Kevin DeWine

Chairman, Ohio Republican Party

The Republican State Central & Executive Committee of Ohio unanimously elected Kevin DeWine on January 16, 2009, to serve as chairman of the Ohio Republican Party. DeWine previously served as deputy chairman, a position created in April of 2007 to ensure an effective transition to the role of chairman.

As deputy chairman, DeWine took an active leadership role in the day-to-day operations of the party, from candidate recruitment and party messaging to political strategy and fundraising. He traveled extensively on behalf of the party and its candidates, visiting all 88 counties, speaking at more than 60 events, and raising millions of dollars in financial support. In 2007, he successfully organized the first and only fundraiser attended by President Bush exclusively on behalf of the Ohio Republican Party, and during his tenure as deputy chairman, he generated a 400 percent increase in corporate fundraising to benefit the party's operations.

DeWine also served as the primary spokesman for the Ohio Republican Party throughout the 2008 election cycle, working through local, state and national media to communicate Republican accomplishments and counter the Democratic opposition. He appeared on dozens of national news programs, from CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight to Fox News Sunday.

In addition to his role as deputy chairman, DeWine recently concluded his fourth and final term representing the 70th District in the Ohio House of Representatives. During his legislative tenure, he served as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, the chamber's second-highest ranking member. His legislative accomplishments include extensive efforts to improve voter confidence in Ohio's elections process, including major reforms to state voting and campaign finance laws.

Chairman DeWine holds a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Dayton and an MBA from Wright State University. He and his wife, Kelle, reside in Fairborn with their four sons.

Kay Ayres

Vice Chairman, Ohio Republican Party

Kay Ayres was elected Vice Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party in May of 2003, succeeding longtime vice chair Martha Moore who retired after 52 years of service to the party.

As Vice Chairman, Ayres is responsible for supporting the duties of the Chairman in addition to overseeing various party-building activities and outreach efforts, especially among women voters. Ayres serves on the board of directors for the Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute, an organization founded to support and train women in pursuit of public service. She also served as president of the Ohio Federation of Republican Women and as a vice chair for the National Federation of Republican Women.

Ayres has worked for more than 30 years on the frontlines of grassroots Ohio politics, serving as chairman of the Highland County Republican Party since 1978. She has assisted hundreds of candidates and campaigns over the years from the courthouse to the White House.

Ayres is also active in her community, where she has served on multiple boards including 4-H, Southern State Community College, Leadership Highland, and the Highland County Farm Bureau. She is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and lives with her husband, David Ayres, M.D., in Hillsboro. They have two grown children.