Ohio’s new lieutenant governor, Jennette Bradley ’74, a member of the Wittenberg board of directors, made history, Nov. 5, becoming the nation’s first black female elected to that office. She also becomes the first alumna to hold this high public service office in Wittenberg’s 158-year history.

Tapped by Gov. Bob Taft in February to serve as his running mate, Bradley, 50, brings significant administrative and legislative experience to the position. She will also serve as director of the Department of Commerce, Taft recently announced.
“ She brings tremendous housing and banking experience and a solid understanding of public policy, which will serve our state well in this critical role,” Taft said.

Bradley, a psychology major at Wittenberg, has enjoyed a number of firsts in her career, including being the first black woman elected to the Columbus City Council and being the first Republican to serve on the council.

She told reporters following the victory celebration that she hoped her election sends a message around the country that “Ohio is a wonderful state where people can rise to the level of their competency and achieve and not be limited by artificial barriers.”

Senior vice president and senior public finance director of Huntington National Bank in Columbus, Bradley has also been an executive at Kemper Securities and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. She will resign from Huntington when she takes office in January.

As lieutenant governor, Bradley plans to focus on education, the economy and expanding health care for Ohio’s children and seniors.