Bill Harris (Ohio politician)
Encyclopedia
Bill Harris is a Republican
politician, who served in the Ohio General Assembly
, notably as President of the Ohio Senate from 2005 to 2010.
, Harris earned his B.A. in Secondary Education from the University of Arizona. A former U.S. Marine, Harris served in the Korean War
as a machine gunner and a platoon commander. After Korea he attended the US Army Counterintelligence School, and then served the remainder of his 23-year career with the USMC as an intelligence and counterintelligence officer, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam
. Following his time in the military, Harris moved to Ashland, Ohio
, where he began a career as an automotive dealer. He would own one of the largest Chevrolet
and General Motors
dealership networks in Northern Ohio.
In 1995, Harris sought an open seat in the Ohio House of Representatives
in a Republican
district. He won easily, and began his first term on January 3, 1995. He won reelection in 1996. By 1997, Harris was serving as majority whip of the House. He won reelection in 1998.
changed his political future. In summer of 2000, Senator Dick Schafrath
resigned from his seat before facing term limits in 2002. Harris was appointed to the seat. He was seated in the upper chamber on August 15, 2000, and resigned from his House seat on the same day.
Harris won a full term to the Senate in 2000, facing minimal opposition, and served as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, one of the more powerful chairmanships in the legislature. In late 2004, ongoing disputes between Senators Randy Gardner and Jeff Jacobson, who were both vying to be the next President of the Senate, left President Doug White
's successor unnamed. Both dropped out of the running, leaving darkhorse
candidate Harris to take the top position in the Senate in 2005. He served in the capacity for three General Assemblies, or six years. Harris easily won a second term in 2006.
By 2010, Harris was term limited, and after fifteen years, left the legislature. He was succeeded in the Senate by Kris Jordan
, and as President of the Senate by Tom Niehaus
. Following his time as a legislator, Harris returned to Ashland County
and retired.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician, who served in the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
, notably as President of the Ohio Senate from 2005 to 2010.
Life and career
Originally from TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Harris earned his B.A. in Secondary Education from the University of Arizona. A former U.S. Marine, Harris served in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
as a machine gunner and a platoon commander. After Korea he attended the US Army Counterintelligence School, and then served the remainder of his 23-year career with the USMC as an intelligence and counterintelligence officer, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Following his time in the military, Harris moved to Ashland, Ohio
Ashland, Ohio
Ashland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Ashland County. The population was 21,249 at the 2000 census. It is the center of the Ashland Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, where he began a career as an automotive dealer. He would own one of the largest Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
and General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
dealership networks in Northern Ohio.
In 1995, Harris sought an open seat in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
in a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
district. He won easily, and began his first term on January 3, 1995. He won reelection in 1996. By 1997, Harris was serving as majority whip of the House. He won reelection in 1998.
Ohio Senate
While Harris was seen as a potential Speaker of the House in 2000, a vacant seat in the Ohio SenateOhio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
changed his political future. In summer of 2000, Senator Dick Schafrath
Dick Schafrath
Richard Philip "Dick" Schafrath is a retired offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns, former Ohio State Senator and author. During his tenure as an athlete, he won a national football championship with the 1957 Ohio State University Buckeyes and the 1964 NFL Championship with the Cleveland Browns...
resigned from his seat before facing term limits in 2002. Harris was appointed to the seat. He was seated in the upper chamber on August 15, 2000, and resigned from his House seat on the same day.
Harris won a full term to the Senate in 2000, facing minimal opposition, and served as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, one of the more powerful chairmanships in the legislature. In late 2004, ongoing disputes between Senators Randy Gardner and Jeff Jacobson, who were both vying to be the next President of the Senate, left President Doug White
Doug White
Doug White of Manchester, Ohio, is an American politician of the Republican party who served as president of the Ohio Senate for two years, from 2003 to 2005....
's successor unnamed. Both dropped out of the running, leaving darkhorse
Darkhorse
Darkhorse is Los Angeles based band Crazy Town's second album, released on November 12, 2002.The album peaked at No. 120 on the Billboard 200 and No. 164 in the UK. It was released without any touring or promoting, Crazy Town simply floated their second album into stores...
candidate Harris to take the top position in the Senate in 2005. He served in the capacity for three General Assemblies, or six years. Harris easily won a second term in 2006.
By 2010, Harris was term limited, and after fifteen years, left the legislature. He was succeeded in the Senate by Kris Jordan
Kris Jordan
Kris Jordan is a Republican member of the Ohio Senate who has represented the Nineteenth District since 2011. He served in the Ohio House of Representatives from the Second District...
, and as President of the Senate by Tom Niehaus
Tom Niehaus
Tom Niehaus is a Republican member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 14th District since 2005. Previously he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2000 until 2004. Niehaus succeeded Ohio Senate President Doug White, who was prevented by Ohio's term limits law from running for...
. Following his time as a legislator, Harris returned to Ashland County
Ashland County, Ohio
Ashland County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States, and was formed in 1846 from parts of Huron, Lorain, Richland and Wayne Counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 53,139. Its county seat is Ashland...
and retired.