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Longtime leader of Ohio's public schools to resign
COLUMBUS (AP) - Gov. Ted Strickland called Ohio's schools superintendent "one of our nation's premier education leaders" as she annouced her resignation about two months after he criticized her as being neither a leader, an advocate nor a good manager.
Susan Tave Zelman announced Wednesday that she will resign when a new superintendent starts and will remain in an advisory role until December.
In February's State of the State address, Strickland had threatened to strip Zelman's authority in a move to give his office more control over schools by creating a new education chief accountable to him instead of the state Board of Education.
But the Republican-controlled Legislature has not moved to authorize Strickland's plan. And the state Board of Education, which is searching for a replacement for Zelman with the governor's input, still opposes the changes.
Zelman has led primary and secondary education in the state for nine years, overseeing a system with about 1.8 million students.
"Academic performance has improved measurably," Zelman said of her time in the job. "School funding has increased. And the Ohio Department of Education has been re-engineered to serve Ohio's 600-plus school districts with a stronger customer-service focus."
(Refer to page 8 of today's Daily Chief-Union) |
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Ohio governor taps law professor as temporary AG replacement
COLUMBUS (AP) - Gov. Ted Strickland says dispute resolution, orderliness and leadership are traits held by the woman who will replace an attorney general who resigned after admitting to having an extramarital affair with a subordinate, hiring unqualified friends and being unprepared to run the giant state agency.
Strickland on Wednesday appointed Nancy Hardin Rogers, the dean of Ohio State University's law school, to take over the office until an election is held in November to select a new attorney general.
She replaces Democrat Marc Dann, who resigned earlier this month after two staffers complained of sexual harassment by one of his top aides and an ensuing investigation led to him admitting to the affair.
The resignation has given Republicans an opening to reclaim a statewide seat they previously held for more than a decade, and Strickland has led the charge to keep that from happening.
Strickland noted Rogers' distinguished legal career, strong reputation and expertise in the field of dispute resolution.
"She will bring to that office as quickly as any human being can possibly do so a sense of confidence, orderliness and leadership," he said.
(Refer to page 8 of today's Daily Chief-Union) |
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| TUESDAY MAY 27, 2008 |
Law enforcement groups oppose bill on self-defense killings
COLUMBUS (AP) - Major law enforcement groups said Tuesday that they oppose Gov. Ted Strickland's support of a bill that would allow a new protection against prosecution for people who kill an attacker in self defense.
One exception: Strickland's own State Highway Patrol.
The patrol and its state agency - the Ohio Department of Public Safety - have no official position on the bill but support the governor, public safety spokesman Tom Hunter said.
Under the bill Strickland favors, people who injure or kill an attacker in self defense no longer would shoulder the burden to prove their actions were justifiable.
The Democratic governor has long been supported by the National Rifle Association for his views on gun rights.
Director John Murphy of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association says the bill could allow drug dealers to claim self defense in shootings of rivals in deals that went sour.
"The people it works to benefit are criminals who ought to be convicted," Murphy said.
NRA lobbyist John Hohenwarter countered that the bill would put an end to "people getting dragged into court for defending themselves."
(Refer to page 8 of today's Daily Chief-Union) |
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