COLUMBUS – James E. Carnes, who has served as state senator from eastern Ohio’s 20th district since 1995, will leave the legislature in early January to become deputy director for resource conservation at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Carnes’ appointment was announced Dec. 12 by Gov. Bob Taft and department of natural resources director Sam Speck.
Carnes has chaired the Senate Energy, Natural Resources and Environment Committee and the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee.
He was also instrumental in passing legislation in 2001 to strengthen environmental regulation of industrial mineral and aggregate mining in Ohio.
Honors. He was named National Wildlife Federation Legislator of the Year by the League of Ohio Sportsmen in 2001 and the Ohio Environmental Council’s Legislator of the Year in 2002.
Since joining the General Assembly in 1995, Carnes has chaired several key legislative committees, including the Senate’s Energy, Natural Resources and Environment Committee (1999-2001) and Finance and Financial Institutions Committee (2001-2003).
He currently serves as chair of the Senate Financial Institutions Subcommittee and chair of the Senate Reference Committee.
New duties. As deputy director for resource conservation, Carnes will oversee the department’s divisions of geological survey, soil and water conservation, recycling and litter prevention, mineral resources management and water, as well as the office of coastal management.
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