“My heart’s still in Dayton,” said Husted, 43, a University of Dayton graduate. “It’s the place I feel at home. The people there are the ones who helped make my public service career possible. All that I am today, I owe to the people of Dayton and the Dayton area.”
In recent years, while serving as Speaker of the Ohio House and as a state senator, Husted, a Republican, spent much of his time living with his family in Columbus but maintained his legal residence in Kettering.
The all-Republican Ohio Supreme Court ruled unanimously in 2009 that Husted was a Montgomery County resident for voting purposes, reversing a decision by then Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
Before Brunner’s tie-breaking decision, the Montgomery County Board of Elections had deadlocked 2-2 along partisan lines on Husted’s residency.
Husted said that maintaining his residency in Montgomery County was “absolutely right” while serving as a legislator. He was elected secretary of state, Ohio’s top elections officer, last year.
For personal and professional reasons, now is the time to make the change, said Husted. As a statewide elected official, he goes to work here every day, he said.
Husted said that he still plans to return to the Dayton area when his public service ends.
Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern, who had been critical of Husted, said, “I wish Jon well.”
Husted should have more time making sure voters get the chance to cast ballots in November, without continuing concerns about his residency, Redfern said.
Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDaily News.com.
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