Term limits are forcing the legislative fixture and influencer to retire. The son of a prosecutor and county Republican Party chairman, Batchelder had always wanted to run for elected office. Democratic Gov. Richard Celeste tapped him for his financial expertise when Ohio faced a crisis in its savings and loan industry. Batchelder helped write legislation to solve it but declined to vote for it on philosophical grounds: Batchelder often weaves history lessons into debate and conversations, frequently invoking favorite Ohioans, former President Ronald Reagan or 18th century economist Adam Smith, author of "The Wealth of Nations." Batchelder, who was then a member of the staunchly conservative "caveman caucus," felt so left out of the process that he once wore a dog muzzle on the House floor. Rep.