| Senator Stephanie Kunze is currently serving her second term in the Ohio Senate representing the people of the 16th Senate District on the western side of Franklin County including the cities of Dublin, Galloway, Grove City, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Worthington and portions of Clintonville and Columbus.
A resident of Hilliard, Senator Kunze has called Ohio home for more than 20 years. While raising her two daughters with her husband Matt, she dedicated her time to volunteer leadership and service in her community and was elected to the Hilliard City Council in 2009. Her commitment to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs led her to be a founding member of www.LocaLevelEvents.com, which was created to encourage those who live and work in an area to support their local businesses, schools and community. In addition, she volunteers with SON Ministries which seeks to address the needs and challenges of suburban poverty in her community and is a graduate of the Hilliard Citizens Police Academy.
Senator Kunze has been selected by Senate President Larry Obhof to serve as the Vice Chair of the Ohio Senate Transportation, Commerce and Workforce committee, and as a member of the Agriculture; Finance- Higher Education Subcommittee; Health, Human Services & Medicaid committee; Insurance and Financial Institutions; Rules and Reference, and the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.
She has also been reappointed to the Infant Mortality Commission to serve as Co-chair as well as the Ohio Family Stability Commission. During her previous two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives representing the 24th Ohio House District, she played a key role in the passage of recent legislation aimed at reducing the alarming infant mortality rate in Ohio. She looks forward to continuing her focus in fighting this heartbreaking issue.
Senator Kunze has also been appointed to the Ohio Children's Trust Fund; The Ohio Tuition Trust Authority Investment Board; The Commission on Minority Health and The Ohio Home Visiting Consortium.
Senator Kunze is known for her passionate advocacy for small business, education and health issues important to Ohioans. She has successfully championed legislation aimed at reducing the opiate epidemic that is plaguing Ohio's communities and legislation aimed at delivering justice for victims of sexual violence, advocated for efforts to improve Ohio's business climate and fought to ensure that Ohio's students receive the highest quality education possible.
While in the Ohio House, Senator Kunze served as Vice Chair of the State Government committee, as well as a member of the Finance, Insurance. Education, Economic Development and Regulatory Reform and Rules and Reference committees and the Finance K-12 subcommittee. She also co-chaired Ohio's Commission on Infant Mortality and served on the Attorney General's DARE Task Force.
Senator Kunze is a member of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce, Hilliard Area Chambers of Commerce, The Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County Farm Bureau and Hilliard Schools PTO. Senator Kunze graduated with a degree in English from Indiana University. |