Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted Biography

As Ohio's 53rd Secretary of State, Jon Husted is responsible for oversight of elections in one of the nation's most hotly-contested swing states. National media outlets covering Ohio, including CNN, Time Magazine and The Washington Post, described Secretary Husted as "the powerful official behind Ohio's vote" and suggested he could be the "most important" man in the 2012 Presidential Election. However, Jon Husted prefers to be simply described as a husband, father and public servant who believes in our democracy and the principles of freedom and justice it's based upon.

Jon Husted was first elected to public office in 2000 as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. Only four years later, Husted's colleagues elected him Speaker of the Ohio House, making him one of the youngest ever to lead the body.

As Speaker, Jon Husted was instrumental in passing the most fiscally conservative budget in 40 years that included the reform of the state tax code and the largest income tax cut in Ohio's history. He also led the passage of the Ed Choice Scholarship, a school choice option for children trapped in chronically-failing schools.

After serving two terms as Speaker, Husted was elected to the Ohio Senate, where he was a leading advocate for reforming how we draw legislative and congressional districts. This is a cause he continues to champion as Secretary of State.

Secretary Husted continues to look to improve how we run elections in Ohio, seeking to balance the goals of making it convenient to vote, while upholding the security and integrity of the process.

In addition to serving as chief elections official, the Secretary of State is also the custodian of business filings in Ohio. Secretary Husted is committed to ensuring that Ohio's job creators have a positive first interaction with the state of Ohio. He reminds his team that government should be in the business of good customer service and should work every day to eliminate bureaucratic delays that cost businesses time and money.

Raised in Montpelier Ohio, Husted attended the University of Dayton (UD), where he earned All-American Defensive Back honors as a member of the 1989 Division III National Championship football team. After receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees from UD, Husted stayed in the Dayton area where he served as Vice President of Business and Economic Development at the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.

With all of his responsibilities, however, Secretary Husted considers his most important roles as that of husband to his wife Tina and father to his children, Alex, Katie and Kylie.

 

Jon Husted's Key Goals for the Ohio Secretary of State's Office

• Provide leadership that builds trust and confidence in Ohio's system of elections through consistent and timely policy directives, just arbitration of disputes and enhanced services to voters and county boards of election.

• Enhance economic growth and job creation using technology and customer service practices that save businesses time and money.