COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered U.S. and Ohio flags to be flown at half-staff.
In honor of the life and service of former Ohio Speaker of the House Jo Ann Davidson, DeWine has ordered that the flags of the United States and the state of Ohio to be lowered upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the state of Ohio until sunset on the day of her funeral. Davidson died Friday at the age of 97.
“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,” said DeWine. “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.”
Through her Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute, she guided nearly 500 of Ohio’s up-and-coming Republican women on core leadership skills, giving many the confidence to run for and succeed in public office, DeWine said. Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) was a member of the institute, and said Davidson’s influence has been “a pivotal force” in shaping her political ambitions.
“As the first African American woman in Franklin County to be elected as a Republican, I feel deeply grateful to carry forward her legacy,” said Reynolds. “Jo Ann is not just a history maker; she is a change maker who has inspired countless women. Standing in her light is a privilege I cherish, and her legacy continues to motivate me every day.”
