Winner of No. 2 spot sees election as sign of equality in Ohio

by Paul Singer
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Jennette Bradley, who will become the nation's first black female lieutenant governor in any state, said any attention her historic selection might bring isn't intimidating.

"Not now. It might have been a few years ago. But I've been the first and only for a while on a number of occasions," she said yesterday, the day after winning election in a Republican sweep of statewide offices.

The 50-year-old businesswoman was the first black woman elected to Columbus City Council, in 1991. She was also the only Republican on the council.

She said her latest election demonstrates the equality that exists in Ohio.

"I hope it sends a message around the country: 'Come here, because you can really achieve success in this great state,'" Bradley told reporters as she met with Gov. Bob Taft for lunch.

Her election to statewide office shows that "Ohio is a wonderful state where people can rise to the level of their competency and achieve and not be limited by artificial barriers," she said.

During the campaign, Bradley kept a low profile, talking little about herself and using appearances to highlight Taft's record and promote his plans to increase jobs.

Yesterday she seemed at ease with her new position, joking with the governor and reporters, and firmly but politely refusing to discuss specific budget issues. She said she had been up late and awakened early taking congratulatory phone calls, but she showed no sign of fatigue.

In Ohio, the lieutenant governor is paired on the ballot with the governor's candidate. Taft, re-elected to a second term, and Bradley won with 58 percent of the vote to 38 percent for Democratic challenger Tim Hagan and his running mate Charleta Tavares, who is also black.

A Columbus native, Bradley is a senior vice president of the Huntington National Bank. She has said she will resign before taking office in January. She also has held executive positions at Kemper Securities and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority.

As lieutenant governor, Bradley will have no constitutional duty other than taking over for Taft it he can't carry out the duties of the office. However, since the 1980s it has been common for the lieutenant governor to also serve as an agency director.

Taft promised yesterday that Bradley will have a seat in his Cabinet, though it is not yet clear what her role will be.

He said she probably will be put in charge of a state agency, and said a cabinet meeting is scheduled for today to explore the available options.

The current lieutenant governor, Maureen O'Connor, headed the state's department of public safety. O'Connor was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday.