In January 2019, Governor Mike Dewine appointed Gardner as the Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

[1] Gardner first entered Ohio politics in 1985, when he was appointed to a seat vacated by former State Representative, Robert Brown.

With then-Senate President Doug White facing term limits, Gardner and Senator Jeff Jacobson were looked at as two potential successors.

Gardner made it evident half way through 2007 that he intended to run for his old House seat in 2008, when he faced term limits in the Senate.

Gardner again opted to switch chambers, and ultimately won his former district with 58.66% of the vote over Democrat Jeff Bretz.