The list is growing for candidates seeking the vacated 81st house district seat in Ohio, now that Rob McColley has moved-on to the senate. So far three challengers have surfaced for the Republican seat, with applications due December 15th. Letters of interest are being filed by former 4-term state representative Jim Hoops of Napoleon. Hoops is now Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Northwest State Community College.
Also filing is former mayor of Napoleon Steve Lankenau, who served 3 terms leading the city of Napoleon. Lankenau is now owner and commercial real estate agent at Remax Exclusive in Napoleon.
The third candidate is Justin Barnhart of Leipsic, who has worked in some state legislative offices. Barnhart is currently village administrator in Leipsic.
The 81st house district covers Henry, Putnam, Williams, and the eastern portion of Fulton County. It’s likely the Republican state caucus will review the applications after December 15th, and decide on a state representative sometime in January. Whoever is selected will have to run in the May primary next year, to retain that seat in 2019.