State Rep. Bill Hayes expects to have a busy first year as chairman of the education committee of the Ohio House, with legislation on the Common Core, standardized testing and charter schools all likely to come before the panel.

"Mostly I've been getting condolences," joked Hayes, 71, a Licking County Republican.

He replaces Gerald Stebelton, a Lancaster Republican, who left office at the end of 2014 because of term limits and returns to his law practice.

The Plain Dealer talked with Rep. Hayes last week about his background and his views on several major issues expected to come up this year. Here's a quick look at the newest major player in education policy for the state.

Who is he? Hayes has been a member of the legislature and the House Education Committee since 2010, after losing two earlier bids for the House.

(Read more at Cleveland.com)