{{Short description|American politician (born 1986)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Derek Merrin |office = Member of the Ohio House of Representatives |term_start = August 2, 2016 |term_end = January 3, 2025 |predecessor = Barbara Sears |successor = Elgin Rogers Jr. |constituency = 47th district (2016–2023)<br>42nd district (2023–2025) |birth_name = Derek Scott Merrin |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|1|4}} |birth_place = Smithtown, New York, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Republican |education = Owens Community College (attended)<br>University of Toledo (BA)<br>Bowling Green State University (MPA) }}
'''Derek Scott Merrin'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ohiohouse.gov/members/derek-merrin/biography|title=Derek Merrin Biography|website=Ohio House of Representatives}}</ref> (born January 4, 1986) is an American politician who previously served as the state representative for the 42nd District of the Ohio House of Representatives. He is a Republican. He was the Republican nominee for Ohio's 9th congressional district in 2024, where he was narrowly defeated by incumbent Marcy Kaptur.
==Life and career== Merrin was born in Smithtown, New York on Long Island, and moved to Waterville, Ohio, with his family when he was thirteen years old.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2015/11/13/3-running-for-Sears-seat-in-Ohio-House.html |title=3 running for Sears' seat in Ohio House |work=Toledo Blade |date=2016-11-03 |access-date=2016-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729205621/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2015/11/13/3-running-for-Sears-seat-in-Ohio-House.html |archive-date=2016-07-29 |url-status=live }}</ref> His father, Russ Merrin, was a public-school teacher and pastored Monclova Road Baptist Church for twenty-three years. Merrin's mother, Norma, was a registered nurse. Merrin is a graduate of Monclova Christian Academy. In addition, Merrin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toledo and a Master of Public Administration degree from Bowling Green State University. He attended Owens Community College before transferring to UT.<ref name="Derek Merrin Biography">{{Cite web |title=Derek Merrin Biography |url=https://ohiohouse.gov/members/derek-merrin/biography |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=Ohio House of Representatives |language=en}}</ref>
Merrin was elected to the Waterville City Council, a city of just over 6,000 people, at the age of nineteen.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://toledoteaparty.com/derek-merrin-announces-candidacy-for-oh47/ |title=Derek Merrin announces candidacy for OH47 |work=Toledo Tea Party |date=2015-10-25 |access-date=2016-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814185155/http://toledoteaparty.com/derek-merrin-announces-candidacy-for-oh47/ |archive-date=2016-08-14 |url-status=live }}</ref> Two years later, he was elected Mayor. Along with his time in public office, Merrin previously worked for Ohio Auditor Dave Yost.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.twinsburgbulletin.com/latest%20headlines/2016/08/03/ohio-house-speaker-meets-with-republican-presidential-nominee-donald-trump |title=Ohio House Speaker meets with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump |work=Twinsburg Bulletin |date=2016-08-03 |access-date=2016-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804185420/http://www.twinsburgbulletin.com/latest%20headlines/2016/08/03/ohio-house-speaker-meets-with-republican-presidential-nominee-donald-trump |archive-date=2016-08-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2012 he was named 'Thirty Conservatives Under Thirty' by Red Alert Politics.<ref>{{cite news |date=2016-07-04 |title=Gavarone, Merrin to be sworn in as Ohio representatives |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/07/14/Gavarone-Merrin-to-be-sworn-in-as-Ohio-representatives.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815032905/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/07/14/Gavarone-Merrin-to-be-sworn-in-as-Ohio-representatives.html |archive-date=2016-08-15 |access-date=2016-08-04 |work=Toledo Blade}}</ref>
==Ohio House of Representatives== With Representative Barbara Sears term-limited in 2016, Merrin entered the race to succeed her.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/07/10/3-in-GOP-vying-for-3rd-District.html |title=3 in GOP vying for 3rd District |work=Toledo Blade |date=2016-07-10 |access-date=2016-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815041828/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/07/10/3-in-GOP-vying-for-3rd-District.html |archive-date=2016-08-15 |url-status=live }}</ref> He won a three-way primary against Republicans Vicki Donovan-Lyle and Kevin Haddad, with over 45% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/02/14/3-seek-GOP-nod-in-Ohio-s-47th-House-district.html |title=3 seek GOP nod in Ohio's 47th House district |work=Toledo Blade |date=2016-02-10 |access-date=2016-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017170853/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/02/14/3-seek-GOP-nod-in-Ohio-s-47th-House-district.html |archive-date=2016-10-17 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Sears resigned from the seat before the end of her term to take a position in the administration of Ohio Governor John Kasich.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/03/16/Merrin-nominated-to-succeed-Rep-Sears.html |title=Merrin nominated to succeed Rep. Sears |work=Toledo Blade |date=2016-03-16 |access-date=2016-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815045740/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/03/16/Merrin-nominated-to-succeed-Rep-Sears.html |archive-date=2016-08-15 |url-status=live }}</ref> As the winner of the Republican primary, Ohio House Republicans led by Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger appointed Merrin to serve the remainder of Sears' term.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/06/08/Ohio-Rep-Sears-to-join-Kasich-administration.html |title=Ohio Rep. Sears to join Kasich administration |work=Toledo Blade |date=2016-06-08 |access-date=2016-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727115044/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/06/08/Ohio-Rep-Sears-to-join-Kasich-administration.html |archive-date=2016-07-27 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was sworn into office on August 2, 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/166984/derek-merrin/?p=1#.XA7VZWhKjIU |title=Derek Merrin's Voting Records - the Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart |access-date=2018-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211010344/https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/166984/derek-merrin/?p=1#.XA7VZWhKjIU |archive-date=2018-12-11 |url-status=live }}</ref> and won the ensuing general election over Democrat Lauri Cooper. Merrin was re-elected in 2018 and 2020, with nearly 60% of the vote each time. Following re-districting, Merrin's district was made substantially more Democratic, losing conservative western Lucas County while adding parts of the city of Toledo and inner ring suburbs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Incumbent Merrin, union leader White face off in new Lucas County district |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/local/politics/2022/10/31/incumbent-merrin-union-leader-white-face-off-in-new-lucas-county-district/stories/20221031126 |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=The Blade |language=en}}</ref> Despite this, Merrin carried the Democrat-leaning (D+2) 47th House District by nearly eight points, 53.9%-46.1% over Democrat Erika White.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Derek Merrin |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Merrin |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>
In 2022, Merrin lost the speaker election to Jason Stephens, who had bipartisan support, by 54 to 43 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=In a surprise move, Ohio House picks Jason Stephens as next speaker |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/03/republicans-democrats-may-challenge-merrin-for-ohio-house-speakership/69771856007/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://www.derekmerrin.com/ Campaign website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merrin, Derek}} Category:1986 births Category:21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly Category:Bowling Green State University alumni Category:Businesspeople from Ohio Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections Category:Living people Category:People from Smithtown, New York Category:People from Waterville, Ohio Category:Republican Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives Category:University of Toledo alumni