{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Rodney Creech | image = | state_house = Ohio | district = 40th | term_start = 2023 | term_end = present | preceded = | succeeded = | birth_date = | birth_place = | party = Republican | spouse = | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = Morehead State University (BA)<ref>{{cite web|title=Rodney Creech Biography|url=https://ohiohouse.gov/members/rodney-creech/biography|access-date=Jan 19, 2021|publisher=Ohio House of Representatives}}</ref> | profession = | term_start1 = January 1, 2021 | term_end1 = 2023 | state_house1 = Ohio | district1 = 43rd | preceded1 = Jeffery Todd Smith }} '''Rodney Creech''' is a Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives representing the 40th district.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rodney Creech Biography |url=https://ohiohouse.gov/members/rodney-creech/biography |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Ohio House of Representatives |language=en}}</ref> He was elected in 2020, defeating Democrat Amy Cox with 54% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ohio House of Representatives District 43|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_House_of_Representatives_District_43|access-date=Jan 19, 2021|publisher=Ballotpedia}}</ref>{{User-generated inline|date=May 2023}}
==Electoral history== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! colspan="9" | Election results |- !Year !Office !Election !Votes for Creech !% !Opponent !Party !Votes !% |- |2020 |rowspan=3|Ohio House of Representatives |General |{{Party shading/Republican}} |31,463 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |54.2% |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Amy Cox |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democrat |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |26,552 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |45.8% |-|- |2022 |General |{{Party shading/Republican}} |30,028 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |71.7% |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Amy Cox |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democrat |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |11,877 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |28.3% |- |2024 |General |{{Party shading/Republican}} | |{{Party shading/Republican}} | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Bobbie Arnold |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democrat |{{Party shading/Democratic}} | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} | |-|- |}
==Controversy==
In May 2025, reports were made public of allegations regarding sexual misconduct with an underage family member of then-State Representative Rodney Creech. Specifically, Creech was accused in 2023 by a minor female relative of climbing into bed with her while erect and wearing only his underwear, according to Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Text messages showed the minor complaining that Creech had been rubbing her legs and grabbing her waist, according to NBC4. Creech admitted to investigators he had gotten into bed with the minor in his underwear but denied the sexual nature of the allegations.<ref>https://tiffinohio.net/posts/ohio-gop-s-drag-ban-cosponsor-was-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-with-minor-relative/</ref>
An investigation into the matter yielded claims made by his family, but no criminal charges were pursued by local authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=State rep accused of sexual misconduct sanctioned by Ohio House but not criminally charged |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/state/2025/05/13/rodney-creech-state-representative-investigation-no-charges/83604614007/ |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en}}</ref> Members of the Ohio Republican Party openly called for Creech's resignation<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ohio House lawmaker told to resign over sexual abuse allegations |url=https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2025-05-14/ohio-house-lawmaker-told-to-resign-over-sexual-abuse-allegations |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=Statehouse News Bureau |language=en}}</ref> following his removal from committee assignments by House Speaker Matt Huffman in May 2025. On February 17, 2026, it was reported that Creech's committee seats had been restored by Huffman.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/02/ohio-lawmaker-quietly-regains-committee-seats-lost-amid-sexual-misconduct-claim.html|title=Ohio lawmaker quietly regains committee seats lost amid sexual misconduct claim|last=Pelzer|first=Jeremy|publisher=Cleveland.com|date=February 17, 2026|accessdate=February 22, 2026}}</ref> On February 20, 2026, the Ohio Republican Party endorsed Creech for reelection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tiffinohio.net/posts/ohio-gop-endorses-creech-despite-investigation-into-alleged-conduct-with-minor/|title=Ohio GOP endorses Creech despite investigation into alleged conduct with minor|publisher=TiffinOhio.net|date=February 21, 2026|accessdate=February 23, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Members of the Ohio House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Creech, Rodney}} Category:Morehead State University alumni Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:People from Preble County, Ohio Category:21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly
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