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Jason Wilson won’t run for re-election
COLUMBIANA
State Sen. Jason Wilson will not seek re-election to the new 30th Senate District because it would require him and his family to move.
The Republican redistricting plan, which takes effect with the 2012 election, left Wilson, a Democrat from Columbiana, without a district unless he moves out of Columbiana County.
“I will not be eligible to run because I won’t have residency in the new 30th District,” he said.
Under state law, a candidate for the General Assembly must live in his or her district for at least one year before Election Day. Wilson had to move by Monday if he was to be eligible to run next year in the 30th.
But this likely won’t mean the end of Wilson’s political career.
One option on the table is challenging freshman state Rep. Craig Newbold of Columbiana, R-1st, in next year’s election for the Ohio House seat that represents all of Columbiana County.
“I live in the district, and it is an option,” Wilson said. “I have not made a decision yet. I’ve got some options. I haven’t said yes or no to anything. There are a few options on the table.”
Wilson also said he hasn’t ruled out a run next year for the 6th Congressional District seat held by freshman U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, a Republican from Marietta.
Wilson’s father, Charlie, a Democrat from St. Clairsville, held that seat for four years, losing last year to Johnson, and is strongly considering a run next year.
The Republican redistricting changed the boundaries of the 30th and 33rd Senate Districts.
The new 33rd, represented by state Sen. Joe Schiavoni, a Democrat from Canfield, will take in all of Mahoning and Columbiana counties, beginning next year. Because Schiavoni was elected to the seat last year, he keeps it.
The new 30th contains several counties Wilson currently represents including Belmont, where he works at his family’s furniture store and where he used to live before moving to Columbiana in July 2006.
The new 30th doesn’t have an incumbent.
“I’m very disappointed by this,” Wilson said of the redistricting. “I’m a moderate legislator who could get along with people on both sides of the aisle.”
Wilson has held his seat since 2007.