In between campaigning and legislating, state lawmakers also found themselves in the middle of some high profile drama and scandal in 2018.
News that the for international travel with payday lenders broke in early April. Within a week, , though he said in a statement his actions have been both ethical and lawful. Speaker Pro Tem Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) said Rosenberger put the state and the chamber ahead of himself.
鈥淗e saw that because of this inquiry, there were a lot of people asking questions, not just of him but of our members, and it caused a distraction,鈥� Schuring said in April.
The FBI a few weeks later. A warrant said they were searching for records related to payday lending legislation and 鈥� quote 鈥� 鈥溾��. removed from Rosenberger鈥檚 Columbus office included more than a half a dozen presidential busts, several bobbleheads of state and national figures, sports and military memorabilia, and artwork including a painting of Rosenberger watching Republican presidents play poker.
and for , as Republicans who hold a supermajority .
Before the scandal and his resignation, the term limited Rosenberger had wanted to see House Finance Committee chair Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell) elevated to speaker. . Former speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) wants to lead the chamber starting next year, and privately threw his weight behind against Smith. But Householder himself was mostly silent, even as into a committee meeting in May.
鈥淲hat are you telling people? You鈥檝e got some people in there who think a lot of your advice. Are you telling them anything?鈥� Ingles asked.
Householder responded: 鈥淚 think we have to do the people鈥檚 business. That鈥檚 what I鈥檓 telling them.鈥�
On June 6, Smith, Thompson and surprise entrant Jim Hughes (R-Columbus) , with most Democrats voting for their own leader Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton). After 11 rounds, the requirement that the winner must have a majority of the 98 members present dropped off, and .
鈥淚've been through speakership fights before, that there are divisive. But as I said in the beginning, if there's not retribution, if people feel like they're getting a fair shake, that tends to bring people back together. So just, I don't know what, how to quantify the price that we pay, and frankly I'm just focused on looking forward and try and put everybody back together and keep going,鈥� Smith said in June.
Democrats raised concerns this year about claims from Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron). Sykes says Capitol Square security has repeatedly asked to search her bag, even when she was wearing her legislator pin and carrying her badge. Other African American women lawmakers backed her up. , but about what people think the face of leadership looks like.
鈥淚s that face a middle aged, white male or is it a millennial black woman? I鈥檓 hopeful that people can start to recognize that the leaders of our communities and the leaders of this state are not monolithic,鈥� Sykes said in June.
There was also a continuing cloud of sexual harassment allegations over the legislature. Longtime lawmaker and roast for the House Republican caucus鈥� chief of staff in January. He called them ill-advised 鈥� others said his remarks were derogatory and sexist. Women lawmakers including Rep. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) .
鈥淲hen an elected official in one of the highest positions of leadership in the general assembly humiliates victims, mocks sexual harassment and alleged assault, Ohioans deserve a strong response,鈥� Antonio said.
The House hired a firm that had worked on nine previous probes to investigate 鈥� a firm that Seitz had worked for for 36 years. The firm said there was no conflict of interest, and then cleared Seitz of sexual harassment.
, which Seitz said was a politically motivated demand. And on went nowhere.
Interestingly, it was Seitz who helped wrap a story of bad behavior last year that may have cost a lawmaker his seat this year. Rep. Wes Retherford (R-Hamilton) a year after he was found passed out in a southwest Ohio McDonald鈥檚 drive thru with a loaded handgun in the car. and Retherford was found guilty of drunk driving.
Seitz this month. 鈥淚 guess he鈥檒l have more time to go visit McDonald鈥檚 now. But he鈥檚 going to be sure when he orders that Big Mac 鈥� two all-beef patties, special sauce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun 鈥� he鈥檚 going to be sure to say 鈥榟old that special sauce, please,鈥欌�� Seitz said.
Retherford, who laughed through that farewell speech, has said he hasn鈥檛 had a drink since his arrest.
