Mark Wagoner (R., Ottawa Hills) announced he planned to gradually depart state government.
Mr. Harris re-
moved Mr. Wag-
oner from his spots on the finance committee, the Judiciary Committee-Civil Justice, and the State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee.
Mr. Wagoner was vice chairman of finance, which spars with the governor and its House counterpart in crafting state budget bills. Ms. Gillmor did not become vice chairman.
"My colleagues and I have a difficult but necessary task ahead in the coming months to work together to come up with some serious, long-term structural solutions to reduce state government spending and help our state weather the budget storm that is coming in 2011,'' Ms. Gillmor said.
Mr. Wagoner recently gave up his post as majority whip, the No. 4 GOP leader in the Senate, and announced he won't seek re-election in 2012. He has also not committed to completing his current term.
He has been made a partner at the Toledo law firm Shumaker, Loop, & Kendrick.
He said Mr. Harris "recognizes the new obligations and the commitments I have to my family. I will continue to be an active senator working on bills and issues. We only have a few months left in this session. The budget is resolved. It's time for transitioning other people into those positions.''