Kristina D. Roegner (born November 27, 1968) is an American politician who serves as a member of the Ohio Senate. She has represented the 27th senatorial district since 2019. Her district encompasses the majority of Summit County in Northern Ohio.

Kristina Roegner
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 27th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2019
Preceded byFrank LaRose
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 37th district
In office
January 2011 – December 2018
Preceded byMike Moran
Succeeded byCasey Weinstein
Personal details
Born (1968-11-27) November 27, 1968 (age 55)
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseEric
Children3[1]
Residence(s)Hudson, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materTufts University
ProfessionMechanical Engineer

Career

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Roegner graduated cum laude from Tufts University in 1990 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Soon after, she worked for Westinghouse Power Generation overhauling power turbines, from 1990 to 1993.

She then moved on to consulting. Roegner entered public office in 2004, when she was seated on the Hudson City Council.

Ohio Senate

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Roegner is serving her second term in the Ohio Senate representing the 27th senatorial district, which includes the majority of Ohioans living in Summit County.[1]

The 27th senatorial district was redistricted to exist solely in Summit County for the 2022 election cycle. Senator Roegner won re-election to a second term on November 8, 2022, defeating challenger Patricia Goetz 51.1% to 48.9%.[2]

Ohio House of Representatives

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When Mike Moran won the 42nd district in 2008, he took a seat in what was traditionally a Republican district. Therefore, he was a top target for House Republicans in 2010, and Roegner was fielded to try to unseat him.[3] In the end, she went on to beat Moran 51% to 49%.[4]

For the 129th General Assembly, Speaker of the House William G. Batchelder named Roegner as a member of the Republican majority caucus' Policy Committee.[5] She was sworn into office on January 3, 2011.

Roegner won reelection to the seat in 2012 with 54.18% of the vote over Democrat Tom Schmida, and again in 2014 with 58% of the vote. She is known for being one of the most conservative members of the House, despite her competitive district.

Committee assignments

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Initiatives and positions

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While in a traditionally swing district, Roegner supported a controversial bill that looked to limit collective bargaining for public employees, stating that it is something taxpayers should celebrate.[6]

Roegner has also been an advocate for selling state lands for oil and natural gas drilling, including on Lake Erie. She had urged rejection of the amendment, which would have added an extra layer of protection for Lake Erie on top of an existing federal ban on drilling, stating that it is foolish to let only Canada reap the benefits of the reserves underneath the lake.[7]

She has been critical of Governor John Kasich and his education funding formulas, calling them "wealth redistribution".

In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Roegner and Senator Rob McColley introduced a bill that would immediately end Ohio's stay-at-home order and limit the state health director's ability to give similar orders. The bill is contrary to the recommendation of the country's top medical experts; Governor DeWine has promised to veto any bill that curb's the health director's authority during the crisis.[8]

In 2023, Roegner voted for legislation to ban gender-affirming medical care for minors and ban transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. The legislation was vetoed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, who argued that medical care should be left to families and their doctors, not be dictated by the government. Roegner said she was "disappointed that the Governor chose not to protect girls across the State of Ohio."[9] The Senate passed the bill into law via override in January. During a Senate debate on the veto, Roegner falsely stated that gender-affirming care does not exist: "Despite what the liberals say, gender is not assigned at birth, but rather from the moment of conception, you are either male or you are female. There is no such thing as gender-affirming care. You can't affirm something that doesn't exist."[10]

Elected history

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Ohio Senate 27th district: results 2018-2022
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2018 Adam VanHo 59,711 41.5% Kristina Roegner 84,031 58.5%
2022 Patricia Goetz 70,609 48.9% Kristina Roegner 73,801 51.1%
Ohio House 37th district: results 2010–2016
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2010 Mike Moran 19,825 49% Kristina Roegner 21,240 51%
2012 Tom Schmida 27,460 46% Kristina Roegner 31,378 54%
2014 David Worhatch 14,015 42% Kristina Roegner 19,816 58%
2016 Casey Weinstein 26,675 43% Kristina Roegner 35,503 57%

References

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  1. ^ a b "Senator Kristina D. Roegner - Bio | the Ohio Senate".
  2. ^ "Kristina Daley Roegner". Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  3. ^ Moran vs. Roegner in 42nd House District
  4. ^ Brunner, Jennifer 2010 general election results Archived 2008-11-08 at the Wayback Machine Archived copy at the Library of Congress (November 9, 2011). (2010-11-02)
  5. ^ Ohio House: Batchelder Announces House GOP Policy Committee
  6. ^ "Public workers of collective bargaining rights in peril". Akron Beacon Journal. 2011-03-30. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
  7. ^ Provance, Jim (2011-05-27). "Ohio House OKs drilling in parks". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  8. ^ "2 Ohio state senators introduce bill that would 'immediately' end coronavirus shutdown".
  9. ^ Hancock, Laura; Pelzer, Jeremy (2023-12-29). "Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoes bill that would ban transgender health care for minors, athletes in women's sports". cleveland.
  10. ^ "Ohio Senate overrides DeWine veto to restrict health care for transgender kids". The Columbus Dispatch. January 24, 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
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