Yates elected president of legislative black caucus

State Rep. Tyrone K. Yates has been elected president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus for 2007-2008. The caucus' executive committee is comprised of the 17 African-American legislators who serve in the Ohio General Assembly. This year is the 40th anniversary of the caucus.

Sen. Eric H. Kearney, a Democrat from North Avondale, was elected treasurer.

As president, Yates, a Democrat from Evanston/East Walnut Hills, also serves as the caucus' chief executive officer, overseeing all organizational activity.

"We look forward to working with our fellow governing elected leaders of Ohio to address critical issues such as work and employment, public education, criminal justice and community re-entry," Yates said.

Yates also chairs the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, a separate non-partisan and non-profit organization created to improve the quality of life of African American residents of Ohio through activities designed to eliminate prejudice and discrimination.

The caucus is working to develop state budget and other legislative priorities for the 127th General Assembly. Previous priorities have focused on the re-entry of ex-offenders into communities across the state, Medicare and Medicaid issues, and job-readiness training.

The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus was created in 1967 to promote, foster, and sponsor the education of African Americans and other minorities on the importance of involvement in party politics in order to secure a fair share of government services for their communities.