State senator decides not to take Ohio House seat
COLUMBUS (AP) — A state senator contends he is not defying voters’ wishes by refusing to take a seat he won this fall in the Ohio House.
Republican Tim Grendell of Chesterland in northeast Ohio told Senate colleagues in a Monday memo that he plans to stay a senator. He has two years left on his current term.
He says in the memo that he wants to remain in the Senate to work on issues such as private property rights and home septic system regulations.
Asked today whether he was going against the will of the voters, Grendell told reporters he was elected to both offices.
He says he has talked to people interested in the House seat. He declined to give their names, but said they are not related to him. There has been speculation that his wife wants the seat.