GOP elects temporary state senator, starts another early

Two new state senators were elected Wednesday by the Republican Senate caucus.

First, Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) has been elected to temporarily be senator for the remainder of state Sen. Jeff Jacobson's (R) term. He left to become a public policy consultant in October.

After Lehner finishes Jacobson's term, she'll be inaugurated into the state House where she was elected to the seat vacated by Jon Husted (R-Kettering), who is moving into the state Senate. 

Second, state Senator-elect Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) will get an early education on the ways of the Senate next week. Patton was already en route to the Senate after winning state Sen. Bob Spada's (R) seat on Election Day. Patton will finish Spada's term through this year then begin his own term in January.

Spada took a job offered by Gov. Ted Strickland (D) with the the State Employment Relations Board in July.

Maggie Ostrowski, communications director for the Senate Majority Caucus, said the vacancies were filled so each district would have representation on matters that will be voted on during the lame-duck session. 

Lehner was elected to the Kettering-area senate seat because she was elected to be its representative in the state House, Ostrowski said, adding that the caucus felt the senate position would give her a head-start to serve in the General Assembly.

CORRECTION: a prevoius version of this article named Tom Patton as "Matt Patton." Matt Patten is the newly elected Democrat replacing Tom Patton in his state House seat.