COLUMBUS - A state senator from the Lima area is the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee on Criminal Justice, Senate President Bill Harris (R., Ashland) announced yesterday.

State Sen. Jim Jordan (R., Urbana) succeeds Steve Austria (R., Beavercreek), who was elected as majority whip in the two-year session that started Monday. Mr. Jordan also will be on the Agriculture; Health, Human Services, and Aging; and Ways and Means and Economic Development committees.

As they did two years ago, two GOP senators from northwest Ohio have held on to their chairmanships: Larry Mumper of Marion with Agriculture and Lynn Wachtmann of Napoleon with Health, Human Services, and Aging.

Mr. Mumper also will serve on the Education; Environment and Natural Resources; Health, Human Services, and Aging; and State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs committees.

Mr. Wachtmann was assigned to Highways and Transportation; Insurance, Commerce, and Labor; and the Judiciary Committee on Civil Justice.

Randy Gardner of Bowling Green is the No. 3-ranking Republican in the 33-member chamber. He was assigned to the Education; Finance and Financial Institutions; and the Rules committees.

State Sen. Teresa Fedor of Toledo, who last session was the ranking Democrat on the Public Utilities Committee, will be the No. 1 Democrat on the Education Committee.

She succeeds C.J. Prentiss of Cleveland, who is the new Senate Minority Leader. Ms. Fedor is minority whip.

Ms. Fedor, a former Toledo Public Schools teacher, also was assigned to Environment and Natural Resources; Rules; and State and Local Government and Veteran Affairs.

Mr. Harris said the number of standing committees remains at 14, and two subcommittees were eliminated.

First Published January 6, 2005, 11:22 a.m.