Ohio Gov.-Elect Strickland Picks Hudson as New Insurance Chief

Ohio Gov.-elect Ted Strickland has named a Columbus city councilwoman and former deputy insurance company liquidator as the state’s new insurance director. If approved by the Ohio Senate, Mary Jo Hudson would be the state’s first openly gay agency director.

On the City Council, Hudson chairs the Jobs and Economic Development Committee. She is an attorney at Bailey Cavalieri.

From 1989 to 1996, Hudson was a deputy liquidator and special services attorney for the Ohio Department of Insurance and Office of the Ohio Insurance Liquidator.

The gay rights group Equality Ohio lauded the appointment.

“Gov.-elect Strickland made a promise to voters to appoint a cabinet that looks like all of Ohio,” executive director Lynne Bowman said in a statement. “Today, he has taken an historic step in recognizing the contributions and qualifications of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Ohioans.”