Kimberly A. Zurz (born January 23, 1959) of

Akron, Ohio Akron () is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, fifth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 190,469 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Akron metr ...

, is an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the director of the

Ohio Department of Commerce The Ohio Department of Commerce is the administrative department of the Ohio state government Ohio Rev. Code § 121.01 ''et seq.'' responsible for regulating banks and savings institutions, credit unions, mortgage brokers/lenders and consumer fina ...

from 2007 to 2011.

Career

A graduate of Firestone High School in Akron and attendee of the

University of Akron The University of Akron is a public university, public research university in Akron, Ohio, United States. It is part of the University System of Ohio. As a STEM fields, STEM-focused institution, it focuses on industries such as polymers, advance ...

, Zurz served as an assistant to the Summit County treasurer. She was a member of the Summit County Council from 1991 to 2003, serving three terms as president of the council. In 2003, Senator Leigh Herington announced his decision to resign early from the

Ohio Senate The Ohio Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly. The State Senate, which meets in the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, first convened in 1803. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such that half of t ...

, and the Democratic caucus named Zurz as his replacement. She easily won reelection in 2004 to retain the seat. With former Congressman

Ted Strickland Theodore Strickland (born August 4, 1941) is an American politician who served as the 68th governor of Ohio from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ( ...

the new Ohio Governor in 2007, Zurz was named a member of his cabinet, chosen to serve as director of the Department of Commerce. She would serve in the post for the entirety of Strickland's tenure. With Strickland losing reelection in 2010, Zurz was out of the Commerce Department, however, he posted one last effort to appoint her to another board. It was announced by the Ohio Senate soon after that Republican leadership would not accept the nomination. She has since returned to the

Akron Akron () is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the fifth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 190,469 at the 2020 census. The Akron metropolitan area, covering Summit and Portage counties, had ...

area.

References

External links

The Ohio Ladie's Gallery: Director Kimberly Zurz
Living people State cabinet secretaries of Ohio Democratic Party Ohio state senators Politicians from Akron, Ohio University of Akron alumni Women state legislators in Ohio 21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly 21st-century American women politicians 1959 births {{Ohio-OHSenate-stub

Career

See also

References

External links