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Michael J. Skindell

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Mike Skindell
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 13th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
Preceded byNickie Antonio
In office
January 6, 2003 – December 31, 2010
Preceded byMary Rose Oakar
Succeeded byNickie Antonio
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 23rd district
In office
January 3, 2011 – December 31, 2018
Preceded byDale Miller
Succeeded byNickie Antonio
Personal details
Born (1962-08-31) August 31, 1962 (age 62)[1]
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Lakewood, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materWalsh College (BA)
Cleveland State University (JD)
OccupationAttorney

Michael J. Skindell (born August 31, 1962) is the state representative for the 13th district of the Ohio House of Representatives after previously serving there from 2003 to 2010. He also previously served as the state senator for the 23rd district of the Ohio Senate from 2011 to 2018. He is a Democrat.

Life and career

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Skindell graduated from Walsh College (now Walsh University) in North Canton, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Political Science in 1983. He received his Juris Doctor from the Cleveland State University College of Law in 1987.

He is a past president of the Lakewood Jaycees, and past Chairman of Lakewood Citizens Advisory Committee for Community Development Block Grant. He is a former Assistant Attorney General of Ohio, and former member of Lakewood City Council. In 2004, he received the award for Ohio Environmental Council Public Servant of the Year.

After an unsuccessful run in the primary election in 1996, Skindell was first elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2002[2] taking the place of Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar who retired after serving one term in the State House.

Skindell ran unopposed in 2004 for a second term, and won a third in 2006 with 77.26% of the vote over Republican John Patrick Hildebrand. He won a fourth term in 2008 with 75.29% over Republican Mary Louise Kirk.

While serving in the Ohio House, Skindell encouraged adoption of a renewable energy portfolio standard in Ohio.[3] The General Assembly passed Senate Bill 221, creating a standards program, in 2008 upon which Governor Ted Strickland signed the legislation.[4]

In 2012, Skindell opted to run for the Ohio Supreme Court, but lost to incumbent Terrence O'Donnell 70% to 30%.[5]

Ohio Senate

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Term limits prevented Skindell from seeking a fifth term in 2010. However, Senator Dale Miller did not run for another term, and Skindell was one of four who sought the Democratic nomination to replace him. Skindell won the nomination over former Rep. Ron Mottl Jr., Parma Councilman Nicholas Celebrezze and John Harmon with 46.82% of the vote. He won the general election easily with 60.77% of the electorate.

Skindell was sworn into his first term as Senator on January 3, 2011.

Committee assignments

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  • Civil Justice
  • Finance
  • Finance – Transportation Subcommittee (Ranking Minority Member)
  • State and Local Government
  • Technology and Innovation

Electoral history

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Ohio House of Representatives 13th District: 2018 to present
Year Democratic Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2020 Mike Skindell 33,647 74.33 Daniel Harrington 11,621 25.67%
2018 Mike Skindell 27,620 78.05 Jay R. Carson 7,769 21.95%
Mayor of Lakewood, OH: 2015
Year Democratic Votes Pct Democratic Votes Pct
2015 Mike Skindell 6,008 42.91 Michael P. Summers 7,994 57.09%
Ohio Senate 23rd District: 2010 to 2018
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2014 Mike Skindell 44,221 62.37% Tom Haren 26,684 37.63%
2010 Mike Skindell 49,406 60.77% Dave Morris 31,892 39.23%
Ohio Supreme Court Associate Justice: 2012
Year Democratic Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2012 Mike Skindell 1,252,688 30.87% Terrence O'Donnell 2,804,629 69.13%
Ohio House of Representatives 13th District: 2002 to 2010
Year Democratic Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2008 Mike Skindell 27,010 75.29% Mary-Louise Kirk 8,865 24.71%
2006 Mike Skindell 19,943 77.26% John Patrick Hildebrand Jr. 5,869 22.74%
2004 Mike Skindell 29,322 100.0% Unopposed
2002 Mike Skindell 13,241 63.86% Ryan Dro 7,495 36.14%

Personal life

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Skindell is single and resides in Lakewood, Ohio.

Controversy

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In 2000, Skindell and Lakewood City Council colleague Nancy Roth introduced legislation to extend health and other benefits to unmarried couples. Public perception latched onto the legislation as a proxy for arguments over same-sex marriage and cultural change, with hundreds of people in attendance at a single committee hearing in January 2000. Other council members eventually rejected the proposal, 5-2.[6]

Skindell led a Democratic effort to stop film tax credit legislation in 2008, drawing scorn from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.[7] Studies at the time and since have found film tax credits’ fiscal and job benefits are negligible.[8]

Skindell was a contrary voice within the Ohio House’s Democratic majority during 2009 budget battles. As a Budget Committee member, Skindell announced that he would vote against Democratic leaders’ budget without more resources for adult and child protective services and independent living centers for foster kids.[9] During a later standoff between Democratic Governor Ted Strickland and Republican Senate President Bill Harris, Ohio House leadership passed a temporary budget; Skindell voted against the rare procedure, remarking that the temporary budget including 30% cuts "offers despair, not hope."[10]

In 2015 and 2016, Skindell championed the cause of Lakewood Hospital against a plan to close the facility, supported by then-mayor Michael P. Summers and most of Lakewood City Council.[11] Lakewood Hospital became a major political and legal controversy in the city, although the mayor and council ultimately pushed through the planned closure despite significant protest.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Project Vote Smart profile
  2. ^ "2002 election results". Ohio Secretary of State. 2002-11-05. Archived from the original on 2006-06-21. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  3. ^ Palmer, Bob. "Democratic voters to decide between three in 23rd Ohio Senate District race". cleveland.com. Advance Ohio. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Strickland signs Ohio energy bill". Cincinnati Business Courier. American City Business Journals. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  5. ^ Husted, Jon 2012 general election results Archived 2012-12-04 at archive.today (2012-11-06)
  6. ^ Scruggs, Afi-Odelia (January 21, 2000). "Gay-Rights Furor Will Appear Again". The Cleveland Plain Dealer: 1B.
  7. ^ "Cheers & Jeers". The Cleveland Plain Dealer: A13. December 5, 2008.
  8. ^ Maddaus, Gene. "Film Tax Incentives Are a Giant Waste of Money, New Study Finds". Variety. Variety Media, LLC. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  9. ^ Marshall, Aaron (April 28, 2009). "House Democrats boost funds for human services". The Cleveland Plain Dealer: B1.
  10. ^ Marshall, Aaron (July 1, 2009). "Ohio lawmakers pass 7-day temporary budget extension Standoff over slots-at-racetrack keeps spending talks at stalemate". The Cleveland Plain Dealer: B2.
  11. ^ O'Bryan, Jim. "State Senator Michael J. Skindell On Hospital". The Lakewood Observation Deck. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  12. ^ "City council votes to shut down Lakewood Hospital". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
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