Derek Merrin

Derek Merrin (born March 10, 1986) is the state representative for the 47th District of the Ohio House of Representatives. He is a Republican. The district comprises portions of Fulton County and Lucas County.

Merrin was born in Smithtown, New York and moved to Waterville, Ohio with his family when he was thirteen years old. He is a graduate of Monclova Christian Academy. Politically aspirated at a very early age, Merrin was elected to the Waterville City Council at the age of nineteen. Two years later, he was elected Mayor. Along with his time in public office, Merrin also previously worked for Ohio Auditor Dave Yost and also has a small business flipping houses.

Merrin graduated from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor's of Arts, and subsequently Bowling Green State University with a Master's in Arts. In 2012 he was named 'Thirty Conservatives Under Thirty' by Red Alert Politics.

With Representative Barbara Sears term-limited in 2016, Merrin entered the race to succeed her. He would go on to win a three-way primary against Republicans Vickie Donovan-Lyle and Kevin Haddad with over 45% of the vote. A Republican leaning district, Merrin nonetheless would have faced Democrat Lauri Cooper in the 2016 general election.

Merrin received the opportunity to enter office early when Sears resigned from the seat to take a position in the administration of Ohio Governor John Kasich. As the winner of the Republican primary, Ohio House Republicans led by Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger appointed Merrin to serve the remainder of Sears' term. He was sworn into office on August 2, 2016.