State Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, announced he's running for Ohio Secretary of State.

Husted is a former Ohio House Speaker, who wants to be in charge of handling the state's election process and administering election laws.

The position also oversees corporate filings, including articles of incorporation and various business documents, and serves as a member on Ohio's apportionment board.

"Every candidate for Secretary of State says they are going to ensure fair and impartial elections, but my promises don't end there," Husted said in a statement. "I am going to change the system. We can do this by changing the oversight of our elections system to be one based on successful models working in other states with the input from local elections officials. It will be a bipartisan, decision-making process - leading to nonpartisan outcomes."

Husted said the position would give him an opportunity to change the state apportionment board process from what he believes is a partisan, politically-charged environment to one that places more power in the hands of Ohio voters.

"As Speaker of the House, I worked to change the partisan process of gerrymandering districts," Husted said. "Our current system allows the politicians to pick their voters, rather than allowing the voters to pick their public officials."

Husted represents Ohio's 6th Senate district and he works at the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, as the Director of Workforce Education and Employer Services.

He is married to his wife Tina and has two children, Alex and Katie.

For more information about Husted's campaign visit: www.hustedforohio.com.

-- John Arthur Hutchison