Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The "Welcome to Ohio" bill bypasses certain tests for new residents.
State Representative Mike Dovilla recently announced signing of his “Welcome to Ohio” legislation, part of the state’s 2014-2015 Transportation Budget, according to a press release. The bill removes the written examination requirement for an individual exchanging a valid, out-of-state driver’s license for an Ohio driver’s license. Ohio currently requires any new or returning resident who has a valid driver’s license from another state – including those who were born, raised, and learned to drive in Ohio – to pass vision screening and a written examination in order to receive an Ohio driver’s license. “’Welcome to Ohio’ is common sense legislation,” Dovilla said in a press release. “Many young adults who graduate from our distinguished …
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Says state is in better shape now than 2 years ago
- OPINION
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012
To the Editor: I am humbled by the confidence the residents of the 7th Ohio House District have shown in offering me the opportunity to continue serving in the Ohio House of Representatives. In 2010, I ran for state representative to Get Ohio Working – with the dual goals of getting Ohioans back to work and getting state government to work once again for the people of Ohio. Today, we have balanced Ohio’s budget, lowered income taxes, eliminated the job-killing estate tax, and taken our rainy day fund from 89 cents to over $500 million. In less than two years, Ohio’s unemployment rate has dropped from 9.8 percent to 6.9 percent and we’ve created 123,000 net new jobs, catapulting from 48th in the nation for job creation to 4th – and #1 in…
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Here's what happened in Strongsville in the last few days
A wrap-up of top Strongsville Patch headlines this week: Earth Fare in jeopardy? -- The healthy grocery store announced it had signed a lease, but has made no move to renovate the former Borders store. Old Carolina delayed -- The barbecue restaurant missed the Dec. 1 opening it had hoped for. Police warn of pickpockets -- So far, one incident has been reported, but certain people will be vulnerable this holiday season. School bond issue passes -- It's still subject to a recount next week, but with all the ballots tallied, Issue 116 has been approved by a narrow margin. Mike Dovilla re-elected -- It's also subject to a recount, but the new vote count shows the incumbent 7th District state rep has retained his seat.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Republican incumbent retains 7th District seat, final election figures show
State Rep. Mike Dovilla's lead got slimmer, but the incumbent 7th District representative has held onto his post, according to official results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. The results, released Tuesday evening, show Dovilla bested Democratic challenger Matt Patten by 119 votes. Dovilla ended Election Night 340 votes ahead. The Board of Elections Tuesday certified results from the Nov. 6 general election, including late-arriving absentee ballots and up to 1,930 provisional votes cast in the 7th House District. Dovilla told Strongsville Patch after the Nov. 6 election he was "cautiously optimistic" he would retain the lead after the provisional votes were counted. "We think it will break our way," Dovilla said. Because the…
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Board of Elections expected to certify final vote tally
The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is scheduled to meet this afternoon to certify the results of the Nov. 6 general election -- which means the fate of the too-close-to-call bond issue for the Strongsville schools will finally be known. Issue 116 is ahead by 3 votes, but the final tally will include previously uncounted absentee votes and up to 698 provisional ballots. The final tally could also impact the race for 7th District House of Representatives. Incumbent Mike Dovilla goes into the day ahead by 340 votes, but there were 1,930 provisional ballots cast in that race, meaning Democratic challenger Matt Patten could come out ahead. Dennis Anderson, community outreach manager for the Board of Elections, said the results will be …
Friday, November 9, 2012
With only 340 votes separating candidates, provisional ballots could swing state rep race
State Rep. Mike Dovilla ended Election Night ahead of challenger Matt Patten. But the narrow margin -- 340 votes -- means it's too soon to celebrate a victory. With 1,930 provisional ballots still uncounted in the 7th District -- as well as absentee votes still coming in -- the race could still go either way. "We're cautiously optimistic at this point," Dovilla said. "We think it will break our way." It's one of several ballot issues that remains undecided, including Issue 116, the bond issue for the Strongsville schools, which is now winning by 3 votes. Provisional ballots are expected to be counted Friday, Nov. 16, Dovilla said. They will determine whether the Republican incumbent wins a second term or if Democrat Patten, who served …
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Incumbent will face challenge from Democrat
Name : Mr. Mike Dovilla Job titles held : NA Employers : NA Party affiliation : Republican Running for a: State office Running for position: Ohio House District 7 Chamber/district: Ohio House District 7 Incumbent: Yes Previous elective offices : NA Unsuccessful bids for elective offices: NA Address 120 MK Ferguson Plaza, 1500 W. 3rd St. Cleveland OH 44113 Name : Matthew D. Long Title : treasurer Website : http://www.dovillaforohio.com/ Twitter : www.twitter.com/mikedovilla Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dovilla/141214052565898
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
State Rep. Mike Dovilla backs plan to revitalize Cleveland schools
- OPINION
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Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Dear Editor: As vice-chairman of the House Education Committee, I have had the opportunity to hear testimony from scores of witnesses on one of the most important pieces of legislation regarding Greater Cleveland in years – The Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools. Just as important, if not more so, have been the personal meetings I have had with the parents, students, and teachers of the Cleveland Municipal School District. The need for The Cleveland Plan comes down to three tragic facts. First, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District currently meets only one of 26 academic standard indicators. Second, the district has a graduation rate of 54 percent; among Hispanics, the graduation rate drops to 30 percent. Of every 100 children …
Monday, April 30, 2012
Measure will now go to state senate
A bill sponsored by State Reps. Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) and Christina Hagan (R-Alliance) that seeks to revitalize Ohio's job creation efforts and spur tourism has been approved by the Ohio House of Representatives 91-5. The measure would complete the transition of the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) into the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA). It also creates creates within ODSA the Office of TourismOhio, which would be funded through a five-year pilot program that links funding for TourismOhio to the growth in sales tax revenues of tourism-related industries. Specifically, the legislation would: ODSA would provide essential services to JobsOhio — the state’s private, non-profit entity created through House Bill 1 — including …
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
State rep pushes to strip convicted public officials of their retirement benefits
In the wake of former County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora's corruption trial, State Rep. Mike Dovilla, R-18, is pushing for approval of legislation that would take away public officials' pensions if they are convicted of extortion or perjury. Dovilla, a primary sponsor of House Bill 323, said he was angered when he learned Dimora's lawyers cut a deal with federal prosecutors that allows him to forfeit his commissioner’s pension, valued at $122,383, in exchange for reduced jail time. "The fact that Jimmy Dimora was able to use his public pension as a bargaining chip for reduced jail time or other benefits is not only sickening but is a blemish on our democracy," Dovilla said in a news release. HB 323 would automatically strip public officials …
James Murphy
4:15 pm on Wednesday, April 3, 2013
wow great idea a politician actually removing red tape more ›