Senator James Carnes
Republican

OFFICE
Ohio Senate District 20

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES
Chair, Finance and Financial Institutions; Agriculture; Highways and Transportation

YEARS IN OFFICE
7 years in Senate

PERSONAL
Married, 6 children, 9 grandchildren

EDUCATION
Bethany College; Elliott's School of Business; Ohio Insurance School; College of Commerce

RECENT HONORS
Guardian of Small Business Award; Watchdog of Treasury Award

FAVORITE CULTURAL PASTIME
Attending the Symphony, opera, ballet, musical recitals and figure skating events

FAVORITE ARTISTS
Terry Redlin, Thomas Kincaide, Mary Ann Bucci

LAST GOOD BOOK READ
The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw

GREATEST CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT
Painted pottery for literacy auction in Muskingum County

The Wexner Center for the Arts is accepting entries for its seventh annual Ohio Short Film & Video Showcase, to be held May 11 at 7 p.m. Deadline for submissions is March 22. Pieces must be independently produced, no longer than 20 minutes and produced in Ohio within the last 18 months. For more information contact Dave Filipi at
614/688-3307 or e-mail filipi.1@osu.edu.

Nominations are being accepted through April 26 for the Business in the Arts Awards, sponsored by the Business Committee for the Arts and Forbes Magazine. Arts organizations are encouraged to nominate their business partners to be recognized for exemplary contributions to the arts and communities. For nomination information call 718/482-9900.

Repertorio Español is accepting entries for the Metlife Foundation Nuestras Voces III Playwriting Competition. Comedies and dramas that explore issues, themes and events relevant to Hispanic-Americans are eligible. First prize is $3,000 and production of the work. Entries must be postmarked May 1. For more information or an application,
e-mail a.astorvargas@repertorio.org.

The 6th Annual Native American Regional Conference will take place March 22­24 at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center in Aurora, Ohio. Sponsored by the Ohio Arts Council, the conference is designed to increase awareness of Native American culture through interaction with various Indian nations. Registration deadline is March 14. For a registration form or more information, call Phyllis Hairston at 614/466-2613 or e-mail phyllis.hairston@oac.state.oh.us.

After 28 years with the Ohio Arts Council, Ira Weiss retired on January 31. Weiss received a bachelor of music education in 1970, a master of arts in arts administration in 1974, and was hired as the Ohio Arts Council's first performing arts coordinator in 1974. He worked with Ohio's community arts agencies and later became the grants office assistant director. Weiss finished his tenure as information systems assistant because of a lifelong interest in technology. The Ohio Arts Council wishes Ira well and thanks him for his 28 dedicated years with the agency.