Primary to Decide Appointment to Ohio 98th House District

Rather than appoint someone to the Ohio 98th House District seat now, Republicans plan to wait for the outcome of the March 6 primary to decide who gets the appointment.

The 98th district includes all of Geauga County as well as , , and portions of .

"Given the fact that multiple Republican candidates have filed for these offices prior to the March primary, voting for which begins in less than two weeks, we feel it would be most prudent given this timeline for the residents of the 87th and 98th districts to decide who their representatives will be," Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder said.

Since district boundaries will change in 2013, the 76th District race will decide who is appointed to the 98th District seat. The 76th District will include Geauga County, but will not cover Gates Mills, Highland Heights, Mayfield Village or Mayfield Heights.

Republicans running for 76th District representative are Matt Lynch, Mary E. O'Toole, Kristina Port and Mark E. Porter. Tom Warren is the lone Democrat in the race.

In 2013, Gates Mills, Highland Heights and Mayfield Village will be part of the 6th House District. Candidates for that seat are Democrat Anthony Fossaceca and Republican Marlene Anielski.

Mayfield Heights will be part of the 12th District. Democrat John E. Barnes Jr. is the only candidate to have filed petitions for that seat.