Just got this email from the Indian American Leadership Initiative.  (For those of you unfamiliar with the organization, you should really check them out.) Anyway, their email speculates that Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D) is considering State Rep. Jay Goyal to be the next Lt. Governor of the State. (The current Lt. Governor, Lee Fisher will be running for the U.S. Senate.)

Here's an earlier profile on Goyal from Bibi Magazine which named him to their Sexy Man list:

Although he feels a strong connection to his roots in India, Jay Goyal considers himself an American and feels fully accepted in American society. To prove that point, although he ran in a rural conservative area where Bush won 60% of the vote in 2004, Goyal’s ethnicity and culture never became an issue during his campaign. He states, ”I was seen only as a person with integrity who was born and raised in the community and wanted to give back to it.”

 

Goyal considers his job a lifestyle, but when he does have a chance to unwind, he enjoys reading, watching sports and being in the great outdoors, but most of all he enjoys spending time with family and friends. Most importantly, Jay Goyal is an eligible bachelor who is seeking a caring a compassionate partner who is personable and intelligent and doesn’t mind being supportive by attending receptions, banquets and events. He is flattered to be a part of Bibi’s Sexy Men issue and proclaims, ”I never expected to receive such an honor!” Goyal adds, ”My personality and desire to make change is perhaps what makes me sexy.”

 

Overall, the young elected official is content playing the role of the people’s politician and is determined to be accessible to all of his constituents. Jay Goyal is also interested in mentoring those in the South Asian community who aspire to enter the world of public service.

And here's the recent email from IALI:

Exciting news for the Indian American community: Ohio State Rep. Jay Goyal is on the short list to be named the next Lt. Governor of the State of Ohio by Governor Ted Strickland

 

http://ohiodailyblog.com/content/developing--strickland-considering-goyal-szollosi-lt.-governor

 

OhioDaily has learned that Governor Ted Strickland's search for a Lt. Governor may be nearing completion and his short list includes at least two members of the House leadership team : Mansfield-area Representative Jay Goyal, and Toledo-area Representative Matt Szollosi. Goyal is the House Majority Whip and Szollosi serves as the Speaker Pro Tempore.

 

In 2006, Goyal became the first Asian-American elected to the Ohio Legislature, and at his current age of 29 would likely become one of the youngest (if not the youngest) Lt. Governors in the country. In addition to serving as Majority Whip, Goyal is Vice President of Goyal Industries, a manufacturing firm in Mansfield specializing in metal fabrication and transportation equipment. His full bio appears on his campaign website here, but it doesn't mention that Bibi Magazine, "the largest-circulated South Asian fashion magazine in the country," named Goyal as one of the Bibi Sexy 7 : the 2007 Sexiest Men of the Year.

 

Top that John Kasich.

 

Matt Szollosi, at 37, carries with him one of Lucas County's best known names. In addition to being a second-term member of the House, and a former four-term councilman in Oregon, Ohio, Szollosi's grandfather served as Lucas County Commissioner, his parents on the Oregon School Board, and his brother has been elected twice to Toledo City Council. He is a partner at the Cosme, D'Angelo & Szollosi law firm in Toledo specializing in labor law.

 

What the move to consider Goyal or Szollosi would seem to suggest is the Governor is still seeking someone with considerable youth and a like-mindedness on issues. Tim Ryan was the obvious match for this profile before, but other factors kept that from happening. Jennifer Garrison was also rumored to be close to locking down this role, but considerable pushback from the LGBT community shot down the trial balloon shortly after takeoff. Should our sources prove correct, and Goyal or Szollosi be named to the ticket, it could energize the party and pump some air back into the stagnant Strickland approval numbers. But such a pick comes with some risk. (Sound familiar?) Voters could find a youthful pick in a time of economic instability to be a dangerous proposition. Others might welcome the change, hoping for a fresh perspective. Either way, it would likely be the talk of Columbus for the balance of the fall as we roll into the cold days of February and John Kasich finds himself in the spotlight as he selects a running mate prior to the filing deadline.

 

Link to the straw poll: http://ohiodailyblog.com/content/weekend-straw-poll--lt.-governor-0

Goyal has already broken ground in Ohio before. Let's hope he can break another barrier.