The General Assembly has formally confirmed Jim Tressel, the former football coach at Ohio State, as the lieutenant governor of Ohio under Governor Mike DeWine.
On Monday, DeWine named 72-year-old Tressel his choice for lieutenant governor, pending confirmation from the Senate and House. Tressel has no prior political experience.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the Senate voted 31-1 and the House voted 68-27 to formally confirm Tressel.
Beth Liston, a Democrat from Dublin, voted against the appointment. While a small number of Democrats supported Tressel’s appointment, Democrats accounted for all 27 of the House’s unfavorable votes.
DeWine appointed former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to the U.S. Senate last month to fill Vice President J.D. Vance’s Senate vacancy, and Tressel takes his place.
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DeWine posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, to celebrate Tressel’s confirmation.
Congratulations to Jim Tressel, who has been confirmed as the next lieutenant governor by the Ohio General Assembly! According to DeWine’s tweet, he will serve Ohio with distinction and brings a plethora of knowledge to the role.
Tressel’s most well-known accomplishments include capturing the 2002 national championship while serving as the Ohio State Buckeyes’ head football coach from 2001 to 2010. After that, he was Youngstown State University’s president from 2014 to 2023. He spent 15 years as Youngstown State’s head football coach before to joining Ohio State.
Tressel, a native of Mentor, played quarterback for the football team at Baldwin Wallace University before earning a degree in education.
As one of the most successful college football coaches of the past 20 years or so, he is well-known for his actions on the football field, according to Senate President Rob McColley, a Republican. More significantly, he is well-known for the guidance he gave to innumerable young men and women who participated in the Ohio State football program at the time.
Tressel is one of the best leaders our state has ever had, McColley continued.
Al Cutrona, a Republican state senator from Canfield, said he had personally witnessed Tressel’s transformation of the region he represents.
He instills a drive for higher education and workforce development, according to Cutronas. As our next lieutenant governor, I think (Tressel) will bring out the best in Ohio, just as he brings out the best in everyone he meets.
Before the Senate vote, Tressel had an opportunity to speak with Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio, D-Lakewood.
“My caucus is really hopeful that Jim Tressel will contribute some balance and some inside knowledge and experience on higher education to the administration through his higher education expertise and experiences,” she said.
State Representative Phil Plummer, a Democrat from Dayton, argued in favor of Tressel’s confirmation in the House.
“Jim Tressel is a winner, a leader, and a champion for the people of Ohio,” he stated, and I, along with many of our colleagues, immediately believed that was the proper choice.
Because Tressel helped draft a 2015 law that gives the state the authority to take over school districts with low standardized test scores, state representative Juanita O. Brent, a Democrat from Cleveland, voted against his confirmation.
According to Brent, the Academic Distress Commission has maintained state control over schools in my district, including East Cleveland, Lorain, and Youngstown, and it is denying parents their choice and our school board members their voice. And the individual attempting to be nominated as our lieutenant governor is the one responsible for all of this.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.