Hottinger receives tribute in Statehouse as government career winds down
NEWARK − The Ohio Senate honored State Sen. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, as a comedian, an iron man, a family man and a dedicated public servant on Wednesday, the final day of his 28-year tenure in the Ohio General Assembly.
Hottinger received praise from members of his party as well as Democrats as he ended the state government career he began in 1995. He switched back and forth from the Ohio House and Ohio Senate when a term limit in one chamber kicked in. He started as a Newark city councilman and ends in the Ohio Senate’s No. 2 position as its president pro tempore.
Several family members and friends attended, including his wife Cheri, mother Penny, daughters Savannah and Heather, and his month-old granddaughter Gwen. Daughter Jayme could not attend because she was taking exams at Ohio State.
“For the past 28 years, I’ve had the greatest job in the world,” Hottinger said. “It’s been the greatest honor of my life to serve in elected office and to serve in this body.
“I ran for office 32 years ago because I love people and care about people and wanted to serve and wanted to make a difference. And that doesn’t retire, and I hope it never does.”
Hottinger thanked his family and colleagues, gave some advice to newcomers and younger members of the Ohio Senate, told stories of his early days in the General Assembly and shed a few tears along the way.
“Every day our goal should be to make things better and at a minimum, not make things worse,” Hottinger said. “There’s one thing more important than your constituents and that’s your conscience. Remember your conscience and remember your soul.”
Hottinger said his next job, starting in January, will be lobbying for Sunday Creek Horizons, the lead advocacy voice for Appalachia, Ohio, based in Athens.
State Sen. Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls, spoke to the Senate about his friend, who some would call a “career politician.” Dolan said it’s a good thing Hottinger made politics his career.
“What if he hadn’t become a career politician?” Dolan asked. “Who was going to be that voice to fight for the children of Ohio? Who was going to fight for the foster care program? Who was going to fight for the at-risk kids, the boys and girls clubs, the kinship caregiver program, the Big Brother Big Sister program, and the life of the unborn and many others if Jay Hottinger doesn’t become a career politician.”
Dolan said Hottinger was responsible for 1,394 bills during his time in Ohio Senate. He said only one other member comes close to that. He also credited Hottinger for his work in such areas as health benefits, law enforcement, assistance to local government, protecting animals, taxes, regulations, estate tax, education, and workforce.
“It matters that you became a career politician,” Dolan said. “Jay, your fingerprints are all over this building. Your fingerprints are all over legislation the last 28 years.”
Sen. Kenny Yuko, leader of the Ohio Senate Democratic caucus, joined in the praise of the retiring senator. Yuko, who served with Hottinger in the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, said he’s been one of the hardest-working members of the General Assembly.
At out-of-town conferences, Yuko said the pattern is for all seats to be filled on first day filled, fewer on second day and lots of empty seats on the third day.
“But Senator Hottinger didn’t miss a minute of going there and doing the right thing,” Yuko said. “He’s a great dad, a great family person, a great human being.
“I know he’s earned the respect of people who worked in the Ohio House and Ohio Senate. He’s strong, compassionate, loving. He cares. He’s here for the right reasons and committed to making things happen.”
Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman said Hottinger has a great sense of humor and provided one example.
While the Ohio Senate was honoring a UPS driver who received a national award for 35 years without an accident, Huffman said Hottinger had a comment.
“Jay leaned over to me, and he said, “I’m going to go down to the parking garage and back into that guy’s truck.”
Hottinger recalled the beginnings of his career, including one lawmaker’s comment on his youth.
“He said anybody young enough to procreate is too young for the senate,” Hottinger said. “That was my introduction to the Ohio Senate.”
A lawmaker for 34 years told a young Hottinger he still learns something new about state government every day of his life.
“I thought, man, this guy must be a slow learner,” Hottinger said. “And here I am 28 years later, and the reality is if I were here 128 years, I would learn something new about the tenants of state government.”
Hottinger has served as chairman of the House Finance Committee and chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee. He was a 10-time winner of the “Watchdog of the Treasury” award for fiscal conservatism.
Early this year, Huffman said, “Jay Hottinger is the Cal Ripken of the Ohio Legislature, not missing a single floor vote in the past 27 years, and more importantly, being an attentive and trusted leader, as well as a mentor to so many in state government.”
Hottinger said he missed two sessions in 28 years, with perfect attendance in 27 of his 28 years. His final day became two days, as Wednesday’s session didn’t end until 5:45 a.m. Thursday.
Following the emotional tributes, Cheri Hottinger said, “I was just thinking how blessed we’ve been and how hard he’s worked and how much he loves doing what he does.”
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