Derek Merrin Explained

Derek Merrin
State House1:Ohio
District1:42nd
Term Start1:January 3, 2023
Predecessor1:Tom Young
State House2:Ohio
District2:47th
Term Start2:August 2, 2016
Term End2:December 31, 2022
Predecessor2:Barbara Sears
Successor2:Sara Carruthers
Birth Name:Derek Scott Merrin
Birth Date:4 January 1986
Birth Place:Smithtown, New York, U.S.
Party:Republican
Education:University of Toledo (BA)
Bowling Green State University (MA)

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.

Life and career

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

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]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Derek Merrin Biography. Ohio House of Representatives.
  2. News: 3 running for Sears' seat in Ohio House . Toledo Blade . 2016-11-03 . 2016-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160729205621/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2015/11/13/3-running-for-Sears-seat-in-Ohio-House.html . 2016-07-29 . live .
  3. Web site: Derek Merrin Biography . 2024-01-07 . Ohio House of Representatives . en.
  4. News: Derek Merrin announces candidacy for OH47 . Toledo Tea Party . 2015-10-25 . 2016-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160814185155/http://toledoteaparty.com/derek-merrin-announces-candidacy-for-oh47/ . 2016-08-14 . live .
  5. News: Ohio House Speaker meets with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump . Twinsburg Bulletin . 2016-08-03 . 2016-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160804185420/http://www.twinsburgbulletin.com/latest%20headlines/2016/08/03/ohio-house-speaker-meets-with-republican-presidential-nominee-donald-trump . 2016-08-04 . dead .
  6. News: 2016-07-04 . Gavarone, Merrin to be sworn in as Ohio representatives . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160815032905/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/07/14/Gavarone-Merrin-to-be-sworn-in-as-Ohio-representatives.html . 2016-08-15 . 2016-08-04 . Toledo Blade.
  7. News: 3 in GOP vying for 3rd District . Toledo Blade . 2016-07-10 . 2016-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160815041828/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/07/10/3-in-GOP-vying-for-3rd-District.html . 2016-08-15 . live .
  8. News: 3 seek GOP nod in Ohio's 47th House district . Toledo Blade . 2016-02-10 . 2016-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161017170853/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/02/14/3-seek-GOP-nod-in-Ohio-s-47th-House-district.html . 2016-10-17 . live .
  9. News: Merrin nominated to succeed Rep. Sears . Toledo Blade . 2016-03-16 . 2016-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160815045740/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/03/16/Merrin-nominated-to-succeed-Rep-Sears.html . 2016-08-15 . live .
  10. News: Ohio Rep. Sears to join Kasich administration . Toledo Blade . 2016-06-08 . 2016-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160727115044/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/06/08/Ohio-Rep-Sears-to-join-Kasich-administration.html . 2016-07-27 . live .
  11. Web site: Derek Merrin's Voting Records - the Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart . 2018-12-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181211010344/https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/166984/derek-merrin/?p=1#.XA7VZWhKjIU . 2018-12-11 . live .
  12. Web site: Incumbent Merrin, union leader White face off in new Lucas County district . 2024-01-07 . The Blade . en.
  13. Web site: Derek Merrin . 2024-01-07 . Ballotpedia . en.
  14. Web site: In a surprise move, Ohio House picks Jason Stephens as next speaker . 2023-01-03 . The Columbus Dispatch . en-US.