John Carey (Ohio state legislator)

John Carey
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 87th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded by Clyde Evans
In office
January 3, 1995-December 31, 2002
Preceded by Mark Malone
Succeeded by Clyde Evans
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 17th district
In office
January 6, 2003-December 31, 2010
Preceded by Mike Shoemaker
Succeeded by David T. Daniels
Personal details
Born April 18, 1959 (1959-04-18) (age 52)
Chillicothe, Ohio
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Lynley
Residence Wellston, Ohio
Alma mater Ohio University
Profession Legislator
Religion United Methodist

John Carey is a Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 87th District since 2011. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1995 until 2002, and the Ohio Senate from 2003 to 2010. He is the Chairman of its Primary and Secondary Education Subcommittee.

Contents

Career

Carey graduated from Wellston High School and attended Ohio University, where he earned a degree in political science. After college, he worked as an aide to U.S. Representative Clarence Miller and served as Mayor of Wellston from 1988 to 1994.

Carey defeated incumbent Representative Mark Malone in 1994 to take his first term in the Ohio House of Representatives, and won reelection handily in 1996. In 1998, Carey defeated Democrat Bill Oiler with 64.97% of the electorate to take a third term.[1] For his fourth term in 2000, he ran unopposed.

Term limited in the House after 2002, Carey sought to face incumbent Senator Mike Shoemaker to move up to the Ohio Senate. While the seat had been held by Democrats since the mid 1980s, redistricting made the seat solidly Republican. He defeated Shoemaker to take his first term with 53.8% of the vote.[2]

For the 126th General Assembly, Senate President Bill Harris named Carey as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and he continued to serve in the capacity for the 127th and 128th General Assemblies.

For his reelection bid in 2006, Carey faced Democrat April Howland, but easily won reelection with 60.08% of the vote.[3]

Ohio House of Representatives, Second Tenure

Again term limited, Carey returned to the Ohio House in 2010, and ran to succeed Clyde Evans.[4] He went on to win the seat with 64.19% of the vote.[5]

Carey serves as vice chairman of the House Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, under Chairman Ron Amstutz, and as Chairman of the Primary and Secondary Education Subcommittee in the 129th General Assembly.[6] He also serves on the committee of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Carey is also a member of the Lawrence County Transportation Improvement District Board of Trustees.

House initiatives and positions

Education

With Carey a key player in Ohio education reform as Chairman of the Primary and Secondary Education Subcommittee, Carey is leading an effort to reform Ohio school funding, and to change the current evidence based model.[7] While he supports some changes, he believes the overall formula is set up fair.[8]

After the most recent budget bill adjusted the number of calamity days school districts can use each year from five to three, there was great concern from school districts citing costs. Carey introduced legislation, along with Casey Kozlowski, that would allow for five calamity days starting as early as the present school year. He stated that bring the available days back up to three allows for education needs to be met while also ensuring safety for students.[9]

Finance

As vice chairman of the Finance Committee, Carey has been responsible for appropriating the privatization of the Ohio Department of Development. While it is a controversial approach, Carey has stated, "What we're doing now isn't working," he said about the state's existing job creation programs. "We need to take a step, even though there are risks involved. But I think we need to take these risks to help our constituents."[10] Carey has also been adement about being cautious with local government funds.[11]

An opponent of the estate tax, Carey has claimed that jobs have been lost in his district as a result of the taxation, and is in favor of initiatives to abolish the tax.[12]

Carey is a member of the conference committee on the 2013-2014 budget.[13] The goal of a conference committee is to discuss differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget legislation and decide on a common solution.[14]

References

  1. ^ Taft, Robert 1998 general election results (1998-11-03)
  2. ^ Blackwell, Kenneth 2002 general election results (2002-11-07)
  3. ^ Blackwell, Kenneth 2006 general election results (2006-11-07)
  4. ^ Summers, Barbara (2010-02-04). "County GOP endorses John Carey, Clyde Evans". The Jackson Telegram. http://www.thetelegramnews.com/Main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=83&ArticleID=9147. Retrieved 2011-04-06. 
  5. ^ Brunner, Jennifer 2010 general election results (2010-11-02)
  6. ^ Rep Amstutz House Finance Chair/Carey Vice Chair Leadership Teams Announced
  7. ^ Ohio students still stand to gain from the evidence-based model
  8. ^ Siegel, Jim (2011-04-06). "House GOP huddles on Kasich budget". Columbus Dispatch. http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/04/06/copy/house-gop-huddles-on-kasich-budget.html?adsec=politics&sid=101. Retrieved 2011-04-06. 
  9. ^ Fields, Reginald (2011-04-14). "Gov. John Kasich signs bill allowing schools up to five calamity days". The Plain Dealer. http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/04/gov_john_kasich_signs_bill_all.html. Retrieved 2011-04-14. 
  10. ^ Vote to privatize Ohio development looms
  11. ^ Siegel, Jim (2011-04-13). "Higher tax revenue might ease state's budget cuts". Columbus Dispatch. http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/04/14/copy/higher-tax-revenue-might-ease-states-budget-cuts.html?adsec=politics&sid=101. Retrieved 2011-04-14. 
  12. ^ Siegel, Jim (2011-04-29). "House GOP budget hits the casinos, adds $70 million in spending". Columbus Dispatch. http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/04/28/budget-changes-ohio.html?sid=101&adsec=politics. Retrieved 2011-05-02. 
  13. ^ Candinsky, Catherine (2011-06-10). "House, Senate leaders have 3 big budget items to wrangle over". Columbus Dispatch. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/06/10/3bigitemstowrangleover.html?sid=101. Retrieved 2011-06-13. 
  14. ^ Marshall, Aaron (2011-06-16). "Ohio budget conference committee gets good news on state revenues, bad news on Medicaid costs". The Plain Dealer. http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/06/ohio_budget_conference_committ.html. Retrieved 2011-06-16. 

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