Former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson has died

Jo Ann Davidson, who worked her way up through the male-dominated world of Ohio politics to become speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, died Friday. She was 97

Jo Ann Davidson, who worked her way up through the male-dominated world of Ohio politics to become speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, died Friday. She was 97.

Aside from Nancy Hollister's 11-day term as governor, Davidson remains the only woman in Ohio history to hold one of the three major positions of political power – governor, Senate president or speaker. Davidson's death was confirmed by his close friend Betty Montgomery, who served as comptroller and attorney general in Ohio.

“Jo Ann dedicated her life to public service and the people of Ohio, an exemplary public servant who was full of wit, intelligence, class and skill,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a written statement.

Not only has Davidson broken the political glass ceiling, she has also spent decades opening the doors for other Republican women interested in politics and public service. In 2000, she founded the Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute, from which more than 400 women from across Ohio have graduated.

In 2010, Lydia Mihalik, the former mayor of Findlay who serves in DeWine's administration, was part of the institute's 10th class of students. Davidson taught her the importance of inclusive leadership, working harder than those around her, and responding gracefully under pressure.

“She is the epitome of the professional,” Mihalik said in an interview in 2022. “That is not to be taken negatively, but she is the example of a very effective professional politician and public servant.”

Mihalik considered Davidson a close friend, role model and mentor, even giving her third child the middle name Jo Ann.

Davidson had a lot of advice and life lessons to pass on to others.

In 1965, in her first race for Reynoldsburg City Council, she and her friends sat at a local coffee shop on Election Day wondering whether she would win. She wasn't. Afterwards, Davidson left nothing to chance in his election campaigns; In 1990, she broke her ankle hitting yard signs in Westerville.

She began her career as a lobbyist for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and later served on the Reynoldsburg City Council for ten years and as town clerk for 18 months. She won election to the Ohio House in 1980 when the GOP was in the minority.

Davidson employed a morning-to-midnight work ethic to navigate the political game, listening to all views and showing patience.

“Nobody got things done and got to the point like Jo Ann,” said Maureen O’Connor, then-Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, in a 2020 speech.

In her first term in the House, she landed on the powerful Finance Committee and was tasked with raising money for and leading legislative campaigns, making herself indispensable.

When longtime House Minority Leader Corwin Nixon retired, he was replaced by Davidson. Aided by a Republican redistricting of House districts in 1991, the GOP made gains in 1992 and toppled the Democrats two years later in the Republican wave of 1994. Davidson was elected speaker.

During her six years as speaker, Davidson led welfare reform and electric deregulation, rallied a fractious conservative faction and worked with two governors to try to comply with an Ohio Supreme Court order on school funding.

She was a fiscal conservative but rejected attempts to require a supermajority to raise taxes. She helped the business community but resisted conservatives' attempts to ban collective bargaining for public employees and union wages on public projects.

She supported abortion rights and curbed attempts to advance a social agenda out of fear that such inflammatory issues could threaten the Republican majority.

“A true leader, Speaker Davidson stands out for her strength, grace and servant leadership. She fostered a culture of mentorship that changed the lives of many for the better,” said current House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill.

For decades, Davidson was a fixture in Republican politics at the national, state and local levels.

Davidson served as chairman of the Franklin County Republican Central Committee for 20 years.

Nationally, she managed presidential campaigns in Ohio and served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee in 2005 at the request of President George W. Bush. Davidson was instrumental in bringing the 2016 Republican National Convention to Cleveland.

She also served as the first chairwoman of the Ohio Casino Control Commission and as a trustee at Ohio State University, the University of Findlay and Franklin University.

“Jo Ann Davidson was kind, resilient, steadfast in her principles and a true public servant. She was a pioneer at a time when few women were in politics. Her leadership not only changed Ohio's political landscape, but also empowered countless women to find their own voices,” said Jen Miller, director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio. “She leaves a legacy that empowers women in the will inspire future generations.”

Raised by a widowed mother and big brothers

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Davidson inherited Republican blood from her father, Ralph Benington, an appliance sales manager who died of a heart attack in Atlanta in 1938, when his only daughter was 11. Davidson's mother, Bernice Benington, moved the children to her hometown, Findlay. In the midst of this hardship, Davidson's three older brothers taught her to be tough.

“I've always had this competitive drive and I think that's why,” Davidson said in a 2005 interview.

In 1949, Davidson married her occasional high school boyfriend, John, who worked for a Sandusky paper company. He was transferred to Columbus in 1954 and they settled in Whitehall and moved to Reynoldsburg in 1959. Davidson said her husband was “outgoing and friendly and everyone liked him.” That's about what she would say to even close friends.

When asked in 2005 about her regrets in life, Davidson admitted to two reasons: she never went to college and she got into politics too late to run for governor.

“I kind of limited myself to my age, but maybe I would have liked that option,” she had said.

“Jo Ann Davidson should have been the first female governor of Ohio,” Montgomery said. “But she was always too busy chopping down trees and plowing the fields for anyone else to have a chance of getting there.”

Davidson is survived by her daughter Jenifer Enslen and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Julie Huelsman, a grandson and her three brothers, Ralph, Clark and John.

Funeral arrangements are still pending.

This story has been updated to add more information and photos.

Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which covers the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

Raised by a widowed mother and big brothers

Similar Posts

The pistons lack the finishing touches, but at least it's a start

Outer Banks questions answered before Season 4 Part 2: Death, more

Leave a Reply Cancel reply