University of Toledo graduate selected as Ohio treasurer

12/23/2008

COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland Tuesday pegged University of Toledo graduate and Columbus City Councilman Kevin Boyce to serve as Ohio’s top banker and broker, completing the game of musical chairs begun in May with the resignation of former Attorney General Marc Dann.

As state treasurer, Mr. Boyce would become the first black Democrat to serve in statewide executive office, serving the two years left in the term of Richard Cordray. Voters elected Mr. Cordray on Nov. 4 to complete the two years left in Mr. Dann’s term as attorney general after Mr. Dann was pushed into resigning in the wake of scandal.

“Growing up in Columbus to a single mother gave me a real understanding of the value of a dollar,’’ said Mr. Boyce, 37, as his wife and children watched. “It was instilled in me by my mother and my grandmother as we tried to stay on top of the bills.

“I remember asking my grandmother to help purchase a pair of sneakers for me,’’ he said. “She said OK and promptly took me in her car to the local grocery store to fill out a job application as a bagger. The message: If you want the shoes, you have to earn them yourself. But more than the purchase of the sneakers was what I learned, that a penny saved is a penny earned.’’

The appointment will take effect on Jan. 6 after Mr. Cordray officially steps down to be sworn in as attorney general.

Mr. Boyce went to UT on a track scholarship, earning a degree in political science in 1995. The Columbus native was soon recruited by Mayor Carty Finkbeiner to serve as Toledo’s youth program coordinator, but it wasn’t long before Mr. Boyce headed for home to serve as chief of staff for then House Minority Leader Jack Ford (D., Toledo).

He went on to become executive director of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and then Columbus councilman beginning in 2000. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from Central Michigan University in 2004.

He serves as president pro tem on council as well as chairman of the panel’s finance committee.

Mr. Boyce said he will seek election to a full four-year term as treasurer in 2010 at the same time that Mr. Strickland and Mr. Cordray will be on the ballot seeking re-election. If voters agree, he could serve two full four-year terms in addition to the two years to which Mr. Strickland appointed him yesterday.

Contact Jim Provance at:

jprovance@theblade.com

or 614-221-0496.