Reineke to run for Ohio Senate

TIFFIN — State Rep. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, announced Monday he's running in 2020 for the Ohio Senate District 26 seat currently held by state Sen. Dave Burke, R-Marysville, who is leaving because of term limits.The announcement by Reineke means there will also be a race in 2020 for what will become Reineke's open House District 88 seat, which represents Sandusky and Seneca counties. If Reineke wins his Senate race, he'll represent those two counties but also add Crawford, Marion, Morrow, Union and Wyandot counties."I've made workforce development the No. 1 issue," Reineke said in a Tiffin appearance that was broadcast on Facebook. "Each day in the statehouse, I make sure that what we are doing in Columbus has a meaningful and positive impact on the families and the residents of the 88th district." Reineke began his campaign kickoff announcements Monday with an event in Fostoria, his hometown, before holding the event in Tiffin, where he's lived for 35 years.Reineke is a member of a family that owns a chain of auto dealerships. He said Monday the company employs more than 400 people.Fremont Mayor Danny Sanchez and Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz both spoke at the Tiffin rally to show their support for Reineke.Reineke ran for the House District 88 seat in 2014 after the incumbent, Rep. Rex Damschroder, made a paperwork mistake when he filed for office and was unable to seek re-election. Reineke won the resulting primary and then won new terms in 2016 and 2018.State Rep. Bill Reineke, a Republican businessman, is seeking another term in House District 88.