An Adams County Commissioner from 1985-1990, White opted to run against the Democrat Harry Mallott in 1990 for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Subsequently, White announced his candidacy for the seat.

[2] After the 2002 elections, the Republicans of the Ohio Senate selected White to succeed Richard Finan as leader of the party.

Thus, in the 2004 election, Tom Niehaus took White's seat and Bill Harris was chosen to be the next Senate president.

After his service in the Senate, White was director of the Ohio Department of Commerce in the cabinet of Republican Bob Taft.