When Vice President JD Vance was sworn into office, a series of vacuums in elected offices trickled down finally ending at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio.  Replacing Vice President Vance in the Senate was Fmr. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.  Governor DeWine, who appointed Husted, was then left with the decision on who to nominate for Lt. Governor.  While some of the assumed nominees were previously rumored to be his Senate picks, Gov. DeWine unconventionally picked Fmr. OSU Coach and Fmr. Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel to be the next Lieutenant Governor.

“Jim has spent a great deal of time working with and leading young people, and he will be involved directly with education and workforce development during the remaining two years of my administration,” Governor DeWine announced when he appointed Tressel. “Jim Tressel knows Ohio, he shares Ohio’s values, and is a born leader.”

Shortly after his appointment, the Ohio General Assembly moved quickly under the leadership of Senate President Rob McColley [R-1] and House Speaker Matt Huffman [R- Lima] to confirm Tressel’s nomination.  Following the quick confirmation, an inauguration ceremony was set up to swear in the new Lt. Governor.

In his inaugural address, Lt. Governor Tressel spoke on his priorities going forward under the Governor’s leadership and direction.

“I’m totally humbled and excited to be here on Valentine’s Day, which is also Woody Hayes’ birthday. It doesn’t get much better than that,” Lt. Governor Tressel stated. “Governor DeWine has spent an entire lifetime making a difference in the Buckeye State. I want to be part of that. I want to learn from him, serve with him, and see where I can be helpful.”

Governor DeWine has expressed his desire to focus on education going forward in the last couple of years he has to serve as governor.  His appointment of Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, he says, makes that clear, and he is confident that a DeWine – Tressel team will continue delivering positive results for Ohioans.