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RIP - Representative Bob Netzley

By The Pullins Group LLC

My old friend, the longest serving state legislator in Ohio history, Bob Netzley died on Wednesday.  Nothing of significance that involved state taxes or spending happened since the 1960's in Ohio without either Rep. Netzley's influence or vocal opposition.  Here's the article from the Columbus Dispatch.

Rep. Netzley become well known during the fights with Democrat Governor Gilligan, and other Republicans, in the early 1970's over enactment of Ohio's statewide income tax.  Everyone knows that and everyone especially knows how much Rep. Netzley hated taxes and tax hikes.

But most folks don't know that there was one tax that he hated even more than Ohio's income taxes.  Ohio's local property taxes. 

Rep. Netzley lost the fight to stop the statewide income tax, but because of his influence and hard work Ohioans ended up with a property tax rollback paid for by the income tax.  And because of his efforts we have HB 920 which keeps inflation from driving up our property taxes like they used to do in California before Proposition 13.

I had the pleasure of having many, many conversations, listened to stories of political fights from four or five decades, and just got to enjoy Rep. Netzley's company in his office, committee rooms, Columbus bars and eateries, and at conferences all across the United States.  I think I learned something interesting, and something funny about Vern Riffe or other political opponents of his from every conversation. 

It just wasn't the same when he had to leave the Ohio House because of term limits.  In fact, Rep. Netzley is a shining example of why term limits in this state should simply go away.

I've known Rep. Netzley for so long that its hard to remember where and when I first met him.  But I think it was in 1987 while I was working with Jack Kemp's presidential campaign in Ohio. 

I miss him already.  Reqiescat in Pace Rep. Netzley, you've earned it.

Full post as published by The Pullins Report on July 30, 2010 (boomark / email).