Derek Merrin
Derek Merrin | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Young |
| Constituency | 42nd district |
| In office August 2, 2016 – December 31, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Barbara Sears |
| Succeeded by | Sara Carruthers |
| Constituency | 47th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Derek Scott Merrin January 4, 1986 Smithtown, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of Toledo (BA) Bowling Green State University (MPA) |
Derek Scott Merrin[1] (born January 4, 1986) is an American politician serving as the state representative for the 42nd District of the Ohio House of Representatives. He is a Republican. The district includes western Lucas County, south Toledo, Maumee, and Springfield Township. He is the Republican nominee for Ohio's 9th congressional district in 2024.
Life and career
[edit]Merrin was born in Smithtown, New York on Long Island, and moved to Waterville, Ohio, with his family when he was thirteen years old.[2] His father, Russ Merrin, was a public-school teacher and pastored Monclova Road Baptist Church for twenty-three years. Merrin's mother, Norma, was a registered nurse. Merrin is a graduate of Monclova Christian Academy. In addition, Merrin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toledo and a Master of Public Administration degree from Bowling Green State University. He attended Owens Community College before transferring to UT.[3]
Merrin was elected to the Waterville City Council, a city of just over 6000 people, at the age of nineteen.[4] Two years later, he was elected Mayor. Along with his time in public office, Merrin previously worked for Ohio Auditor Dave Yost.[5] In 2012 he was named 'Thirty Conservatives Under Thirty' by Red Alert Politics.[6]
Ohio House of Representatives
[edit]With Representative Barbara Sears term-limited in 2016, Merrin entered the race to succeed her.[7] He won a three-way primary against Republicans Vicki Donovan-Lyle and Kevin Haddad, with over 45% of the vote.[8]
Sears resigned from the seat before the end of her term to take a position in the administration of Ohio Governor John Kasich.[9] As the winner of the Republican primary, Ohio House Republicans led by Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger appointed Merrin to serve the remainder of Sears' term.[10] He was sworn into office on August 2, 2016,[11] and won the ensuing general election over Democrat Lauri Cooper. Merrin was re-elected in 2018 and 2020, with nearly 60% of the vote each time. Following re-districting, Merrin's district was made substantially more Democratic, losing conservative western Lucas County while adding parts of the city of Toledo and inner ring suburbs.[12] Despite this, Merrin carried the Democrat-leaning (D+2) 47th House District by nearly eight points, 53.9%-46.1% over Democrat Erika White.[13]
In 2022, Merrin lost the Speaker election to Jason Stephens, who had bipartisan support, by 54 to 43 votes.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Derek Merrin Biography". Ohio House of Representatives.
- ^ "3 running for Sears' seat in Ohio House". Toledo Blade. November 3, 2016. Archived from the original on July 29, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "Derek Merrin Biography". Ohio House of Representatives. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ "Derek Merrin announces candidacy for OH47". Toledo Tea Party. October 25, 2015. Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "Ohio House Speaker meets with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump". Twinsburg Bulletin. August 3, 2016. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "Gavarone, Merrin to be sworn in as Ohio representatives". Toledo Blade. July 4, 2016. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "3 in GOP vying for 3rd District". Toledo Blade. July 10, 2016. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "3 seek GOP nod in Ohio's 47th House district". Toledo Blade. February 10, 2016. Archived from the original on October 17, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "Merrin nominated to succeed Rep. Sears". Toledo Blade. March 16, 2016. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "Ohio Rep. Sears to join Kasich administration". Toledo Blade. June 8, 2016. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "Derek Merrin's Voting Records - the Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart". Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
- ^ "Incumbent Merrin, union leader White face off in new Lucas County district". The Blade. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ "Derek Merrin". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ "In a surprise move, Ohio House picks Jason Stephens as next speaker". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Campaign website
- Ohio State Representative Derek Merrin official site
