Ohio House honors local public servant

On Wednesday, State Representative Gary Click of District 88 led the House of Representatives in approving a resolution to honor Dwight Wise, who recently passed away. Wise served as a state representative for the 85th district, representing Sandusky County, for 12 years. He also held multiple roles in the statehouse, including the chairman position for the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Wise worked on projects in Seneca County as well — he helped secure funds for the Water Quality Lab at Heidelberg University and helped with the expansion of SR 18. He also served on Terra State's board of Trustees, the Lakota Board of Education, the Vanguard Vocational Board and more. He was following in his father's footsteps by embarking in politics — a man who served under the Roosevelt, Kennedy and Johnson administrations in the US Department of Agriculture. Click presented this information and more on Wise's personal life in a resolution during the house's session Wednesday. He also invited the Wise family to attend — three of his children and his sister were at the presentation. "[Wise] honorably served the several offices he held as he contributed to our surrounding communities," Click said. "I believe his sincerity and love for our state is why he made such an effective public servant — I commend him on his respectable and fulfilling life as his legacy lives on within our state and we recognize him with this resolution." The adopted resolution expressed condolences and grief, but also paid tribute to the life and memory of a dedicated public servant. "Dad was very, very proud and honored to be elected into this House and to serve his district," said Sandy Wise, one of Wise's children. "He just felt so privileged." Finally, Click expressed his desire to carry on the Wise legacy. "Former Representative Wise's advice to me was to focus on the constituents and put people first," he said. "It is my sincere hope and desire that I can honor his legacy by following that counsel."