Pro-concealed carry Joy Padgett sworn in as senator

January 15, 2004
Gannett News Service

COLUMBUS -- Joy Padgett described Wednesday's Senate session as more like a class reunion than a formal swearing in ceremony.

"It has just been a maze of memories," she said, hugging friends and colleagues who mobbed her on the Senate floor.

Several dozen lawmakers welcomed Padgett back to the Legislature after she took her oath of office Wednesday, officially replacing Jim Carnes in the Senate. Padgett served in the House from 1992 to 1999, and said she was happy to be working with familiar faces and friends once again.

For her part Padgett said she was excited and humbled to be back serving in the Legislature again, and promised to work with her colleagues to help make the state a better place. Padgett was the original sponsor of legislation allowing certain Ohioans to carry concealed firearms.

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The 57-year-old Coshocton resident said she has no immediate legislative plans, although she has already begun research into coal regulation and technology initiatives, both of which she said are critical to her district.

She added that her last four years as director of the state Office of Appalachia have given her a perspective on possible legislation to help that region.

"We got to look and see what's on the agenda," she said. "But I've got plenty of ideas."

Carnes left the seat to take a post with the state Department of Natural Resources. He would have been term-limited out of office at the end of this year. Padgett has already filed to run in the November election.

Padgett's Democratic opponent, former Lebanon hostage Terry Anderson, also was at the Statehouse on Wednesday. He insisted the timing was coincidental, noting he was "not competing with Joy."

He shrugged off suggestions that Padgett's new incumbency would give her the edge in the election.

The 20th Senate District includes Coshocton, Guernsey, Muskingum, Noble, Monroe, Morgan, Washington, Athens and Meigs counties.

Commentary:
Terry Anderson officially announced his candidacy for Senate on December 29. At that event, Anderson revealed his position on concealed carry reform.

"To me, it's a false issue," he said. "It's a hot-button issue that gets to people's emotions, but it's not relevant to most real lives here. Passing concealed carry is not going to bring one more dollar into the schools of southeastern Ohio."

Padgett has been involved with state government since 1991, and was the original sponsor of legislation allowing certain Ohioans to carry concealed firearms.

Anderson, a past member of the liberal academic and media-elite, has never held public office.

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