Bob Taft
Robert Alphonso Taft III (born January 8, 1942) is a Republican Governor of Ohio (since 1999). He was born in Boston, Massachusetts.He was elected governor in 1998, defeating Democrat Lee Fisher 50%-45% and reelected in 2002, defeating Democrat Timothy Hagan 58%-38%. He has been Governor since January 1999.
Prior to his election as Governor, Taft served as Ohio's Secretary of State (1991-1998), Hamilton County Commissioner (1981-1990), and in the State House of Representatives (1976 - 1981). He attended Yale University, graduating in 1963, just a year ahead of Sen. Joseph Lieberman; after Yale he received an M.A. from Princeton University in 1967 and then a law degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1976.
He is part of a family which has been involved in United States Republican politics for over a century. His great-great-grandfather, Alphonso Taft was a Secretary of War, his great-grandfather William Howard Taft was a President of the United States and Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, and his grandfather and father, Robert Taft and Robert Taft, Jr were both U.S. Senators.
| Preceded by: George Voinovich | Governors of Ohio | Succeeded by: — |