Menu

Former state legislator Robert Boggs has been named director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Gov. Ted Strickland filled the agriculture director position last month, along with several other key state jobs that are of interest to the agriculture industry. Strickland, who is the first Democrat in 16 years to be governor, also appointed Sean Logan, former state lawmaker and Columbiana County commissioner, as head of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Chris Korleski, an environmental attorney for Honda of America Mfg. in Marysville, as director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"These three agencies are of particular interest to Ohio agriculture, and we’re very pleased with these appointments," said Rocky Black, Ohio Farm Bureau’s senior director of policy and public affairs.

Boggs, who started earlier this month, served in the House and Senate for 24 years before leaving office in 1997. Since that time, he has been an Ashtabula County commissioner. He also has served as the president of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio.

Strickland said that part of Boggs’ job will be to "make Ohio a leader in next generation energy and in our work to protect and promote Ohio’s crucial agricultural industry." Strickland noted in a news release that during Boggs’ time in the state legislature, he authored and co-sponsored bills dealing with Lake Erie development, water quality, economic development and natural resources.

"Director Boggs' appointment is a welcome and encouraging one," Black said. "He has dedicated his life to public service and has a passion for agriculture. Ohio Farm Bureau looks forward to a long and rewarding partnership with him."

From 1990 to 2000, Logan served in the Ohio House of Representatives and was on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee for six years. Logan most recently served as president of the board of commissioners in Columbiana County where he had been a commissioner since 2001.

"Sean truly believes in the potential of Ohio's parks and natural resources, and he's someone who will respect the rights of Ohio's sportsmen and women," Strickland said after announcing Logan’s appointment as head of ODNR.

Black described Logan as "very even handed."

"He has always been willing to listen to everyone’s point of view. He has a lot of experience and we’re excited about his appointment," he said.

As the new EPA director, Korleski vowed to make sure that Ohio’s environmental laws and regulations are "strongly and fairly enforced." He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agronomy and a law degree. Before working at Honda, he was an assistant attorney general in the Ohio attorney general’s office in the environmental enforcement section. For two years, he supervised the Clean Air Enforcement Program and represented and advised EPA in various matters involving air pollution, water pollution and solid and hazardous waste.

"I will work to establish a common-sense approach to the regulatory process, ensuring that businesses receive permits in a timely manner and work to eliminate unnecessary, redundant and contradictory regulations," Korleski said.

"It’s a plus that we got someone who is legal counsel for a Fortune 500 company and who has two agronomy degrees," Black said. "We’ll be reaching out to him to talk to our members."