In memory of James E. Carnes.

sr354_01_AS

As Adopted by the Senate

136th General Assembly

Regular Session

S. R. No. 354

2025-2026

Senator
Chavez

Cosponsors:
Senators McColley, Antonio, Blackshear, Blessing, Brenner, Cirino,
Craig, Cutrona, DeMora, Gavarone, Hicks-Hudson, Huffman, Ingram,
Johnson, Koehler, Landis, Lang, Liston, Manchester, Manning, O'Brien,
Patton, Reineke, Reynolds, Roegner, Romanchuk, Schaffer, Smith,
Timken, Weinstein, Wilkin, Wilson

A R E S O L U T I O N

In
memory of James E. Carnes.

WHEREAS,
The members of the Senate of the 136th General Assembly of Ohio were
deeply saddened to learn of the death of James E. Carnes and pay
tribute to his memory; and

WHEREAS,
Jim Carnes will be remembered fondly by all those who knew him, and
his absence will leave an irreparable void in our society. A local
business leader who was widely respected for his tenure with the Ohio
General Assembly, he was an advocate for the growth and progress of
our state and its people, and over the course of his nine years in
the Ohio Senate, he served on such important committees as Energy,
Natural Resources, and Environment and Finance and Financial
Institutions as well as the State Controlling Board. He then
continued to serve our state with the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources and the Ohio Liquor Control Commission. Clearly, his
tremendous concern and commitment to duty gained him the appreciation
of his colleagues and constituents alike; and

WHEREAS,
Jim Carnes' passion for community service was always evident in his
own approach to public life, and he dedicated his time to numerous
organizations, including the Belmont County Republican Party Central
and Executive committees, the Ohio Republican State Central and
Executive committees, the Belmont County Board of Elections, the
State Mining Board, the Ohio Commission on Aging and Advisory Council
on Aging, the Area Agency on Aging, The Ohio State University
President's Club, the A.B. Graham Club, the Ohio 4-H Foundation, and
the Barnesville and St. Clairsville education foundations. The
recipient of numerous awards, he was admired by his fellow citizens,
friends, and family for his positive philosophy of life, and he has
left a stalwart legacy to our state that will surely live on; and

WHEREAS,
Without question, Jim Carnes made the world much fuller, and he was
especially devoted to the individuals who had a treasured
relationship with him, including his wife, the late Frankie Lee, his
six children, Kelly, Jeffrey, Leslie, J. Scott, Karen, and Kristi,
his nine grandchildren, Ashley, Amanda, Morgan, Jessica, Kayla,
Matthew, Kristen, Julie, and Rebekah, and his nine
great‑grandchildren, Elizabeth, Isabelle, Katherine, Eliana,
Ezra, Ella, Elsie, Milo, and Luke. Those who cherished him can find
strength and solace in the happy moments shared with this great man.
Most assuredly, the State of Ohio has benefited exponentially from
his life's work, and he will be remembered for his visionary example
of citizenship; therefore be it

RESOLVED,
That we, the members of the Senate of the 136th General Assembly of
Ohio, in adopting this Resolution, offer our heartfelt condolences to
the family and friends of James E. Carnes and express a profound
sense of loss and sincere regret on the sorrowful occasion of his
death; and be it further

RESOLVED,
That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a duly authenticated copy of
this Resolution to the family of James E. Carnes.