| Jennette Bradley | |
|---|---|
| 62nd Lieutenant Governor of Ohio | |
| In office 2003–2005 |
|
| Governor | Bob Taft |
| Preceded by | Maureen O'Connor |
| Succeeded by | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Ohio State Treasurer | |
| In office 2005–2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Joseph T. Deters |
| Succeeded by | Richard Cordray |
| Columbus City Council | |
| In office 1991–2002 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 2, 1952 Columbus, Ohio |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Michael C. Taylor |
| Profession | Politician |
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Jennette Bradley (born October 2, 1952), her family would settle in a neighborhood on Columbus' east side, after her father retired from the United States Army. Bradley graduated from East High School in 1970. Upon graduation, Bradley attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and would earn a degree in psychology. Bradley would take a job with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, which she would later be promoted to head of the authority when she was twenty-eight years old. In 1986, Bradley moved to Washington, D.C. Bradley would move back to Columbus in 1989 and work for Huntington National Bank.
Bradley entered the 1991 City Council race, with her newly wed husband as her campaign manager. Bradley ran as a Republican, and won, becoming the first African American woman to serve on the council. She would be reelected in 1995 and 1999. During her tenure she was in charge of the parks and recreation and public utilities commissions.
In 2002 Governor Taft announced he had chosen Bradley to replace Maureen O'Connor as his running mate. Many conservatives did not support Bradley because she was pro-choice. Critics of the Taft-Bradley ticket were also concerned about her City Council vote to extend city worker's health care benefits to include domestic partners and same-sex couples. Bradley was then criticized for having later voted against this extension.
Taft and Bradley won the race with approximately 58% of the vote. Bradley became the third female Lieutenant Governor in Ohio and the first African American woman elected to the office.
After taking office, Bradley was appointed by Taft to head the Ohio Department of Commerce, the Clean Ohio Council, and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. In 2004, the governor also appointed Bradley to the "Jobs Cabinet." Following the resignation of Joseph T. Deters as state treasurer, Taft appointed Bradley to the post, effective January 2005. However, Bradley was defeated by conservative Ashtabula County Auditor Sandra O'Brien in the May 2006 Republican primary election.
Jet Magazine reported that Bradley's inauguration was "awe-inspiring."[1]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Maureen O'Connor |
Lieutenant Governor of Ohio 2003–2005 |
Succeeded by Bruce E. Johnson |
| Preceded by Joseph T. Deters |
Ohio State Treasurer 2005–2007 |
Succeeded by Richard Cordray |
|
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