Rep. Jon Husted (R-Kettering) has been unofficially anointed speaker-elect with the withdrawal of Rep. Chuck Blasdel (R-E. Liverpool) from the intra-caucus race to succeed Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) in 2005.
Barring an unforeseen dark horse candidate or an unprecedented reversal of fortunes by Democrats who control only 37 of 99 House seats, the two-term representative appears to have sewn up a contest that heated up over the summer but was won by Mr. Husted in part because of an early start.
Mr. Husted, 36, won his House seat with ease in 2000 in the heavily Republican 41st House District. It was the first elected office for the Kettering resident, who had served as vice president of Business and Economic Development for the Dayton Chamber of Commerce.
If Senator Jeff Jacobson (R-Dayton) bests Senator Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green) in the maneuvering to succeed Senate President Doug White (R-Manchester) in 2005, it would represent a likely unprecedented power surge for the Dayton area, which would boast the leaders of both chambers of the General Assembly.