Dear Editor,

As an unfortunate result of term limits, Dec. 31, 2020, marked the completion of the tenure of Bellaire native, Ohio state Rep. Jack Cera, serving the 96th Ohio House District, which includes Jefferson, Monroe and parts of Belmont counties, a most impressive legislative career appears to be coming to a close.

Representative Cera was appointed to his current tenure in office to replace Lou Gentile, who was earlier appointed to the Ohio Senate seat, which had been vacated by Jason Wilson, on Dec. 14, 2011.

Previously, Rep. Cera had very capably served the area in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1983 until 1996, and in between his tenures in Columbus, he notably served in the positions of Director of Belmont County’s Workforce Development Program, and as the Executive Director of the Jefferson-Belmont Solid Waste Authority, respectively.

Throughout his long career in public service, Rep. Cera has always been a very strong advocate on behalf of his constituents, and has also always been considered an intelligent, dedicated, productive, and accessible public servant.

Representative Cera, who is a Democrat, has continued to maintain his high degree of popularity and respect even though of late the area has become quite a Republican stronghold.

In addition, Rep. Cera has always prioritized the needs of his constituents over political expediency, and, as a result, is highly respected by legislators on both sides of the aisle.

His most recent committee assignments include: Minority Party Leader of the Ohio Senate Budget Committee, and member of the State Controlling Board, as well as the Ways and Means Committee.

Throughout his tenure in office, Rep. Cera has been well-known for his strong advocacy for economic growth, and has always worked especially tirelessly when the area has been confronted by grave financial challenges and natural disasters.

Rep. Cera has also been well-known for his very high rate of availability and accessibility to his constituents, which is most appropriate.

Personally, I have had the privilege to have been involved with the scheduling of town-hall meetings in thecCity of Martins Ferry with Rep. Cera, and always found him to be most receptive to meeting with constituents at that viable venue, which always proved to be quite popular and very informative, and for that I am most grateful to Rep. Cera and Pam Wilson from his office for their hard work and efforts into being such to fruition.

Also, I am most grateful for our friendship over the years, and I would like to express sincere gratitude to Jack for all he has done for the area.

I wish him much happiness and continued success in the future.

He certainly set a “very high bar” of excellence for others to attempt to emulate in the field of public service.

Although Rep. Cera will be missed, his positive impact on the area will long be felt.

Thank you very much.

Richard Hord

Martins Ferry