Plummer, Butler, Antani, Perales, Smith among winners in local Ohio House races

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

UPDATE @ 12:44 a.m.:

Republicans won all contested Dayton region Ohio House seats in Tuesday election.

In the Dayton region Republican Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer won the House 40th District and newcomer Jena Powell won the 80th, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. State Reps. Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg, Rick Perales, R-Beavercreek, Jim Butler, R-Oakwood, Paul Zeltwanger, R-Mason and State Rep. Scott Lipps, R-Franklin won re-election. Appointed State Rep. J. Todd Smith, R-Jackson Twp. won the 43rd.

Here’s a look at some of the local races for the Ohio House:

House District 40

Longtime Republican Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer had 62 percent of the vote to 38 percent for Democrat Ryan Taylor, a Wright State lecturer.

Credit: File photo

Credit: File photo

Plummer will replace term-limited state Rep. Mike Henne, R-Clayton in the 40th House District.

VOTER GUIDE: Plummer and Taylor say what they plan to  do if elected

The 40th district includes Huber Heights, Vandalia, Englewood and parts of Dayton, Riverside, Union and Butler and Clay townships.

House District 41

State Rep. Jim Butler, R-Oakwood  won his 41st district race against Dayton school board vice president John McManus. Butler had55 percent and McManus had 45 percent.

“I cannot thank my wonderful campaign committee and volunteers enough for all of their hard work,”

Butler said. “I am humbled by the support that I have received and very grateful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of the 41st House District for another term.”

The district includes Kettering, Oakwood and parts of Centerville, Dayton and Riverside.

RELATED: Dayton School Board member John McManus challenging state Rep. Jim Butler

House District 42

State Rep. Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg, had 59.5 percent and his Democratic challenger, Zach Dickerson of Miamisburg, garnered 40.5 percent in House District 42.

“I’m truly honored to have been re-elected by my constituents to represent the community in which I was raised,” Antani said as his lead widened late Tuesday. “I have worked very every day to make the American dream achievable for all Ohioans and I will continue to stand strong on my pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-business principals at the statehouse.”

RELATED: State Rep. Niraj Antani facing challenge from Democrat Zach Dickerson

Dickerson describes himself as a moderate Democrat who wanted to focus on “kitchen table” issues such as fixing potholes, improving schools, funding first responders, battling the drug crisis and bringing good jobs and investment to the district.

RELATED: South Dayton suburban state House race one to watch on Election Day

The district includes Moraine, West Carrollton, Miamisburg, Germantown and part of Centerville, and Washington, Miami and German townships.

House District 43

State Rep. J. Todd Smith, R-Jackson Twp., narrowly defeated Montgomery County Commissioner Dan Foley in the House 43rd race. Smith had 50.53 percent to Foley’s 49.47 percent.

RELATED: Republican Smith narrowly defeats Foley in state 43rd House district race

It was considered to be the most competitive of the local house races on the ballot as the district is about evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

RELATED: State Rep. J. Todd Smith faces challenge from County Commissioner Dan Foley

The two ran for the seat once held by State Rep. Jeff Rezabek, R-Clayton, who stepped down after being appointed Montgomery County Juvenile Court Judge. On Tuesday Rezabek lost his bid to hold that judgeship.

Smith was appointed earlier this year to finish Rezabek’s current term.

The 43rd district includes Trotwood, part of Dayton, Clayton, Brookville, New Lebanon and Harrison, Jackson and Perry townships, and all of Preble County.

RELATED: Republican Smith narrowly leads Foley in state 43rd House district race

House District 54

State Rep. Paul Zeltwanger, R-Mason, beat Democrat Nikki Foster of Mason in the 54th. Zeltwanger has nearly 61 percent of the vote to Foster’s 39 percent.

The 54th district includes Middletown, Lebanon, Mason, part of Monroe and surrounding townships.

House District 62

State Rep. Scott Lipps, R-Franklin, also won, with 73.7 percent in his race against Democrat Jim Staton of Springboro, who had 26.3  percent.

RELATED: Warren County state rep race pits incumbent against local lawyer

The 62nd district includes Springboro, Franklin, Carlisle, Waynesville and most of northern and eastern Warren County.

RELATED: Senate District 5 race one to watch

House District 73

In Greene County, incumbent State Rep. Rick Perales, R-Beavercreek, had 60 percent  to Sugarcreek Twp. Democrat Kim McCarthy’s 40 percent.

“Its been a long campaign for me and many others,” Perales said. “I’m glad its over. I’m glad I won….It’s time for us all to kind of put down our battles and do what we can for the state of Ohio.”

RELATED:  Perales prevails over Smith in Republican primary marked by sexting allegations

In May Perales won his Republican primary against Jocelyn Smith of Fairborn, who accused him of choking her and sexting with her during a relationship they had in 2015.
Perales admitted sending inappropriate texts to her during what he characterized as a brief relationship, but denied choking her.

Smith faces a third-degree felony count of extortion and a second-degree misdemeanor count of coercion after allegedly making threats to release negative information about Perales if he didn’t resign from office and leave the primary race. Her trial in Greene County Common Pleas court is set for Feb. 4.

RELATED:  'Don't force me to release the rest of the text messages,' local candidate tells lawmaker

McCarthy was making her first run for public office.  She said in her Voter Guide answers that the two biggest issues facing the state are the “unaffordability of healthcare and prescription drugs” and “the growing inequality within our society.”

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Perales said the opioid crisis is the state’s biggest problem.

The 73rd district includes Beavercreek, Fairborn, Yellow Springs, Bellbrook and surrounding western Greene County townships.

House District 74

In the 74th State Rep. Bill Dean, R-Xenia, defeated Democrat Anne Gorman, a retired school teacher. Dean had 67.5 percent and Gorman had32.5 percent.

Dean said he would remain a conservative voice in Columbus.

RELATED: Former teacher tries to unseat incumbent in 74th District

Gorman said she was inspired to run out of concern over the scandal involving the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) online charter school, which she blames on lax oversight by Republicans who control state government in Columbus.

The 74th district includes Xenia, Cedarville and all of eastern Greene County as well as northeastern Clark County and all of Madison County.

House District 80

Republican Jena Powell of Arcanum defeated Democrat D.J. Byrnes of Piqua in the 80th. Powell had 75.6  percent and Byrnes had 24.4 percent.

Powell co-owns and manages Huntington Outdoor Advertising. Byrnes is an editor for for an online publication.

RELATED: Election 2018: New candidates running to represent Miami/Darke Co. at statehouse

Powell will replace State Rep. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, who is won his race for Ohio Senate against Democrat Paul Bradley.

RELATED: Republican Huffman wins state Senate 5th District race

The 80th district includes all of Miami County and southern Darke County.

Staff writer Matt Sanctis and contributing writer Nancy Bowman contributed to this report.

GET READY FOR ELECTION DAY

Voters guide online: Compare the other candidates on your ballot using our interactive voters guide on our website

Newsletter: Sign up for our daily Ohio Politics newsletter for the latest on Election 2018 and the news of the day

Twitter: Stay up to date with the latest from the campaign trail on @Ohio_Politics

Facebook: Speak out on the issues and candidates on our Ohio Politics Facebook page

About the Author