Kris Jordan

Kristopher W. Jordan (February 10, 1977 – February 25, 2023) was an American politician in the Republican Party. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2019 until his death (after a previous term from 2009 to 2010), and the Ohio Senate from 2011 to 2019, where he was chairman of the Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee.

Kris Jordan
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 60th district
In office
January 7, 2019 – February 25, 2023
Preceded byAndrew Brenner
Succeeded byBrian Lorenz
In office
January 5, 2009 – December 31, 2010
Preceded byJon Peterson
Succeeded byAndrew Brenner
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 19th district
In office
January 3, 2011 – December 31, 2018
Preceded byBill Harris
Succeeded byAndrew Brenner
Personal details
Born(1977-02-10)February 10, 1977
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
DiedFebruary 25, 2023(2023-02-25) (aged 46)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMelissa (divorced)
Children3
Alma materOhio State University

Career

After graduation from the Ohio State University, Jordan served two terms as a Delaware County commissioner and worked for Rep. Joan Lawrence and as a legislative aide to Rep. Jon Peterson. Jordan was a member of the Delaware County Farm Bureau, Hiram Masonic Lodge, the Delaware County Township Association and the County Commissioner Association of Ohio.

With incumbent Jon Peterson unable to run again because of term limits in 2008, Jordan, a former aide of Peterson, sought to replace him. Among four candidates, Jordan secured the Republican nomination with 53.31% of the vote.[1] He won the general election against Democrat Janice Lanier with 61.29% of the vote.[2] After his victory, colleagues named Jordan House assistant minority whip. Speaker of the House Armond Budish also named Jordan as a member of the Controlling Board.

Ohio Senate

In late 2009, Jordan announced that he would seek the Ohio Senate seat held by Bill Harris in 2010. The election race put Jordan against former Representative Thom Collier and Knox County GOP Party Chairman Lou Petros.[3] Jordan won the GOP nomination with 53.9% of the vote.[4] He won the general election with 69.08% of the vote against Democrat Neil Patel.

Jordan was sworn into his first term on January 3, 2011. Subsequently, Senate President Tom Niehaus appointed him to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, and the standing committees on Government Oversight and Reform, including Health, Human Services and Aging, Highways and Transportation, Insurance, Commerce and Labor, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, and State and Local Government and Veteran's Affairs (as Chairman).

Policies, positions and initiatives

Abortion

In 2016, Jordan introduced the Ohio "Heartbeat Bill", a bill outlawing abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. The Ohio General Assembly passed the bill on December 6, 2016.[5]

In 2019, Jordan co-sponsored legislation that would ban abortion in Ohio. Doctors who performed abortions in cases of ectopic pregnancy and other life-threatening conditions would be exempt from prosecution only if they "[took] all possible steps to preserve the life of the unborn child, while preserving the life of the woman. Such steps include, if applicable, attempting to reimplant an ectopic pregnancy into the woman's uterus".[6][7][8] Reimplantation of an ectopic pregnancy is not a recognized or medically feasible procedure.[6][9]

Fiscal issues

In one of his earliest initiatives, Jordan introduced legislation that would eliminate the Ohio estate tax. He has stated that it is an effort to help keep more small business owners and the jobs they create in Ohio. However, local governments see the bill as another potential blow to their already strained budgets.[10]

Jordan was a proponent of fracking in state parks due to the potential benefits it could bring to solving Ohio's budgetary problems. He sees the usage of natural resources as an answer to help with fiscal recovery.[11] He was adamant about stating that there are no real environmental concerns surrounding fracking.[12]

Personal life and death

Jordan and his wife, Melissa, had three children.[13] In July 2011, Jordan was investigated for fourth degree domestic violence after an altercation with his wife in which she called 911 for help.[14] Jordan told the Delaware County sheriff's deputies who responded to the call that his wife "got a little upset … girls do that."[15] He and his wife later divorced.[13]

Jordan died on February 25, 2023, at the age of 46[13] following a diabetic reaction.[16] Jordan was a type 1 diabetic since the age of 18.

References
  1. Brunner, Jennifer 2008 primary election results Archived December 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine (March 4, 2008)
  2. Brunner, Jennifer 2008 general election results Archived September 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (November 4, 2008)
  3. Three republicans vie for place in November election
  4. Brenner and Jordan win nominations
  5. Candisky, Catherine; Ludlow, Randy; Siegel, Jim (December 6, 2016). "House joins Senate in approving heartbeat abortion bill". The Columbus Dispatch.
  6. Glenza, Jessica (November 29, 2019). "Ohio bill orders doctors to 'reimplant ectopic pregnancy' or face 'abortion murder' charges". The Guardian. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  7. Ohio bill would make doctors 'reimplant' ectopic pregnancies (which is impossible) or face 'abortion murder' charges, National Post, November 29, 2019
  8. "House Bill 413 | The Ohio Legislature". www.legislature.ohio.gov.
  9. Rezac, Mary. "Pro-life doctors: Despite Ohio bill, there is no procedure to save ectopic pregnancies". Catholic News Agency.
  10. Siegel, Jim (April 15, 2011). "Senate panel passes bill to eliminate estate tax". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  11. Sanner, Ann (June 16, 2011). "Ohio Senate approves drilling in state parks". Associated Press. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  12. Marshall, Aaron (July 15, 2011). "State Sen. Kris Jordan says 'fracking' hasn't contaminated Ohio groundwater: PolitiFact Ohio". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  13. Trombly, Monroe; Staver, Danna (February 25, 2023). "Kris Jordan, a Republican who represented Delaware County in the Ohio House, died suddenly at 46". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  14. "[Exclusive]: Senator Kris Jordan is being investigated for fourth-degree misdemeanor domestic violence". Plunderbund.com. July 19, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  15. "Jordan Dash Cam Video: "She got a little upset. Girls do that."". Plunderbund.com. August 16, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  16. "Obituary information for Kristopher W. Jordan". Retrieved February 27, 2023.
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