Eric Kearney

In 1981, Kearney graduated from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. He later received his Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati Law School, and his Bachelor of Arts in English from Dartmouth College.{{cite web |title=Senator Eric H. Kearney |publisher=Ohio Senate |url=http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/bios/sd_09.html |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930204537/http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/bios/sd_09.html |archive-date=2009-09-30 }} Kearney cofounded Sesh Communications, one of the largest African American–owned publishing companies in the area, which produces The Cincinnati Herald, The Dayton Defender, and Our Week.{{cite magazine|title=Black Newspapers Matter|first=Justin|last=Williams|magazine=Cincinnati|date=August 3, 2015|access-date=October 3, 2016|url=http://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/citywiseblog/black-newspapers-matter/}} He is a partner in the law firm of Cohen, Todd, Kite & Standford, LLC.

When incumbent Mark Mallory resigned from the Senate, Kearney as well as Catherine Barrett, Tyrone Yates, Steve Driehaus, David Pepper and Alicia Reece all were in the running to replace him. However, Senate Democrats decided on Kearney to ultimately take the appointment.

Only months into his appointed term, Kearney again faced Barrett in the primary election. However, only weeks before the primary election day, Barrett dropped out of the race, securing Kearney as the Democratic nominee.[http://blackcincinnati.blogspot.com/2006/03/barrett-bolts-state-senate-race.html Barrett Bolts State Senate Race] In the general election Kearney went on to face Republican Tom Brown. While the index favored Democrats, precautions were still taken due to the seat being lost only two cycles earlier to Republican Janet C. Howard. However, Kearney went on to defeat Brown by 34,000 votes.Blackwell, Kenneth [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electResultsMain/2006ElectionsResults/06-1107OHSenate.aspx 2006 general election results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916142314/http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electResultsMain/2006ElectionsResults/06-1107OHSenate.aspx |date=2011-09-16 }} (2006-11-07)

For the 127th General Assembly, Kearney was appointed by Minority Leader Teresa Fedor to the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee. He also was selected to serve as treasurer of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus. In his first full term, Kearney also began his annual walk from Cincinnati to the Ohio Statehouse to underscore their commitment to fighting childhood obesity and supporting physical education.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110716235815/http://www.progressohio.org/blog/2010/04/CXPb.html Senator Kearney Departs Friday Morning on 102 Mile Walk for Childrens Health]}}

In the 2010 election cycle, Kearney faced Republican Deborah McKenney in the general election, but won a second term by about 32,000 votes.Brunner, Jennifer [https://web.archive.org/web/20081108051603/http://vote.sos.state.oh.us/pls/enrpublic/f?p=130%3A6%3A0 2010 general election results] (2010-11-02) In January 2012, Kearney was elected Minority Leader of the Senate, succeeding Capri Cafaro.{{cite news | first = Jim | last = Siegel | title = Kearney to replace Cafaro as Leader | date = 2012-01-24 | url = http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2012/01/1-25-12-cafaro-change.html | work = Columbus Dispatch | access-date = 2012-02-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120126161731/http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2012/01/1-25-12-cafaro-change.html | archive-date = 2012-01-26 | url-status = dead}}

Kearney served as Minority Leader for the 130th General Assembly. On November 20, 2013, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed FitzGerald picked Kearney to be his running mate.{{cite web |last = Gomez | first = Henry J. | title = Ed FitzGerald picks State Sen. Eric Kearney of Cincinnati as running mate for Ohio governor's race | work = Cleveland.com | date = November 20, 2013 | url = http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2013/11/ed_fitzgerald_picks_state_sen.html | access-date = 2014-01-02 }}

{{cite web|url=http://www.fox19.com/story/24035805/fitzgerald-picks-sen-eric-kearney-for-ohio-governors-race |title=FitzGerald picks Sen. Eric Kearney for Ohio governor's race - Cincinnati News, FOX19-WXIX TV |access-date=2013-12-14 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212233539/http://www.fox19.com/story/24035805/fitzgerald-picks-sen-eric-kearney-for-ohio-governors-race |archive-date=2013-12-12 }} On December 10, Kearney stepped down from the ticket due to increasing controversy surrounding back taxes owed by himself and his wife,{{cite web | last = Smith | first = Julie Carr | title = Democrat ends bid to be Ohio's lieutenant governor | work = WKYC.com | publisher = Gannett | date = December 10, 2013 | url = http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/politics/2013/12/10/running-mate/3963361/ | access-date = 2014-01-02 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} for which they blamed financial difficulties at the Herald.

Kearney was featured in the 2016 documentary The Student Body for his sponsorship of S.B. 210, a bill requiring Ohio schools to administer BMI tests to their students.{{Cite web |url=http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Other-Resources/Food-and-Nutrition/Resources-and-Tools-for-Food-and-Nutrition/Senate-Bill-210-Healthy-Choices-for-Healthy-Childr/SB-210-Bill-Summary-and-Analysis-July-2012.pdf.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429234249/http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Other-Resources/Food-and-Nutrition/Resources-and-Tools-for-Food-and-Nutrition/Senate-Bill-210-Healthy-Choices-for-Healthy-Childr/SB-210-Bill-Summary-and-Analysis-July-2012.pdf.aspx |archive-date=2017-04-29 |url-status=dead}} Although an interview did occur, Kearney's reticence towards being interviewed was featured prominently in the film. Kearney voiced his continued support for these policies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestudentbodyfilm.com|title=The Student Body – Available EVERYWHERE|website=www.thestudentbodyfilm.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-31}}

Kearney is married to Jan-Michele Kearney and together they have two children, Celeste and Asher. They live in Cincinnati.[http://www.ohiosenate.gov/kearney/biography Eric H. Kearney: Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023141959/http://www.ohiosenate.gov/kearney/biography |date=2014-10-23 }}, Ohio Senate

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130118011821/http://www.ohiosenate.gov/kearney The Ohio Senate: Senator Eric Kearney (D) - District 9]
• [http://www.erickearney.com/ Eric Kearney for Senate], official campaign website
• [http://vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=59344 Eric H. Kearney]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at Project Vote Smart
• Follow the Money - Eric Kerney
• [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200635&c=422791 2006] campaign contributions

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Category:Democratic Party Ohio state senators

Category:21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly

Category:Politicians from Cincinnati

Category:St. Xavier High School (Ohio) alumni

Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:African-American state legislators in Ohio

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:20th-century African-American politicians