Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland supports President Barack Obama’s nomination of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Strickland said Sebelius has ties to the state as she is the daughter of former Ohio Gov. John Gilligan.

“Kathleen spent much of her young life here in Ohio and we consider her one of our own," Strickland said. "I know that her enthusiasm for meaningful health care reform will benefit Ohio and the nation."

Strickland said the selection of Sebelius demonstrates a strong commitment to providing more Americans with access to affordable health care and she is able to work in a bipartisan fashion.

"Gov. Sebelius is respected by both Democrats and Republicans for her no-nonsense, bipartisan approach to getting things done for the people of Kansas," Strickland said. "That’s exactly the kind of leadership we need in our next Secretary of Health and Human Services.”

Sebelius, 60, is married to her husband, Gary, and has two sons, Ned and John.

-- John Arthur Hutchison