Pictured is former Ohio state Representative Bill Patmon, a Cleveland Democrat and former city councilman
By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief
CLEVELANDURBANNEWS.COM-CLEVELAND, Ohio-Former Ohio state representative Bill Patmon, a Black Cleveland Democrat and term-limited member of the Ohio House of Representatives whose fourth two-year term ended in 2018, has been appointed to the Ohio State Racing Commission by new Gov Mike DeWine, a former state attorney general and U.S. senator who beat Democrat Richard Cordray last year in a close gubernatorial election.
Members of the commission meet monthly in Columbus, the state capital, to conduct business, approve racing dates, decide matters of racing importance, and mete out penalties to licensees found in violation of racing rules and laws.
A moderately conservative Democrat who opposes abortion but supports gun control and will speak out on racism and violence against women, among other issues impacting the Black community and others, Patmon, also a former Cleveland councilman, said by phone that he is "pleased to represent Ohioans on the state racing commission."
He said that Ohio has to remain competitive as it borders Kentucky, which is thoroughbred country, the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby occurring May 4 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, the race won by .racehorse Country House after Maximum Security was disqualified.
Patmon looks back on supporting DeWine's predecessor for office, John Kasich, and DeWine, both Republicans, and says they have both contributed to greater Cleveland's economic growth, a story in its own right, he says.
He is the only Black on the five-member racing commission that was created in 1933 after the Ohio General Assembly approved pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing in Ohio.
It's functions were expanded after Ohio voters approved gambling casinos in 2009, a multi- billion dollar industry.
The other four state racing commissioners are Scott Borgemenke and Beth Hanson, both appointed this year by Gov DeWine, and Gregory H. Simpson, and Thomas R. Winters, who were appointed by Kasich.
Borgemenke is a former chief policy adviser to former governor Bob Taft, a Republican and a member of the Taft political dynasty, and Hasen is a former chief of staff to Kasich.
Simpson is a businessman who operates Key Transportation Services, and Winters, a former first assistant Ohio attorney general.
Ohio has eight race tracks statewide, including Jack Thistledown Rancino, which is located in North Randall, a Cleveland suburb.
Six of them, including Jack Thistledown, are racinos, which are race tracks with gambling casinos.
Pari-mutuel harness racing also takes place annually at 65 county fairs from June through October.
The state's horse racing industry, governed by the rules and regulations of the Ohio State Racing Commission, directly and indirectly generates more than 16,000 jobs
Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog with some 5 million views on Google Plus alone.Tel: (216) 659-0473 and Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief, and who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview, CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.
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