Richard Hodges (politician)

Richard A. Hodges (born October 12, 1963) is the director of the Ohio Department of Health, in office since August 2014. He is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, serving from 1993 to 1999.^[1]

Prior to his current appointment, Hodges was the Executive Director of the Ohio Turnpike Commission, from November 2011 to August 2014.^[2] He also served as the Treasurer of Fulton County, from 1987 to 1992.

While in the legislature Hodges chaired the House Commerce and Labor Committee responsible for Workers Compensation and employment law. He also served on the Ohio Turnpike Commission and the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Oversight Committee. He received the Watchdog of the Treasury from the United Conservatives of Ohio 3 times and the Friend of Life Award from the same organization once.

Following his tenure in the House, Hodges worked as Executive Vice President of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Northwest Ohio from 2000-2005. He served on the Toledo Public Schools Oversight Commission for the construction or renovation of over 60 public school buildings in Toledo.

From 2005-2009 Hodges was CEO for the Tucson Association of Realtors and Multiple Listing Service. While in Tucson he was active in leadership roles in various issue campaigns including the RTA Bond Issue initiative.

Hodges took up his position as director of the Ohio Department of Health on August 11, 2014, under an appointment by Ohio governor John Kasich.^[3] In his capacity as the Director of the Ohio Department of Public Health, Hodges was the lead-named appellant in the 2015 United States Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges. The Supreme Court found in favor of the plaintiff, resulting in same-sex marriage being legalized in all 50 states.^[4]

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