Thomas E. Niehaus

Former Ohio Senate President Thomas E. Niehaus (R) is a principal with Vorys Advisors LLC, an ancillary business of Vorys.  In this role, he provides business and strategic counsel to the law firm’s clients and other businesses and organizations.

Tom served as a state senator from 2005 to 2012 and was elected president of the Ohio Senate in 2011 and 2012.  He left office on December 31, 2012 due to term limits.  His accomplishments as senate president include erasing an $8 billion budget deficit without raising taxes; personally negotiating and ultimately securing passage of Ohio’s landmark energy bill (SB 315); reducing Ohio’s personal income tax and introducing and securing overwhelming bi-partisan support for five pension reform bills with the senate minority leader as the lead cosponsor.    

Tom represented the 14th Senate District, including Adams, Brown, Clermont, Scioto and a portion of Lawrence County.  Before being elected to the Ohio Senate, he served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2001 to 2004.  A fiscal conservative, Tom was named a “Watchdog of the Treasury” four times.  He also earned praise from 100 Capitol Square Insiders as the “best listener” and ranked as one of the top ten “most effective” state legislators. 

Tom's legislative career began after more than 25 years in the private sector.  He was a respected newsman who spent 15 years working at Community Press, a network of community newspapers in suburban Cincinnati.  Tom worked his way up from reporter to publisher of 13 of the company’s 27 weekly newspapers.  Prior to his role with the newspapers, he worked for Harte-Hanks, Inc., a media and marketing company for 10 years.

Tom earned his MBA from Xavier University and his B.A. from The Ohio State University.

Tom and his wife Emily live in New Richmond, Ohio.  They have three children and six grandchildren.

Vorys Advisors is not involved in the provision of legal services.

Honors & Recognitions

Watchdog of the Treasury Award, United Conservatives of Ohio, 125th-129th General Assemblies

Ohio Farm Bureau – Friend of Agriculture Award, 2008

YMCA Policy Innovation Award – for innovative work toward building strong and healthy kids, families and communities in Ohio, 2008

Ohio Covering Kids & Families leadership award for advocating for the health of Ohio’s children, 2008

Susan G. Komen Closing the Gap Award for supporting breast cancer research and funding, 2008

Ohio Society of Professional Engineers Legislator of the Year Award, 2008

A Voice for Ohio’s Children Award, 2007

Award of Merit Ohio Media Award - Ohio Public Images, 2007

Ohio Environmental Council - Public Service Award, 2007

Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Ohio - Public Images Award, 2007

AMVETS Legislator of the Year Award, 2007

Nature Conservancy - Public Service Award, 2006

Ohio Association of Community Health Centers - Special Recognition Award, 2006

Public Children Services Association of Ohio - Legislator of the Year, 2006

Ohio Onsite Wastewater Association Distinguished Service Award, 2005

Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities Award, 2005

Association of Ohio Health Commissioners - Public Health Guardian Award, 2004

Professional & Community Activities

Clermont Philharmonic Orchestra, Past Chairman and Co-Founder

Clermont County Safe Communities, Past Chairman

Farm Bureau Member

Anderson Area Chamber Commerce, Former Board Member

Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, Former Board Member

Clermont 20/20, Past Member of Executive Committee

Clermont Clean & Green Anti-Litter Campaign, First Chairman

Clermont County Excellence in Education Committee, Founder and Past Chairman

Clermont Chamber of Commerce, Former Board Member

Clermont Chamber Economic Development Committee, Former Board Member

LEAD Clermont, Graduate

New Richmond River Days, Committee Member and Past Co-Chairman

Renaissance New Richmond, Member

Clermont County Heritage Fall Fest, Past Co-Chairman

Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, Past President

Clermont County Republican Central Committee