| Rex Damschroder | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 81st district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Jeff Wagner |
| In office January 3, 1995 – December 31, 2002 |
|
| Preceded by | Dwight Wise |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Wagner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 4, 1950 Tiffin, Ohio |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Fremont, Ohio |
| Alma mater | Bowling Green State University, Tiffin University |
| Occupation | Realtor, Small Business Owner |
| Religion | Christian |
Rex Damschroder is an American politician who has been a member of the Ohio House of Representatives since 2011. He was also a member from 1995 to 2003. Damschroder is the son of Gene Damschroder, who held the same House seat from 1973 to 1983.[1]
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Damschroder has owned several small business throughout the community, and is a licensed realtor. He has served on Fremont City Council and at Terra Community College on the Board of Trustees. He is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and Tiffin University.
Damschroder was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1994, representing the 89th district which included parts of Sandusky County and Seneca Counties. He served from 1995 to 2003, when he was required to step down due to term limits.[2][3]
In 2002, Damschroder unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Congressman Paul Gillmor in the 5th congressional district Republican primary.[4] After that, he remained out of the political realm for eight years.
However, with successor Jeff Wagner termed out in 2010, Damschroder made a comeback. He faced primary opposition from Merrill Keiser and Holly Stacy, but won the nomination with 59.88% of the vote.[5] In the general election, Democrats placed high hopes on Seneca County, Ohio Commissioner Ben Nutter, but Damschroder defeated him with 55.31% of the vote.[6]
Damschroder was sworn in for his fifth term on January 3, 2011.[7] He is serving on the committees of Agriculture and Natural Resources, State Government and Elections, and Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security (as vice chair).
In late March 2011, Damschroder suffered from a heart attack and received triple bypass heart surgery two days later.[8]
With Senator Karen Gillmor resigning her seat, Damschroder had been named as a possible successor.[9] However, it was announced later that he would not seek the appointment.[10]
Damschroder has proposed legislation that would ban reading or writing on any digital device while driving. It passed the House almost unanimously.[11] He has rejected the notion that it takes away from personal freedoms.
With the Ohio Statehouse adding a full service bar to their existing restaurant, Damschroder came out in opposition of serving alcohol at the Statehouse.[12]