Robert Sprague

Ohio politician (born 1973)

This article is about the American politician. For the American inventor and businessman, see Robert C. Sprague. For the American racing driver, see Robert Sprague (racing driver).

Robert Sprague

Treasurer of Ohio

Incumbent

Assumed office
January 14, 2019
Governor| Mike DeWine
Preceded by| Josh Mandel
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 83rd district
In office
February 1, 2011 – December 31, 2018
Preceded by| Cliff Hite
Succeeded by| Jon Cross
Personal details
Born|

Robert Cole Sprague

(1973-04-18) April 18, 1973 (age 52)
Findlay, Ohio, U.S.
Political party| Republican
Spouse| Amanda
Education| Duke University (BS)
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (MBA)

Robert Cole Sprague (born April 18, 1973) is an American politician serving as the Ohio Treasurer of State since 2019. Prior to his election as treasurer, he represented the 83rd district in the Ohio House of Representatives, and served as city auditor and treasurer in his hometown of Findlay. He is a member of the Republican Party.

## Personal life and early career

[edit]

Sprague was raised in Findlay, Ohio, and graduated from Findlay High School.[citation needed] He then went on to Duke University, where he earned a BS in mechanical engineering, followed with an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[1] After graduation, he worked at Ernst & Young in Atlanta, Georgia, as a project lead before starting his own consulting firm, advising businesses from London to Singapore. He moved back to Findlay, where he still resides with his wife Amanda and their five children. After leaving the private sector, he served as treasurer and auditor for the city, helping to improve its credit rating and lower debt service costs. He also started issuing an annual financial report to help taxpayers understand the city's finances.

## Ohio House of Representatives

[edit]

In 2011, then-Representative Cliff Hite was appointed to the Ohio Senate, creating a vacancy for the 83rd House District. Sprague was appointed to fill that seat, which he was re-elected to in 2012, 2014, and 2016.

During his time in the legislature, his was a leading voice on fiscal matters as a member of both the House Finance and Financial Institutions Committees. As a member of the General Assembly, he led efforts to combat the addiction crisis by working with law enforcement, community leaders, and doctors on preventing prescription drug abuse, reducing overdose deaths, and improving treatment systems.

### Addressing drug addiction

[edit]

As a freshman member of the General Assembly, Representative Sprague sat on the House Criminal Justice Committee. Feeling there were improvements that needed to be made in the state's criminal justice system, particularly regarding drug offenses, he remarked, “Drug offenders are cycling through the courts, the jails, the prison system, and the mental health system. [And] the state still has not figured out a way to . . . help people get out of a continuing spiral.” [2]

At the time, Sprague was recognized for a sincere commitment to addressing the addiction crisis.[3][4]

During the 130th General Assembly, Representative Sprague chaired a special committee that traveled the state gathering information on the opioid addiction crisis.[5]

Through legislation he sponsored and supported, he was deeply involved in addressing many addiction related issues, including:

* Adding modules about prescription opioids and heroin addiction to Ohio's health curricula (H.B. 367);[6]
* Increasing penalties for illegally providing controlled substances to pregnant women (HB 394);[7]
* Shutting down pill mills through revised pain management, prescribing, and dispensing regulations (H.B. 93);[8]
* Increasing access to the life-saving overdose reversing medication, naloxone (Narcan) (H.B. 4);[9]
* Creating Good Samaritan provisions for overdose situations, encouraging individuals to call for help (H.B. 110);[10]
* Providing the framework and funding to increase prevention efforts and ensure a full continuum of treatment services would be available to every Ohioan (H.B. 483); and[11]
* Providing the framework and funding to establish and increase the use of specialty drug dockets, which give courts flexibility for drug offenders, allowing them to place people with drug addictions into treatment and rehabilitation (H.B. 59).[12]

### Developmental Disabilities

[edit]

In the 131st General Assembly, Representative Sprague was chairman of the House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. That biennium's operating budget, H.B. 64, addressed many DD-related issues.[13]

As chairman, he had a significant role in guiding these provisions through the legislative process, such as providing more opportunities for individuals with disabilities to live and work in their community, while insuring institutional opportunities remained an option for individuals desiring that setting or requiring a higher level of care.

He also worked to include certain DD-related changes in H.B. 483.[14] Provisions included:

* Reforming the levy process for county boards of developmental disabilities;
* Designating October as Disability History and Awareness Month;
* Authorizing a personal income tax deduction for STABLE Account contributions;
* Authorizing residents of other states to open accounts under Ohio's STABLE program; and
* Authorizing the Treasurer of state to issue interest payments to beneficiaries.

Representative Sprague co-sponsored H.B. 158, legislation that removed references to “mental retardation” from the Ohio Revised Code.[15]

### Other

[edit]

In March 2012, the Ohio House passed legislation sponsored by Representative Sprague that would increase the maximum amount that the Ohio Treasurer could invest in agricultural linked deposits from $125 million to $165 million. It also increased the maximum amount that could be loaned to farmers and agri-businesses from $100,000 to $150,000 per application. Governor John Kasich signed the bill on June 26, 2012.[16]

### Legislative Awards

[edit]

While serving in the General Assembly, Sprague received multiple awards including the:

* Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA) Award for Legislative Excellence (2013);[17]
* Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (OACB) Legislator of the Year (2014);[18]
* Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) Outstanding Legislator of the Year (2015);[19]
* Center for Community Solutions (CCS) Award for Public Service (2016);[20]
* Ohio AMVETS Legislator of the Year (2017); and[21]
* Ohio American Legion Recognition Award (2018).[22]

## Ohio Treasurer

[edit]

On March 7, 2017, Sprague announced his intention to run for the office of Ohio Treasurer.

During his run for office, Sprague received endorsements from the editorial boards of the Columbus Dispatch, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Akron Beacon Journal, and several other Ohio publications.[23][24][25]

On November 6, 2018, Sprague was elected as Ohio's 49th Treasurer of State, defeating opponent Rob Richardson (D), 53% to 47%.[26] He took office on January 11, 2019.[27]

## 2026 Ohio secretary of state campaign

[edit]

Main article: 2026 Ohio Secretary of State election

On January 18, 2025, Sprague announced that he would run for governor of Ohio in the 2026 election, seeking to succeed term-limited governor Mike DeWine.[28] However, Sprague withdrew from the race on February 5, 2025, running instead for Ohio Secretary of State and endorsing Vivek Ramaswamy in the gubernatorial election.[29]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Office of the Ohio Treasurer". www.tos.ohio.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
2. ^ "Hannah News Story". www.hannah.com/. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
3. ^ "Editorial: For state treasurer: Robert Sprague offers better experience". www.dispatch.com. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
4. ^ "Robert Sprague for Ohio treasurer: endorsement editorial". www.cleveland.com/. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
5. ^ "Treasurer's race pits state lawmaker against former county auditor". www.toledoblade.com. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
6. ^ "130th General Assembly, Substitute House Bill Number 367" (PDF). FTP server (FTP).[dead ftp link] (To view documents see Help:FTP)
7. ^ "Laws, Acts, and Legislation". archives.legislature.state.oh.us/. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
8. ^ "Laws, Acts, and Legislation". archives.legislature.state.oh.us/. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
9. ^ "The Ohio Legislature HB4". archives.legislature.state.oh.us/. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
10. ^ "Ohio Legislative Service Commission Sub. H.B. 110".
11. ^ "Laws, Acts, and Legislation". archives.legislature.state.oh.us/. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
12. ^ "Ohio Legislative Service Commission Am. Sub. H.B. 59" (PDF).
13. ^ "The Ohio Legislature HB64". Retrieved 2020-04-22.
14. ^ "The Ohio Legislature HB483". Retrieved 2020-04-22.
15. ^ "The Ohio Legislature HB158". Retrieved 2020-04-22.
16. ^ "Laws, Acts, and Legislation". archives.legislature.state.oh.us/. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
17. ^ "Annual Association Awards". www.oacbha.org/. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
18. ^ "Legislator of the Year Award". www.oacbdd.org. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
19. ^ "PCSAO Award". www.pcsao.org/. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
20. ^ "Community Solutions Award for Public Service in Honor of John A. Begala". www.communitysolutions.com. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
21. ^ "AMVETS 2017 Legislator of the Year". www.facebook.com/. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
22. ^ "Ohio Legion News, Vol. 84, No. 2" (PDF).
23. ^ "Editorial: For state treasurer: Robert Sprague offers better experience". www.dispatch.com/. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
24. ^ "Robert Sprague for Ohio treasurer: endorsement editorial". www.cleveland.com. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
25. ^ "Beacon Journal/Ohio.com editorial board: Robert Sprague for state treasurer". www.beaconjournal.com. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
26. ^ "2018 OFFICIAL ELECTIONS RESULTS". www.sos.state.oh.us. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
27. ^ "State's Treasurer-Elect Announces Swearing-In Ceremony". www.usnews.com. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
28. ^ "Ohio Treasurer files paperwork for gubernatorial run". WTVG. January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
29. ^ Balmert, Jessie; BeMiller, Haley (February 5, 2025). "Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague to run for secretary of state, backs Ramaswamy for governor". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved February 5, 2025.

Party political offices

Preceded by

Josh Mandel

|  Republican nominee for Treasurer of Ohio
2018, 2022  | Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by

Josh Mandel

|  Treasurer of Ohio
2019–present  | Incumbent

* v
* t
* e

Statewide political officials of Ohio

U.S. senators|

* Bernie Moreno
* Jon Husted

State government|

* Mike DeWine, Governor
* Jim Tressel, Lieutenant Governor
* Frank LaRose, Secretary of State
* Dave Yost, Attorney General
* Keith Faber, Auditor
* Robert Sprague, Treasurer

Senate|

* Rob McColley, President
* Bill Reineke, President pro tempore
* Theresa Gavarone, Majority Leader
* Nickie Antonio, Minority Leader

House|

* Matt Huffman, Speaker
* Gayle Manning, Speaker pro tempore
* Marilyn John, Majority Leader
* Dani Isaacsohn, Minority Leader

Supreme Court|

* Sharon L. Kennedy, Chief Justice
* Pat Fischer
* Pat DeWine
* Jennifer Brunner
* Joe Deters
* Daniel R. Hawkins
* Megan E. Shanahan, Associate Justices

* v
* t
* e

State treasurers of the United States

United States Secretary of the Treasury: ▌Scott Bessent (R)

▌Young Boozer (R)

▌Adam Crum (R)

▌Kimberly Yee (R)

▌John Thurston (R)

▌Fiona Ma (D)

▌Dave Young (D)

▌Erick Russell (D)

▌Colleen Davis (D)

▌Blaise Ingoglia (R)

▌Steve N. McCoy

▌Luis Salaveria

▌Julie Ellsworth (R)

▌Mike Frerichs (D)

▌Dan Elliott (R)

▌Roby Smith (R)

▌Steven C. Johnson (R)

▌Mark Metcalf (R)

▌John Fleming (R)

▌Joe Perry (D)

▌Dereck Davis (D)

▌Deb Goldberg (D)

▌Rachael Eubanks

▌Erin Campbell

▌David McRae (R)

▌Vivek Malek (R)

▌Brendan Beatty

▌Tom Briese (R)

▌Zach Conine (D)

▌Monica Mezzapelle

▌Liz Muoio (D)

▌Laura Montoya (D)

▌Thomas DiNapoli (D)

▌Brad Briner (R)

▌Thomas Beadle (R)

▌Robert Sprague (R)

▌Todd Russ (R)

▌Elizabeth Steiner (D)

▌Stacy Garrity (R)

▌James Diossa (D)

▌Curtis Loftis (R)

▌Josh Haeder (R)

▌David Lillard (R)

▌Kelly Hancock* (R)

▌Marlo Oaks (R)

▌Mike Pieciak (D)

▌David L. Richardson (I)

▌Mike Pellicciotti (D)

▌Larry Pack (R)

▌John Leiber (R)

▌Curt Meier (R)

Federal districts:

▌Glen Lee

Territories:

Malemo Tausaga

Marie Lizama

Tracy Norita

Ángel Pantoja (NPP)

Kevin McCurdy

Political party affiliations:

* ▌26 Republican (26 states)
* ▌16 Democratic (16 states)
* ▌1 Independent (1 state)
* ▌13 Nonpartisan (7 states, 1 district, 5 territories)

italics indicate closest equivalent to treasurer in this state

* v
* t
* e

Ohio state treasurers

* Armstrong
* McFarland
* Curry
* Sullivan
* H. Brown
* Whitehill
* Bliss
* Breslin
* Gibson
* Stone
* Dorsey
* Hooper
* Warner
* I. Welsh
* L. Welsh
* Millikin
* Howells
* Turney
* Brady
* J. Brown
* Cope
* Campbell
* Cameron
* McKinnon
* Green
* Creamer
* Brennan
* Archer
* Bryan
* Archer
* Day
* Buckley
* Ake
* Todd
* Day
* Knisley
* Ebright
* Tracy
* Ferguson
* Herbert
* Donahey
* Withrow
* Blackwell
* Deters
* Bradley
* Cordray
* Boyce
* Mandel
* Sprague

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