Terry Johnson

Johnson defeated Haas in the race for 90th District State Representative

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Portia Williams

PDT Staff Writer

Incumbent Terry Johnson defeated his opponent John Haas in the race for the State Representative in the 90th District. Johnson had a total of 18,950 votes, with 64.07 percent, Haas had 10,627 votes, receiving 35.93 percent of the votes.

Johnson said his shift from campaigning to work will be immediate.

“My plans are to go to work immediately,” Johnson said. “I am looking forward to getting out of campaign mode to going back to work mode.”

Johnson said that he will resume his work on crucial pieces of legislation that he wants to get passed.

“We have to finish up the lame duck session. the 129th isn’t over yet, I still have five bills pending. We also have a very important pseudophedrine tracking bill that’s taking place, we’re putting a synthetic analog drug amendment on it, to help issues like bath salts, and things of that nature” Johnson said.

Though his hopes of becoming State Representative were stifled Tuesday, Haas said he enjoyed the journey.

“It was a great experience. I met so many wonderful people,” Haas said.

Haas said he had no regrets about his campaign.

“I did everything I could do in my power, there’s not much I’d do differently. I wanted to be able to wake up Wednesday morning and say I gave it my all,” Haas said.

Haas said that he was hopeful that his contributions to SB5 and other issues would help give him leverage, but it was not enough. Haas said he had an opportunity to speak with Johnson and congratulate him on his win.

“It was a good, clean race, it was positive campaign on both sides,” Haas said.

Johnson said that his focus is not on the victory, but the journey, and people that helped make it possible.

“It was the confidence that people put into my race, the team that I built. I just had a lot of wonderful people that stepped up and have taken care of me, and helped me to be successful” Johnson said.

“Interestingly, I got a lot done as a freshman,” Johnson said. “You are not supposed to get things done like I did as a freshman. House Bill 93 was absolutely huge, we got that done in five months, and signed by the Governor. We knocked down all of the pill mills in Scioto County, and actually across the state.”

“What we are going to do is build on those successes, and now that I have been up there for two years its going to be a little more easier to get things done this time,” Johnson said.

Portia Williams may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext 286 or portiawilliams@heartlandpublications.com