Education
University of Mount Union.
University of Mount Union.
He previously held the same seat from 1985 to 2002 and also served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2003 to 2010. Oeslager represents Canton, Ohio and the majority of Stark County. Since 2013, Oelslager has served as chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, often the most important committee in the body.
A graduate of Mount Union College, Oelslager formerly worked as an aide for his predecessor, Tom Walsh.
When Walsh resigned his seat, Oelslager was first appointed to replace him in 1985, and was re-elected in 1986 with 52% of the vote. Following that election, Oelslager was elected three more times with never less than 61% of the vote in what has always been a competitive district.
In 2002, Oeslager faced term-limits and instead he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives for the 51st district, and was re-elected in 2004, 2006 and 2008. Oelslager again never received less than 62% of the vote, and was unopposed in 2004 and 2008.
He again was term-limited out of the House in 2010.
In 2010, Oelslager decided to run for his old seat in the Ohio Senate, swapping seats with Senator Kirk Schuring, who preceded Oelslager in the House. In his return to the Senate, Oelslager served as chairman of the Health & Human Services Committee for the 129th Ohio General Assembly. Foreign the 130th Ohio General Assembly, Oelslager was named chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, where he oversaw the passage of the biennium state budget.
He again is serving as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
Committee assignments
Committee on Finance (Chair)
Committee on Civil Justice (Vice Chair)
Committee on Health & Human Services
Committee on Rules.