One of the local candidates who filed petitions for the state legislature Wednesday will have an advantage — he will be in the seat while running for it.
Green Councilman Tony DeVitis was chosen Wednesday by the House Republican Caucus to serve the remainder of former state Rep. Todd McKenney’s term. McKenney, a freshman legislator, left his 43rd District seat to become Summit County probate judge.
“Representative DeVitis is an experienced and accomplished public servant who will serve the House well,” House Speaker Bill Batchelder, R-Medina, said in a news release. “His extensive background in business and economics will add a valuable voice to the legislature in our mission to bring jobs to the state of Ohio.”
Like the congressional districts, the Ohio House and Senate district boundaries and numbers have been changed because of the redistricting process done after each census.
Though DeVitis will be serving in the 43rd District seat, he filed to run in the March 6 primary for the new 36th District. DeVitis, who is in his first term on Green council and is the owner and vice president of DeVitis & Sons Inc., an Italian specialty food store on Akron’s North Hill, will be sworn in Wednesday.
At-large Akron Councilman Jeff Fusco, who had said he planned to challenge freshman state Rep. Zack Milkovich, said Wednesday that he won’t run.
“My No. 1 priority is my family,” said Fusco, who added that his family is supporting his decision to not try for the Statehouse.
Had he won, Fusco, a Democrat, said he probably would have been in the minority in the Ohio House.
“I think I can help the community more here in Akron,” he said.
Milkovich, D-Akron, faces no primary opposition for the new 35th District, but will compete against Kevin Mitchell, a Republican, in the November general election.
Other legislative candidates, listed by district and the county in which they filed, are:
SUMMIT
• House 34th: Ronya Jeanette Habash, Republican; Derrick Hall, Democrat; and State Rep. Vernon Sykes, Democrat.
• House 35th: Milkovich and Mitchell.
• House 36th: Paul Colavecchio, Democrat; Jason Cowling, Democrat; DeVitis; and Gary Peters, write-in Republican.
• House 37th: David Finley, Libertarian; State Rep. Kristina Roegner, Republican.; and Tom Schmida, Democrat.
• House 38th: Michael Kaplan, Democrat; and State Rep. Lynn Slaby, Republican.
• Senate 28th: Robert Greg Roush, Republican; and State Sen. Tom Sawyer, Democrat.
MEDINA
• House 69th: Judith Cross, Democrat; and Batchelder.
• House 70th: State Rep. Dave Hall, Republican; and Steve Johnson, Democrat.
• Senate 22nd: Ellen Kay Haring, Democrat; State Sen. Larry Obhof Jr., Republican; and James E. Riley, Democrat.
PORTAGE
• House 75th: State Rep. Kathleen Clyde, Democrat; and Nick Skeriotis, Republican.
• Senate 18th: State Sen. John Eklund, Republican; and Jim Mueller, Democrat.
STARK
• House 48th: John Deagan, Libertarian; State Rep. Kirk Schuring, Republican; and Amanda Trump, Democrat.
• House 49th: Monique Moore, Republican; and State Rep. Stephen Slesnick, Democrat.
• House 50th: Christina Hagan, Republican; and Sue Ryan, Democrat.
WAYNE
• House 1st: State Rep. Ron Amstutz, Republican; and John Maglio, Democrat.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.