<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3iZPeE_0wM7g1U300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3iZPeE_0wM7g1U300" width="1320" height="743" >COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jo Ann Davidson, the pioneering first female Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2024. She was 97.Davidson's political career began in 1967 when she became the first woman to serve on the Reynoldsburg City Council. She was elected to the Ohio House in 1981, where she held various leadership roles, including assistant minority whip, minority whip, and minority leader. In 1995, she made history as the first woman elected Speaker of the Ohio House.After retiring from public service in 2001, Davidson founded the Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute, which has guided nearly 500 Republican women in Ohio on leadership skills.Governor Mike DeWine expressed his condolences, saying, "Fran and I are saddened to learn of the death of our dear friend Jo Ann Davidson. Jo Ann dedicated her life to public service and the people of Ohio, a model public servant who was full of wit, intelligence, class, and skill. She was a trailblazer in the truest sense, beginning her career on Reynoldsburg’s city council in the 1960s and making history in 1995 as Ohio’s first female speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives."DeWine added, "Over the decades, Jo Ann was committed to making a difference in people’s lives and was especially passionate about inspiring other women to do the same. Although we mourn Jo Ann’s death, Fran and I take comfort in knowing that she will live on through those she mentored and her legacy will be remembered by everyone who passes by her portrait on the wall of the House Chamber at the Ohio Statehouse."Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman also paid tribute, stating, "Speaker Davidson was an inspiration and role model for the Ohio General Assembly. Her legacy will forever pave the way for women who have an interest in serving their state."Ohio Attorney Dave Yost spoke on Davidson's legacy of leadership: "Speaker Davidson was a great public servant for all Ohioans, but a special advocate for women – first a pioneer, then as a mentor to an entire generation of leaders. Her dedication to public service and her unwavering commitment to empowering others will be remembered and cherished. She leaves behind a remarkable legacy that continues to inspire us all."Senator Michele Reynolds, a member of the Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute, reflected on Davidson's impact, saying, "Jo Ann Davidson's influence has been a pivotal force in shaping my political ambitions. Learning from a trailblazer like her has been a true honor. Jo Ann is not just a history maker; she is a change maker who has inspired countless women."Senator Theresa Gavarone remembered Davidson's kindness and guidance, noting, "Jo Ann Davidson was one of the first people I met when I joined the legislature. Her kindness and words of advice were inspirational as I started my political career. She will be deeply missed."Davidson's legacy includes numerous honors, such as the 1991 Legislator of the Year and the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award, as well as an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Ohio University.Her contributions to Ohio's political landscape and her role in empowering women will be remembered for generations.</div></body>

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Jo Ann Davidson, Ohio's first female House Speaker, dies at 97

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jo Ann Davidson, the pioneering first female Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2024. She was 97. Davidson's political career began in 1967 when she became the first woman to serve on the Reynoldsburg City Council. She was elected to the Ohio House in 1981, where she held various leadership roles, including assistant minority whip, minority whip, and minority leader. In 1995, she made history as the first woman elected Speaker of the Ohio House.