Portrait of the Honorable JoAnn Davidson, Speaker, Ohio House of Representatives

The official portrait of former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson was unveiled at a public ceremony in the Atrium of the Ohio Statehouse on the evening of December 11, 2013. The ceremony included remarks by former Ohio Governors George Voinovich and Bob Taft, and current Ohio Governor John Kasich. The formal recognition of Jo Ann Davidson in the Statehouse honors a lifetime of civic leadership. Speaker Davidson served as the first woman Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1995-2000 and as Minority Leader during her distinguished legislative career that spanned 20 years of outstanding public service.

The portrait shows Speaker Davidson on the beautifully carved, marble dais in the chambers of the Ohio House of Representatives. She is wearing a suit and prominently adorns the Ohio House of Representatives ring and a pen to symbolize her dedicated and active participation in civic affairs. Following her service in the legislature, Davidson formed her own consulting firm, JAD and Associates, and the Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute, whose mission is “to increase the number of competent, Republican women in public and community service and party leadership by providing extensive training and support for our class members as they pursue their leadership goals.” President Bush asked her to serve as Co-Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2005-2008, as well as the Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2008 Republican National Convention. In 2011, Governor Kasich appointed her as Chairman of the newly created Ohio Casino Control Commission. 

The portrait is installed in the chambers of the Ohio House of Representaives in the Ohio Statehouse.