2008 Citizen of the Year - Betty Montgomery

Betty Montgomery's long career in public services has included a number of highlights and awards. A dedicated crimefighter for her earliest days in the workforce, she directed a 250 percent increase in the felony conviction rate of the Wood County Prosecutor's Office. As State Senator from the 2nd District in northwest Ohio, she drafted farreaching legislation that continues to make a positive difference in our state. Her work included Ohio's first Living Will law, its first brownfields legislation, and the Ohio's Victim's Right Law. During her years in the Senate, she served on many committees, where she chaired the Criminal Justice Subcommittee, and was vice-chair of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission.

As Ohio Attorney General, Betty dramatically increased state support for local law enforcement, as well as rebuilt all of Ohio`s crime labs, introduced DNA and 21st century technology to Ohio, thus helping the office join just four percent of the nation's law enforcement agencies by earning accreditation for both the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

At all times during her service as Attorney General, she emphasized protection of Ohio's most vulnerable citizens -- senior citizens, youth and crime victims. Her office also received national recognition for excellence in service and advocacy in many areas, including legal work before the U.S. Supreme Court. This commitment reflected itself in her Consumer Section that was recognized in 2000 as being the nation's most outstanding consumer protection agency in the country by the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACC). Additionally, her Senior Citizen Initiative was one of five agencies, and the only public agency, recognized by the American Bar Association with the national "Pro Bono" Award in 2002.

Betty is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and of the University of Toledo College of Law.