Sen. Keith Faber was unanimously elected Wednesday as the next Senate president, joining Miami Valley lawmakers in top leadership spots for the legislative session that begins in January.

As president, Faber, R-Celina, presides over Ohio’s 33-member Senate, recognizing senators during debate, enforcing rules and signing all acts. Faber has served as the Senate’s second highest ranking official, president pro tem, and majority floor leader and was poised to take the top post.

Sen. Chris Widener of Springfield was elected president pro tem.

Faber said senators haven’t yet set their agenda for the next two-year session that begins Jan. 7, 2013, but they’ll likely focus on promoting job and economy growth. Pro-choice advocates worry anti-abortion bills that failed to pass in this session could reemerge next year.

Earlier this week, outgoing Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, stopped an anti-abortion bill from reaching a vote on the Senate floor. Faber and Widener have said they would vote for the bill, which would prohibit abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected. Bills that aren’t passed before the end of the year could be reintroduced in the next two-year session but would have to start from the beginning of the process.

Faber said GOP Senators plan to set their legislative priorities during a mid-December retreat, and he’ll build on the actions of Niehaus, who leaves the Senate after this year because of term limits.

“Tom has led the caucus in a direction to build at times what was a split caucus to a unified organization,” Faber said.

Faber was first elected to the Senate in 2007 and previously served three consecutive terms in the Ohio House of Representatives. His redrawn Senate district includes Champaign, Mercer, Allen and Shelby counties and parts of Auglaize. Logan and Darke counties.

Steve Hess, a Champaign County commissioner, said Faber has been easily accessible to local officials.

Among other items, Faber helped the county navigate the legislative steps necessary for the county sell the publicly owned Wellington Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Urbana over to a private organization.

“He’s been a good friend to Champaign County and it always helps to have people in positions like that that we have good relationships with,” Hess said of Faber.

As pro tem, Widener will serve as president in Faber’s absence. Widener represents Clark, Greene and Madison counties and currently chairs the Senate Finance Committee, which helps craft the state budget. Widener served three terms in the Ohio House before joining the Senate in 2009.

Lynda Smith, Clark County Republican Party chairwoman, said having local legislators in leadership positions makes it easier to convey policy concerns.

“It always helps to have people that you’re close to in leadership positions,” Smith said. “They know us and we know them easier and that we have access.”

House Republicans added Rep. Jim Buchy of Greenville to their leadership on Tuesday. Buchy was elected to the No. 5 spot, assistant majority whip, and will be responsible for monitoring legislation and securing votes from his GOP colleagues.