Ohio State Racing Commission
Ohio State Racing Commission Website
77 S. High Street
18th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-466-2757
Bill Crawford, Executive Director
Ohio Thoroughbred Fund: Greg Veit
Ohio State Racing Commission
- Mark Munroe term ends March 31, 2017
- Gary Koch term ends March 31, 2019
- Bob Schmitz, Chairman term ends March 31, 2019
- Todd Book term ends March 31, 2019
- Thomas Winters term ends March 31, 2017
- Bill Crawford, Executive Director
Robert K. Schmitz
Chairman Robert K. Schmitz was re-appointed by Gov. John Kasich to a four-year term ending 2019. The Bexley native has extensive knowledge of Ohio racing. Schmitz has owned and bred harness horses. He has lobbied for the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and served as a committee member of the Ohio Standardbred Development Fund from 2001 until his appointment to the commission. His knowledge and experience as a government affairs specialist is just as extensive.
Todd Book
Commissioner Todd Book was re-appointed to a four-year term by Gov. John Kasich ending 2019. Notably, the resident of McDermott represented the 89th House District between 2002 and 2010. The graduate of Western Michigan University and the College of William & Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law currently practices in Portsmouth. He also shares ownership in an interesting business that offers golf outings. Participants dress appropriately and use clubs with wooden shafts and old style golf balls.
Gary G. Koch
Commissioner Gary G. Koch was re-appointed for a term ending in 2019. Koch joined the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants as a lobbyist in 1977 and has worked in government affairs and consulting ever since. He currently oversees his own consulting business—Gary Koch & Associates. The company is located in Dublin, where he resides. Over the years his clients have included AT & T, Lucent Technologies, Eli Lilly and major oil companies. Koch has also lobbied in Washington, D.C. and state legislatures in New York and elsewhere.
Mark Munroe
Commissioner Mark Munroe was re-appointed for a 4-year term ending in 2017. Munroe holds two degrees from Youngstown State University including a Masters of Business Administration. He served in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army Reserve. The executive vice president of Compco Communications, a firm involved in marketing and video production, Munroe resides in the Youngstown area and is active in politics, serving as the chairman of the Mahoning County Republican Party.
Thomas R. Winters
Commissioner Thomas R. Winters of Columbus was appointed on Aug. 16, 2013 to a 4-year term ending in 2017. The former First Assistant Ohio Attorney General currently teaches Business Law, Public Administration and Public Policy in the Graduate Studies School at Ohio Dominican University. In private practice Winters became a partner of Vorys, Slater, Seymour and Pease. He graduated from Capital University Law School in 1984. Winters served terms as Clerk of the House and Executive Assistant to the Speaker of the House.