John E. Barnes Jr.

John Barnes (born June 12, 1958) is a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the Twelfth District since 2011. He formerly served in the same seat for two terms from January 1999 to February 2002.

Barnes served as director of Cleveland's Department of Community Relations and was a senior tax auditor and investigator in the city's Division of Taxation before serving two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1999-2002. Barnes opted out of serving a third term and was replaced by Michael DeBose. However, upon DeBose being term limited in 2010, Barnes opted to try and take back his old seat.

In the heavily Democratic seat, Barnes faced four opponents in the Democratic primary, included DeBose's son, Michael K. DeBose. While The Plain Dealer did not endorse Barnes, he went on to win the primary. Barnes ran unopposed in the general election, was sworn into his former seat on January 3, 2011. Subsequently, Barnes was named as a member of the Economic and Small Business Development Committee, the Health and Aging Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee. He is also a member of the Vehicle Management Commission.

In regard to a remarks by Todd McKenney that he voted for an abortion bill that he thought was unconstitutional, Barnes has stated that if the intent of legislation is to circumvent current law, it doesn't deserve to be passed. Barnes later did not cast a vote for or against Ohio House Bill 294 to defund Planned Parenthood.

Barnes was unopposed for reelection to his seat in 2012. In 2014 Barnes did not receive the endorsement of the Democratic party. He won a contested primary election against Jill Miller Zimon, a city councilwoman in Pepper Pike, with 54% of the vote. He ran unopposed in the General election.