By Mike Sever
Record-Courier staff writer
State Sen. Kimberly Zurz has been appointed to head the Ohio Department of Commerce by Gov. Ted Strickland. The announcement was made at noon Tuesday.
Her replacement in the Senate will be selected by the Ohio Senate Minority Caucus from recommendations from the Portage and Summit County Democratic parties.
Zurz has represented the 28th District, which includes all of Portage County and a sizable piece of southeastern and south- central Summit County, including part of Akron, since 2003.
For the past 20 years, the Senate post has been seesawed between Portage and Summit residents.
Zurz, who is from the city of Green in Summit County, succeeded State Sen. Leigh Herington of Rootstown, who stepped down in order to run for a judgeship in 2003. Herington's predecessor was Robert Nettle, a Summit County resident, who succeeded the late Marcus Roberto of Ravenna, who died in office in 1986.
If the 20-year-old gentleman's agreement between Democratic leaders in the two counties holds, that means a Portage resident should get the nod for Zurz's seat.
The names of Portage County Commissioner Chuck Keiper and State Rep. Kathleen Chandler have been mentioned, as both have sought the post in the past. Keiper sought the appointment when Herington resigned in 2003, but Zurz got it. She won election to a four-year term in 2004.
Chandler sought the post in 1994 when Herington was appointed to succeed Nettle. Chandler has served in the Ohio House since 2003, when she succeeded State Rep. Ann Womer Benjamin, who was term-limited and made an unsuccessful bid for Congress.
Keiper and Chandler were not available for comment Tuesday.
Senate Minority Leader Teresa Fedor said Tuesday that the Senate Democratic Caucus will fill Zurz's vacant seat after soliciting nominations from the Democratic chairmen in Portage and Summit counties. Each will be asked to recommend up to three nominees.
The Senate Democratic leadership team will interview those who have been recommended by the county chairs, then make a recommendation to the Democratic caucus, which will choose Zurz's replacement.
Craig Stephens, chairman of the Portage County Democratic Party, said he expects the process to proceed rapidly.
"We will want to move fairly quickly," Stephens said "I absolutely believe they will make every effort to get it done before they go back in session" in mid-February. "They don't have any (votes) to spare." Democrats hold only 12 of the 33 seats in the Senate.
The district's boundaries have changed dramatically over two decades, but the gentleman's agreement has held over time.
Stephens refused to speculate on who might apply from Portage. He said he will have a central committee meeting to discuss who the Portage party will recommend as soon as they hear from the senate caucus.
Stephens said he expects the Portage and Summit parties will each send recommendations, probably more than one name from each.
"Russ (Pry, Summit County Democratic chairman) and I have a good working relationship. I assume that Summit County would make a like maneuver," Stephens said.
"Kim's energy, good judgment and common-sense leadership make her the right person to lead the commerce department," Strickland said. "I look forward to working with her to make sure that the Department of Commerce is doing everything it possibly can to help turn around Ohio."
If Keiper goes to Columbus, it would set off a round of appointments for the county commission. Keiper just won a new four-year term in November.
If Chandler gets the nod, it would open up the county's 68th House District.
The Department of Commerce is one of the state's chief regulatory agencies. It administers regulation of financial institutions, industrial, labor and worker safety, liquor control, real estate, securities and the state fire marshal's office.
Before taking the Senate seat, Zurz served 11 years on the Summit County Council, including three terms as president. As a member of the county council, she chaired the Investment Advisory Committee and the Summit County Audit Committee.
She was instrumental in creating a Foreign Trade Zone in Akron and worked toward the creation and promotion of the Summit County Port Authority.