By Andrew Welsh-Huggins
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Ohioans don't vote for two of the state's most important officeholders - Senate president and speaker of the House - but feel their influence daily.

A ban against gay marriage and permission to carry a concealed weapon, for example, became law only after a change in command in the Legislature.

The impact of these positions was underscored last week when Dayton-area Sen. Jeff Jacobson, considered a shoo-in for Senate president in January, withdrew his name amid a potential fund-raising scandal.

With that, the Miami Valley lost the string-pulling, favors and influence that come to any community whose legislator wins the top post in an internal party vote.

The same benefits may now shift to Bowling Green, where Sen. Randy Gardner is considering the job instead.

"Many of us hated to see Jeff pull out of the opportunity to be Senate president because we saw this as a wonderful opportunity for Dayton and the Miami Valley," said Phil Parker, president and chief executive officer of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.

The loss is tempered because Rep. Jon Husted of suburban Dayton is slated to take over the House speaker's job in January. Still, Jacobson's withdrawal means the region lost the chance to dominate the Legislature.

The two together "would really help put Dayton's political clout on the map starting in 2005," Parker said. "We were concerned that this is not going to happen."

The House speaker and Senate president set the legislative agenda by scheduling sessions, appointing committee chairmen and deciding which bills will be acted upon.

"These are the gatekeepers," said Stephen Brooks, a University of Akron political scientist.

For example, opponents of gay marriage found little support for a bill banning such arrangements under Senate President Richard Finan. The Cincinnati Republican felt that existing Ohio law - which defined marriage as between a man and woman - was sufficient. After Finan left because of term limits, a new bill moved under President Doug White and became law in May.

The late Vern Riffe, Ohio House speaker for a record 20 years from 1974 to 1994, ruled the House with a firm hand while doling out benefits to southern Ohio. Those included Shawnee State University, whose creation he backed despite claims by opponents that the state didn't need another college.

Having a local legislator in the top job makes it easier for area politicians to get their message heard in Columbus, said Tom Wiseman, a Bowling Green State University political science professor and former mayor and county commissioner.

"It's just like if you live next door to the mayor," Wiseman said. "It's more likely you're going to be able to talk more often and get things done than if you live 32 blocks away and only cross paths once every year and a half or so."