Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) swore in two new members to the Ohio House to fill the vacant seats left due to the passing of State Representative Kris Jordan (R-Ostrander) and the resignation of State Representative Brian Baldridge (R- Winchester) to take a job as state agriculture director.
After the untimely passing of Jordan, Delaware County Republican Brian Lorenz (R-Powell) has been chosen to fill the remaining term for the 60th House District seat.
According to Lorenz (pictured above, left), he is both humbled and honored to have received the appointment to fulfill the term of the late Jordan.
“I will represent the constituents of the 60th House District with the highest level of integrity and transparency while defending our constitutional freedoms, improving infrastructure and development all while keeping government lean and efficient,” Lorenz said.
Lorenz has served as a councilman for the City of Powell since 2010. In addition, from 2016 to 2017, he was Powell’s mayor. Additionally, he represented the municipality as a member of the Powell Community Improvement Corporation, and he had previously served a six-year term on the planning and zoning commission.
According to State Representative Beth Lear (R-Galena), Lorenz is the candidate best able to fill the “big shoes” left by Rep. Jordan.
“Brian is a reflection of the people in the 60th district and comes highly recommended by his peers, fellow council members, neighbors, and colleagues in the county Republican party. He shares the same priorities as our caucus and his friend Kris Jordan,” Lear said.
Lorenz will run for re-election to the state office next year.
Powell City Council must name a replacement for Lorenz within 60 days. The city charter requires the mayor to decide if they cannot reach an agreement.
Justin Pizzulli, a Republican from Scioto County, has been sworn in to complete the remainder of Baldridge’s term in the 90th House District.
According to Pizzulli (pictured above, right), he is honored to be selected to serve his community in the Ohio House and looks forward to working tirelessly to represent them at the Statehouse.
“I am passionate about delivering for our community, protecting our rights, and expanding investing in economic opportunity. I look forward to proving myself to my constituents as I work tirelessly to represent them at the Statehouse,” Pizzuli said.
Pizzulli has worked as a real estate agent for over 12 years and is a realtor with Real Estate Gallery in the Ironton and Wheelersburg areas. Norfolk Southern has employed him as a commercial freight train conductor for almost two years. Shawnee State University awarded Pizzulli his bachelor’s degree, and Marshall University awarded him a master’s in science.
State Representative D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) said that Pizzuli “will be a fine member of this caucus in the Ohio House.”
“He is coming to the House for the right reasons to do good things for the people of his district and with this appointment he will immediately get to work doing just that,” Rep. Swearingen said.
Pizzulli will run for reelection to the state office next year.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Editor’s Note: Beth Lear was a journalist with The Ohio Star from May 2019 to December 2019.
Photo “Brian Lorenz” by Ohio House of Representatives. Photo “Justin Pizzulli” by Real Estate Gallery, Inc. Background Photo “Ohio Capitol” by Another Believer. CC BY-SA 4.0.
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