Kevin DeWine

Kevin DeWine
Chair of the Ohio Republican Party
In office
January 16, 2009 – April 13, 2012
Preceded byRobert T. Bennett
Succeeded byRobert T. Bennett
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 70th district
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 16, 2009
Preceded bySteve Austria
Succeeded byJarrod Martin
Personal details
Born (1967-10-11) October 11, 1967 (age 57)
Springfield, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKelle DeWine
ProfessionBusinessman

Kevin DeWine (born October 11, 1967) is an American businessman and politician who chaired the Ohio Republican Party from 2009 until 2012. Previously, he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009.

DeWine graduated from Fairborn High School in 1986, received his Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the University of Dayton in 1990, and earned an MBA from Wright State University[1] in 1996. The DeWine family resides in Fairborn, Ohio. Before holding public office, Kevin was a regional development manager for the Dayton Power and Light Company. He is the second cousin of R. Michael DeWine, who currently serves as Governor of Ohio.[2]

When Steve Austria vacated his seat to run for the Ohio Senate, DeWine was elected to represent the 76th district in the Ohio House in 2000, defeating Democrat Eric Marcus and independent candidate Christina Turner, winning 62.3% of the vote.[3] In 2002, in the 70th district after redistricting, he defeated Democrat Lawrence Gordon with 71.7% of the vote.[4] He faced Gordon again in 2004, DeWine won with 69.3% of the vote.[5]

In 2006, DeWine won his fourth term with 60.4% of the vote against Democrat Kevin O'Brien.[6] DeWine was elected Speaker pro tempore in the 127th Ohio General Assembly. He was the chair of the Rules and Reference committee, and also serves on the Finance & Appropriations and the State Government & Elections Committees. He was not eligible to run for a fifth term due to term limits.

On January 16, 2009, he was elected unanimously as chairman of the Republican Party of Ohio.[7] He was reelected as chairman in 2011. He was replaced in April 2012 by Robert T. Bennett, following DeWine's resignation over disputes with Ohio Governor John Kasich.[8]

  1. ^ "Kevin DeWine Biography". Kevin DeWine. Archived from the original on June 4, 2004. Retrieved January 8, 2007.
  2. ^ "Feature Alum: Kevin DeWine". In Good Company. Archived from the original on September 17, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2007.
  3. ^ "2000 Election Results". Ohio Secretary of State. November 7, 2000. Archived from the original on May 14, 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  4. ^ "2002 Election Results". Ohio Secretary of State. November 5, 2002. Archived from the original on June 21, 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  5. ^ "2004 Election Results". Ohio Secretary of State. November 2, 2004. Archived from the original on May 7, 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  6. ^ "2006 Election Results". Ohio Secretary of State. November 7, 2004. Archived from the original on November 9, 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  7. ^ "Kevin DeWine Takes Over As GOP Deputy Chairman". WHIO Dayton. Archived from the original on November 29, 2007. Retrieved October 28, 2007.
  8. ^ Hallet, Joe. "Ohio GOP chief DeWine to resign to end battle with Kasich". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved January 3, 2014.