RICHLAND COUNTY — Voters are giving Marilyn John a chance to finish what she started in the Ohio House of Representatives.
The Republican from Shelby earned a fourth and final two-year term in the House on Tuesday, turning back a challenge from Democratic Party newcomer Colton Stidam.
According to final, unofficial vote totals from the Richland County Board of Elections, the 58-year-old John received 28,606 votes, 65.54 percent of the ballots cast.
The 30-year-old Stidam, making his first run for political office, received 15,038 votes, or 34.46 of the total.
Under state law, term limits allow House members four consecutive two-year terms, a maximum of eight continuous years. John could consider a run for the Ohio Senate in 2028.
John credited her deep local roots, constituent visibility and six-year legislative track record for carrying her through the race.
“I’m known around the county, I have a record to run on and I think that made the difference,” John said Tuesday night.
“I’ve worked hard over the last six years in the House and brought some results back to the county.”
Addressing Stidam’s first bid for elective office, John pointed to the enduring importance of voter familiarity built across prior local offices, including her past work as mayor of Shelby and as a Richland County commissioner.
“Name ID matters,” John said. “Again, I’ve been on the ballot a few times and so I’ve worked my way up to this position. I do think that matters.”
Stidam, a Mansfield City Schools public school IT employee living in Mansfield, said during his campaign that he sought to present voters with a community-first alternative focused on working-class affordability.
Ahead of the election, Stidam said working families were being squeezed on essential expenses.
“Whether it’s their gas, groceries, utilities or property taxes, they are feeling the pinch,” Stidam said.
He proposed childcare tax expansions, caps on hospital service charges tied to Medicare rates, and full state funding for public education to ease the burden of local property tax levies.
“Government works when elected officials understand the reality of the people living in the communities that vote for them,” Stidam said during the campaign.
Looking toward the upcoming legislative session, John said she anticipates remaining in House Republican leadership, where she has served as majority floor leader. She identified the upcoming two-year state budget and constituent affordability as primary legislative goals.
“The budget will be huge over the next two years, and what can we do to continue bringing down taxes so that people have more money in their pockets,” John said.
“When we look at the affordability issues that our residents are dealing with in the state of Ohio, we’re going to be looking to … allow them to keep more of their hard-earned money.”
Asked about local school funding after multiple Richland County school levies fell short at the polls Tuesday night, John said lawmakers intend to maintain state support.
“As far as the state goes, we have continued to increase funding for K-12 education in every budget,” John said. “K-12 education is always going to be a priority, and it will continue to be in the next budget.”
John has served in the House since 2021. Her previous public office experience includes serving as mayor of Shelby from 2010 to 2014 and as a Richland County commissioner from 2015 to 2020.
Educationally, John has an associate degree in business management from North Central State College. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business management and a master’s degree in business administration from Ashland University.
