{{short description|American politician, teacher, and football coach}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Cliff Hite | image = Cliff Hite - District 1 - Ohio Senate 130th General Assemby 2013-2014 - DPLA - 4dd33bcc8c6b71853ab731d33616f568 (page 10) (cropped).jpg | state_senate = Ohio | state = Ohio | district = 1st | term_start = February 1, 2011 | term_end = October 17, 2017 | preceded = Steve Buehrer | succeeded = Rob McColley | state_house2 = Ohio | state2 = Ohio | district2 = 76th | term_start2 = January 1, 2007 | term_end2 = February 1, 2011 | preceded2 = Mike Gilb | succeeded2 = Robert Sprague | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|09|04}} | birth_place = Findlay, Ohio, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | education = Findlay High School (1972) | alma_mater = University of Kentucky (B.S. 1977) | profession = Teacher, Coach }}
'''Cliff Hite''' (born September 4, 1954) is a Republican politician who formerly represented the 1st district of the Ohio Senate from 2011 to 2017. Before serving in the senate, he represented the Ohio House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011. He was the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee before resigning on October 17, 2017.<ref name="cleveland.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/10/ohio_sen_cliff_hite_resigns.html|title=Ohio Sen. Cliff Hite resigns|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="thecourier.com">{{cite web|url=http://thecourier.com/breaking-news/2017/10/17/reports-state-sen-cliff-hite-resigns/|title=UPDATED: State Sen. Cliff Hite resigns; successor search to start soon|publisher=|access-date=2017-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018071318/http://thecourier.com/breaking-news/2017/10/17/reports-state-sen-cliff-hite-resigns/|archive-date=2017-10-18|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="toledoblade.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2017/10/17/Hite-abruptly-resigns-Ohio-Senate-seat.html|title=Findlay's Hite abruptly resigns Ohio Senate seat|date=17 October 2017|publisher=}}</ref>
==Teaching career== Hite graduated in Findlay, Ohio from Findlay High School in 1972, and obtained his B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky in 1977 in Secondary Studies with an emphasis in social studies.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hiteisright.com/about_Cliff_Hite.htm | title = About Clifford R. Hite | accessdate = 2011-03-23 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110711171819/http://www.hiteisright.com/about_Cliff_Hite.htm | archive-date = 2011-07-11 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
Upon graduating from UK, Hite served in four school districts as teacher. From 1977 to 1980, Hite taught in Danville, Kentucky at Danville High School. In 1980, Hite returned to Findlay for the first of three years as a teacher at Findlay High School. Hite spent 1983 to 1996 teaching at Bryan High School in Bryan, Ohio. In 1996, Hite returned to Findlay High School where he remained until 2006 when he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives.
The decisions which probably garnered Hite the most national attention during his coaching tenure were those surrounding Ben Roethlisberger, the former starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Roethlisberger did not play quarterback until his senior year of 1999-2000, giving way to Cliff Hite's son, Ryan Hite. Roethslisberger played college quarterback at Division I Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Roethlisberger holds every major passing record at the school and a number of passing records in the Mid-American Conference, although he only played for three years. Ryan Hite played college wide receiver at Division III Denison University.
==Political career== Hite was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2006, defeating Democrat John Kostyo with 59.94% of the vote.<ref>Blackwell, Kenneth [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electResultsMain/2006ElectionsResults/06-1107OHReps.aspx 2006 general election results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627172608/http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electResultsMain/2006ElectionsResults/06-1107OHReps.aspx|date=2011-06-27}} (2006-11-07)</ref> In 2008, he won reelection with 98.39% of the vote, and in 2010, won a third term with 70.78% of the vote over Democrat Jeffrey Detmer.<ref>Brunner, Jennifer [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electResultsMain/2010results/20101102ohouse.aspx 2010 general election results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627172201/http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electResultsMain/2010results/20101102ohouse.aspx|date=2011-06-27}} (2010-11-02)</ref>
Representative Hite was sworn into a third term on January 3, 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2011/01/04/Brown-Ashford-join-Ohio-legislature.html|title=Brown, Ashford join Ohio legislature|website=The Blade|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012185413/http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2011/01/04/Brown-Ashford-join-Ohio-legislature.html|archivedate=2012-10-12}}</ref> however, with Senator Steve Buehrer's pending resignation from the Ohio Senate to head the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation under Governor-elect John Kasich, Hite was mentioned as a possible successor.<ref>{{cite news | first = Lindsay | last = Maughn | title = Rep. Hite to pursue Senate seat | date = 2010-11-24 | url = http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2010/Nov/24/ar_news_112410_story1.asp?d=112410_story1,2010,Nov,24&c=n | work = The Findlay Courier | accessdate = 2011-03-23}}</ref>
It was announced that Hite would be appointed to the Senate in January 2011. Upon announcement of the appointment, Senate President Tom Niehaus stated “Cliff Hite knows the many challenges that are facing our state, but he is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and delve into the issues.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/01/13/Hite-likely-to-get-appointed-to-Buehrer-s-seat-in-Senate.html|title=Hite likely to get appointed to Buehrer's seat in Senate|website=The Blade|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012185508/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/01/13/Hite-likely-to-get-appointed-to-Buehrer-s-seat-in-Senate.html|archivedate=2012-10-12}}</ref>
Hite won reelection to complete the unexpired term in 2012 unopposed, and again in 2014 for a full term.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.limaohio.com/news/home_top-news/50622585/Cupp-McColley-win-state-seats |title=Cupp, McColley win state seats |work=LimaOhio.com |date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=November 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129014413/http://www.limaohio.com/news/home_top-news/50622585/Cupp-McColley-win-state-seats |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Hite, along with fellow senator Randy Gardner successfully proposed "Sierra's Law" (which was named after Sierah Joughin, who was murdered by James D. Worley). Originally, the bill was intended to allow the public to search on a website for offenders with the qualifying convictions, similar to a sex offender registry. After several hearings, where some opponents such as the ACLU argued that the bill did nothing to protect the public and created privacy concerns,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Provance|first=Jim|date=2018-11-27|title=ACLU lobbyist raises concerns about violent offender registry|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/local/politics/2018/11/27/concerns-raised-about-violent-offender-registry-sierahs-law/stories/20181127148|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329165745/https://www.toledoblade.com/local/politics/2018/11/27/concerns-raised-about-violent-offender-registry-sierahs-law/stories/20181127148|archive-date=2019-03-29|access-date=2019-03-29|website=Toledo Blade}}</ref> the bill was changed so that residents must visit their local sheriff's office to request a search be performed.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-05|title=Sierah's Law passes unanimously 85-0|url=http://www.wtol.com/2018/12/05/sierahs-law-passes-unanimously-/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207114804/http://www.wtol.com/2018/12/05/sierahs-law-passes-unanimously-/|archive-date=2019-02-07|access-date=2019-03-29|website=WTOL}}</ref> In November 2017, "Sierah's Law" was introduced to the Ohio Senate as Senate Bill 231.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Senate Bill 231 {{!}} The Ohio Legislature|url=https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA132-SB-231|access-date=2019-03-29|website=www.legislature.ohio.gov}}</ref> Joughin's mother spoke before legislators in November 2018, urging them to pass the bill.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Provance|first=Jim|date=2018-11-14|title=Joughin's mother urges lawmakers to pass 'Sierah's Law'|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/local/politics/2018/11/13/sierah-joughins-mother-sheila-vaculik-urges-passage-of-violent-offender-registry/stories/20181113143|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117004419/http://www.toledoblade.com/local/politics/2018/11/13/sierah-joughins-mother-sheila-vaculik-urges-passage-of-violent-offender-registry/stories/20181113143|archive-date=2018-11-17|access-date=2019-04-05|website=Toledo Blade|language=en}}</ref> It was passed on December 6, 2018, and signed into law by Governor John Kasich on December 19.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Sierah's Law|url=https://justiceforsierah.org/sierahs-law/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329165741/https://justiceforsierah.org/sierahs-law/|archive-date=2019-03-29|access-date=2019-03-29|website=Justice For Sierah}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-19|title=Governor Kasich signs "Sierah's Law"|url=https://www.13abc.com/content/news/Governor-Kasich-signs-Sierahs-Law-503149231.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219233553/https://www.13abc.com/content/news/Governor-Kasich-signs-Sierahs-Law-503149231.html|archive-date=2018-12-19|access-date=2019-03-29|website=www.13abc.com}}</ref> It went into effect on March 20, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Senate Bill 231|url=https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA132-SB-231|access-date=2019-11-17|website=Ohio General Assembly}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=July 2019|title=SENATE BILL 231 –VIOLENT OFFENDER DATABASE "Sierah's Law"|url=https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/Boards/Sentencing/resources/judPractitioner/SB231QRG.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805130726/https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/Boards/Sentencing/resources/judPractitioner/SB231QRG.pdf|archive-date=2020-08-05|access-date=2020-05-08|website=Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission}}</ref>
===Resignation=== {{See also|Me Too movement}} He abruptly resigned on October 17, 2017<ref name="cleveland.com"/><ref name="thecourier.com"/><ref name="toledoblade.com"/> citing "inappropriate behavior" and "failing health" as reasons for his resignation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/10/cliff_hite_says_inappropriate.html|title=Cliff Hite says 'inappropriate behavior' with state worker led him to resign Ohio Senate|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wktn.com/local-news/328948|title=Hite Apologizes For Inappropriate Conduct|first=Envisionwise Website Service /|last=LinkedUpRadio|website=wktn.com|access-date=2017-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019055638/http://wktn.com/local-news/328948|archive-date=2017-10-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> News reports stated that prior to his resignation, Hite had repeatedly propositioned a state employee for sex.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2017/10/new_documents_allege_former_oh.html|title=Former Ohio Sen. Cliff Hite repeatedly propositioned a state employee for sex, document says|publisher=Cleveland.com|date=27 October 2017|accessdate=31 October 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616024651/http://ohiosenate.gov/hite/biography The Ohio Senate: Senator Cliff Hite (R) - District 1|date=June 16, 2017}} {{OhioSen01stDst}} {{Kentucky Wildcats quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hite, Cliff}} Category:Republican Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly Category:People from Findlay, Ohio Category:University of Kentucky alumni Category:Living people Category:1954 births Category:Republican Party Ohio state senators