Theresa Gavarone (born June 30, 1966) is an American attorney, politician, and businesswoman serving as a member of the Ohio Senate for the 2nd district. A Republican, Gavarone was first appointed to the Senate in 2019 after serving in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2016 to 2019.
Along with her husband, Jim, Gavarone owns and operates Mr. Spots Philadelphia Steak Sandwich in Bowling Green along with practicing law.[3] Gavarone was elected to two full terms on the Bowling Green City Council, winning in 2013 and again in 2015.
Political career
Ohio House of Representatives
In 2016, Tim Brown decided to step down from the Ohio House to take a position with the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, allowing Speaker Cliff Rosenberger and the House Republican Caucus to select his successor. After vetting, Gavarone was chosen to complete the remainder of Brown's term and to take his place on the ballot for a full term beginning in 2017. She was seated in the House on August 2, 2016, and won elections for full terms in 2016 and again in 2018.
Gavarone was vice chair of the House Health Committee.[4]
Ohio Senate
In 2019, Randy Gardner was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine as chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education. He resigned from the Senate in January. Gavarone immediately announced her intention to seek an appointment to the seat.[5] On February 6, after unanimous approval by the Senate Republican Caucus, Gavarone was officially sworn in as a member of the Senate.[6]
At the beginning of the 133rd General Assembly, Gavarone became vice chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee.
In June 2019, Gavarone sponsored legislation that would ban synthetic urine.[7] In 2021, after Democratic candidates had won several races for the Supreme Court of Ohio in a row, Gavarone proposed a bill that would list the party affiliation of state supreme court judicial candidates on ballots.[8]
Committee assignments
During the 134th General Assembly, Gavarone was assigned to the following Ohio Senate committees:[9]
(Chair of) Local Government and Elections Committee
(Vice Chair of) Finance Committee
Judiciary Committee
Small Business & Economic Opportunity Committee
Rules & Reference Committee
Additionally, Gavarone had the following special appointments:
(Chair of) Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review
(Vice Chair of) Ohio Ballot Board
Joint Legislative Committee on Adoption Promotion and Support
Ohio Child Support Guideline Advisory Council
Great Lakes Commission
National Council of State Legislatures Redistricting & Election Committee
2022 congressional election
Gavarone was a Republican candidate for Ohio's 9th congressional district in the 2022 election. She placed third in the May 3, 2022, Ohio primary, losing to J.R. Majewski, a nuclear power plant employee who came to prominence after painting a Trump sign on his lawn.[10][11][12]
