MANSFIELD — Republican Marilyn John will represent Richland County as part of the 2nd District in the Ohio House. 

John, 52, defeated Democrat Sam Grady by more than 24,000 votes, according to final, unofficial vote totals from the Richland County Board of Elections. John earned 40,204 votes in Richland County to Grady’s 16,013.

According to Paulette Hankins, director of the Richland County Board of Elections, there is an unofficial total of 1,506 Provisionals from the polls as well as early voting. These will be checked by BOE staff and then reviewed by the board at a meeting on Monday, Nov. 16.

There is also a total of 995 outstanding absentees which, if postmarked by Nov. 2 and received in the BOE office by Nov. 13, would be approved to be opened and counted at the board meeting on Nov. 16.

The official count will be conducted on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and the board will reconvene on Wednesday, Nov. 18 to certify the official results.

On Tuesday evening, the predominant emotion John was experiencing was gratitude.

“I’m very thankful to the good Lord for watching over and protecting me, and opening doors,” she said. “I’m very grateful to my family for putting up with the crazy life of an elected official in campaigns, and my friends who just treat me like Marilyn every day.” 

John also thanked the voters in Richland County for the confidence they placed in her since she won her first election race for mayor of Shelby 11 years ago. 

“It’s gratifying and humbling to know when it’s all said and done, the voters have placed their trust in me and I do not take that lightly,” John said. 

John defeated Shelby Councilman Nathan Martin in the primary, gaining 69 percent of 11,332 ballots cast in a race that that was extended from March 17 until April 28 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the state constitution, John will take office as a state representative on Jan. 1, 2021. After that, it will be up to the Richland County Central Committee to appoint her replacement to the Richland County Commissioners. 

Ohio representatives are subject to term limits of no more than four two-year terms, for a total of eight years. 

John will replace Republican State Rep. Mark Romanchuk, who is vacating his seat due to term limits. Romanchuk defeated Democrat Ryan Hunger to replace Larry Obhof in the Ohio Senate, who is also vacating his seat due to term limits. 

John said Romanchuk has served as a mentor to her since he was first elected as a state representative. 

“For eight years Mark and I have had a great partnership and I learned a lot from him,” John said. “All along Mark has offered me great advice and support.” 

Before serving as an elected official, John worked as an underwriter at Shelby Insurance Company and as the executive director of the Shelby Senior Center.

“I have always felt we have great potential in Richland County, and over the past 10 years I have served the residents of Richland County in order to reach that potential – first as a mayor and now as a county commissioner,” John told Richland Source in March.

“While much work has been completed, there is still much to be done, and I feel my time in public office has prepared me well to become the next State Representative of District 2.” 

John told Richland Source in October her first priority in the state legislature would be assisting communities and businesses as they tackle the challenges brought by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, she said that priority hasn’t changed. 

“I wish we were seeing a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to this epidemic, but businesses are still being affected by it and we’ve got to continue to do what we can to support them,” she said. “The next general assembly will have to look at what we can do to support businesses so we still have businesses when this epidemic is over.” 

Asked what her goals are in public service, John said she tries not to get ahead of God. 

“I did this initially because of a calling,” she said. “Every time, it’s been doors opening, and it’s amazing to me to watch God work through the whole thing, and then to have people come alongside me and support me.” 

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Community investment made this reporting happen. Independent, local news in Shelby and Northern Richland County is brought to you in part by the generous support of Phillips Tube Group, R.S. Hanline, ArcelorMittal, Lloyd Rebar, Hess Industries, and Shelby Printing.