Ohio House doesn't plan to fill former Rep. Bob Young's seat before March primary

Ohio House Republicans have no plans to fill former Rep. Bob Young's seat before the March primary, Speaker Jason Stephens said Thursday.

Young, a Republican from Green, resigned from the House in October just weeks before he was convicted of domestic violence for hitting his wife. He pleaded guilty to violating a protection order, and a judge cleared him of one count of assault involving another relative. As part of his plea deal, he won't serve any jail time.

Residents of the 32nd House District have been without a representative since Young resigned on Oct. 2. The district includes the communities of Green, New Franklin, Springfield Township, Lakemore, Coventry Township and the Ellet area of Akron.

Stephens said the House is waiting to see how the March 19 primary shakes out. That means the seat will be vacant as lawmakers debate changes to the new recreational marijuana law and push for infrastructure projects to be funded in the next capital budget.

"As close as it is and has become − we've been busy on plenty of other things − it's three months away, let the voters decide who that primary winner is," Stephens told reporters.

Summit County Republican Party Chairman Bryan Williams called the news disappointing after recommending to Stephens that House Republicans appoint New Franklin councilman Jack Daniels to fill Young's seat.

"I think it's unfortunate because there are (several) months of votes without the district represented," Williams said.Williams said Daniels and Mary Stormer, a nurse and former school board member and deputy clerk of courts, have pulled petitions for the primary.

The county GOP, Williams said, will support Daniels in the primary.

"We are going to work to elect Jack Daniels," Williams said. "He has already been formally endorsed."

The 32nd District favors Republicans 55-44%, according to Dave's Redistricting — meaning the GOP primary victor would likely win the November general election.

Beacon Journal reporter Alan Ashworth contributed to this report. Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio House won't fill ex-Rep. Bob Young's seat before March primary