COLUMBUS, OH (WLIO) — He has held many positions in Ohio, but now Jim Tressel is officially the state’s new lieutenant governor.
Jim Tressel being sworn in as Ohio’s lieutenant governor
The former football coach and president of Youngstown State University was sworn in Friday to become the 67th lieutenant governor in the state's history. This is Tressel’s first time in politics, and he had to be confirmed by both the Ohio House and Senate to take over the role left by Jon Husted, who was appointed as Ohio’s U.S. senator. Tressel will serve the remaining time left on Husted’s term, which ends at the start of 2026.
“We've got to make sure the concern for our Ohioans and their fate, their future, is our chief concern, and sometimes it doesn't line up with what, individually, I'd really like. Maybe it doesn't serve my needs, but the chief interest and the decisions we make need to make sure that we've kept in mind the needs of all of our Ohioans,” said Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel.
It has not yet been announced what Tressel’s role will be in Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration, but he said in an interview last week that he is ready to support the governor.
“The only way I can be successful is stay focused on trying to be the best complement to the governor. On a project, to try to be the best project leader, to be the best collaborator. When people ask, do you aspire for anything beyond this? I got to find out if I'm any good at this first before I start aspiring,” added Tressel.
One thing Tressel is working on is ensuring that the state’s education system aligns with Ohio’s workforce needs.
