MANSFIELD — Republican Mark Romanchuk will likely retire from politics undefeated.
The Ontario resident and Republican easily rolled to a second and final four-year term in the Ohio Senate’s 22nd District on Tuesday, brushing off a challenge from Democratic challenger Kathy Salem.
Term limits prevent the 62-year-old Romanchuk from seeking a third term in the Senate. Prior to winning a Senate seat, he won election to the Ohio House four times, representing Richland County.
“I think it’s my last campaign,” Romanchuk said Tuesday night. “You never want to say never. But as it stands now, it likely will be my last.”
A successful businessman who entered politics later in life, Romanchuk won in all three counties in the district — Richland, Ashland and Medina.
Richland and Ashland counties had final, unofficial totals reported late Tuesday night. Romanchuk earned 73 percent of the vote in Richland County (40,424-15,001) and 76 percent in Ashland County (18,909-5,593).
In Medina County, with 114 of 121 precincts reporting, Romanchuk had nearly 64 percent of the vote.
He said his goals in the next four years include seeking property tax relief for Ohio residents, especially the elderly and others on fixed incomes, perhaps through greater homestead exemptions.
Romanchuk said he would also seek electricity reform. “Some of these electric bills we are seeing today are going to be increasing, so there is some work to be done there,” he said.
“We have come a long way with tax cuts to help stimulate the economy. I think the economy is doing well, but these other issues need to be addressed,” Romanchuk said.
Romanchuk and his wife, Zoi, co-own PR Machine Works and Slick Automated Solutions in Ontario.
His campaign website described him as a pro-life, pro-2nd amendment, constitutional conservative who believes in a small government. His platform stated he favors parental choice in education and bringing back a vocational focus in the school system.
He will return to Columbus with Republican state Rep. Marilyn John, who won re-election on Tuesday night to represent the 76th District (Richland County).
“Marilyn and I make a pretty good team. She has done really well. I think we represent Richland County very well in Columbus,” he said.