O’Brien, Holmes, Yoder win state races in Trumbull

March 16, 2016 at 12:02a.m.

WARREN

The gamble paid off so far for state Rep. Sean O’Brien, who has won the party’s nomination to replace Capri Cafaro as state senator for the 32nd District, which represents Trumbull and Ashtabula counties and part of Geauga County.

O’Brien, of Bazetta Township, who has served as 63rd District state representative for five years, could have run for another term as state representative, but wanted a promotion to state senator. He defeated Kristen Rock of Liberty by a wide margin.

“Sean has a long track record of figting for education, for economic development and on the front lines of the issues facing this district, and the voters knew that,” Jeff Goodman, O’Brien’s campaign manager, said Tuesday night.

O’Brien said during the campaign he believed being cooperative with Republican majority leaders, including Gov. John Kasich, enabled him to give his constituents “a voice at the table” when issues arose.

One of the issues was injection-wells that had earthquakes in Youngstown and Niles and a spill in Vienna in recent years, Rock said O’Brien’s cooperation with Republicans and his ties to the oil and gas industry tainted him. O’Brien will face Republican Robert Allen of Chardon in November. Democrat McDonald Mayor Glenn Holmes received the most votes Tuesday to replace O’Brien in the Ohio House, besting Hubbard Councilman Benjamin Kyle and Marriane James of Niles. Holmes has branched out from his McDonald responsibilities in recent years to serve as chairman of Trumbull Transit, the county’s primary public-transportation service; and the Mahoning River Mayor’s Association; and serve on the Ohio Public Works Commission.

Kyle, vice president of his family’s funeral-home business, has served as finance chairman for Hubbard City Council and on the executive committee for the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.

Holmes will face Republican Devon Stanley of Girard in November. Stanley was unopposed.

In the other Trumbull County House race, Republican Martha Yoder of Farmington Township defeated Richard Hlaudy of Howland for 64th District state representative.

Yoder, a Farmington Township trustee, is focused on Trumbull County issues related to septic systems.