Ohio’s First Female House Speaker, Republican Jo Ann Davidson, Champion of GOP Women, Has Died at 97

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Jo Ann Davidson, Ohio’s first woman House speaker and an advocate for putting effective Republican women in office, died Friday. She was 97. Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a long-time friend, announced Davidson’s death in a statement, calling her “a model public servant who was full of wit, intelligence, class and skill.” He ordered flags on government buildings across the state flown at half-staff in her honor. During a political career of nearly 60 years, Davidson went from being a volunteer in the Columbus suburb to being elected to the local city council, leading the Ohio House and serving as co-chair of the Republican National Committee....