Randy Ludlow The Columbus Dispatch

FridayJul31,2020at7:15AMJul31,2020at9:48AM

The indicted Larry Householder faces write-in opposition for re-election to the chamber that booted him from the speakers rostrum of the Ohio House of Representatives on Thursday.

A fellow Republican and a Libertarian say they have filed petitions to oppose Householder, who remains a member of the House, in the Nov. 3 election.

Jay Conrad, a Marine veteran and college student from New Lexington in Perry County, will run as the write-in Republican against Householder following the former speakers arrest in a racketeering and bribery scheme involving the passage of House Bill 6 and its nuclear power plant bailout.

Former Coshocton City Council candidate Robert Leist, a maintenance coordinator at the Kraft Heinz Co., will run as a Libertarian candidate.

Partisan write-in candidates face an Aug. 24 filing deadline. No Democrat filed to run against Householder in the heavily GOP 72nd House District, which covers Perry and Coshocton counties and parts of Licking County, The filing deadline for independent write-in candidates has passed.

If Householder, who lives near Glenford in Perry County, wins re-election and remains a House member, he automatically would be removed if convicted of felonies in the federal criminal case. He and four co-defendants face up to 20 years in prison.

Rep. Bob Cupp, R-Lima, was elected Thursday by the House to replace Householder as speaker.

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow

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Householder attracts write-in opposition in bid to keep Ohio House seat - The Columbus Dispatch