Robert Mecklenborg

Robert Mecklenborg
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 30th district
In office
October 9, 2007 – August 2, 2011
Preceded by Bill Seitz
Succeeded by Louis Terhar
Personal details
Born (1952-04-01) April 1, 1952
Cincinnati, Ohio
Political party Republican
Residence Green Township, Ohio
Alma mater Ohio University, University of Cincinnati
Profession Attorney
Religion Catholic

Robert Mecklenborg is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, who represented the 30th district since his appointment in 2007. As chairman of the state government and elections committee, he introduced a bill to require voters to produce state-issued photo identification in order to vote.[1]

Life and career

Mecklenborg graduated from the Roman Catholic St. Xavier High School in 1970. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Ohio University, he obtained a law degree from the University of Cincinnati. He was licensed to practice law in Ohio in 1978 and in Federal Court for the Southern District in 1983. Mecklenborg is an attorney with the Cincinnati law firm of Dinsmore & Shohl.[2] He lives with his wife, Jan, in Green Township. They have three children: Jill, Rob and Laura.[3]

Mecklenborg served as solicitor and prosecutor for the Cleves, a village in Hamilton County with a population of 2,735 and a land area of 1.58 sq. miles.[4] Mecklenborg is also a former law director and a former assistant county prosecutor for the city of Cheviot, a residential suburb of Cincinnati.[3] Mecklenborg is a member of the executive and central committees of the Hamilton County, Ohio Republican Party.[3]

Ohio House of Representatives

With the endorsement of the Hamilton County Republican Party, Mecklenborg was appointed to succeed Bill Seitz in the 30th House District in the Ohio legislature in 2007.[5] He was seated October 9, 2007.

In the 2008 primary, Mecklenborg won the Republican Party nomination for the 30th House District seat.[6] In the general election, Mecklenborg defeated Democrat Bob Klug by nearly 29,000 votes.[7]

He retained the 30th House District seat in 2010 in the campaign against Democrat Richard Luken.[8] He chaired the Ohio House state government and elections committee and served on the committees of finance and appropriations, the higher education subcommittee, and the judiciary and ethics committees. He was a member of the Ohio Arts Council and the State Victims Assistance Advisory Committee.

Mecklenborg was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop April 23, 2011 outside of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. An Indiana state trooper pulled Mecklenborg over for a burned out headlight on a 2004 Lexus he was driving. The car had temporary Kentucky license plates. The Indiana State Police officer reported that he smelled alcohol and that Mecklenborg’s eyes were bloodshot.[9] Indiana State Police reported that Mecklenborg failed three separate field sobriety tests and, after refusing to take a breath test, was placed under arrest.[10][11] The arrest record notes that the DUI charge involves endangering the life of Tiona Roberts, who was present in the car at the time of the traffic stop.[12] Police toxicology reports later indicated Viagra in Mecklenborg's bloodstream and a blood-alcohol level of 0.097 percent.[13]

On July 17, Mecklenborg announced his resignation.[14] The Republican Caucus of the House will choose a successor in the following weeks, and the successor will serve out the remainder of Mecklenborg's term in office until November 2012.

References

  1. ↑ Siegel, Jim (2011-06-30). "Elections overhaul sent to Kasich without photo-ID provision". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  2. ↑ "Robert P. Mecklenborg". Dinsmore & Shohl LLP. 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  3. 1 2 3 "Robert P. Mecklenborg, Representative". Ohio House of Representatives. 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  4. ↑ Ohio Hometown Locator
  5. ↑ "Pro gunner appointed to replace Seitz in state's 30th House District". Buckeye Firearms Association. 2007-10-03. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  6. ↑ Brunner, Jennifer 2008 primary election results (2008-03-04)
  7. ↑ Brunner, Jennifer 2008 general election results (2008-11-04)
  8. ↑ Brunner, Jennifer 2010 election results (2010-11-02)
  9. ↑ "State Rep. Arrested On Drunken Driving Charge". WLWT. 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  10. ↑ "Mecklenborg: 'I Have Made A Mistake'". WLWT. 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  11. ↑ "Video Released From State Rep's Arrest". WLWT. 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  12. ↑ "Local State Representative Arrested For DUI". WKRC. 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  13. ↑ "Police arrest Ohio state Rep. Robert Mecklenborg for drunk-driving, find Viagra in his system". New York Daily News. 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  14. ↑ Alexander Coolidge (July 17, 2011). "State Rep. Robert Mecklenborg resigns after DUI". Cincinnati.com.
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