BY The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS -- Bob Taft won't be Ohio's next governor, after all.
Because of a quirk in the calendar, Lt. Gov. Nancy Hollister will officially assume the top job -- and become Ohio's first woman governor -- on Dec. 31.
In a memo sent Thursday to his Cabinet directors, Mr. Voinovich announced he would resign Dec. 31 at noon, the last business day before his term begins in the U.S. Senate.
Senators' terms begin Jan. 3, but his term as governor doesn't end until Jan. 11. Neither a governor nor a senator is permitted to hold two offices at once.
That means Ms. Hollister would be sworn in as Ohio's 66th governor, serving 12 days, until Mr. Taft's term begins. Mr. Voinovich's Cabinet officers will be required to take new oaths when Ms. Hollister takes office.
A similar situation occurred in 1957 when Gov. Frank Lausche moved to the Senate. Lt. Gov. John W. Brown succeeded him for a few days.
