Columbus, Ohio (WJER) - Our new 98th District state representative says it’s been a busy first couple days in Columbus as he’s already off to work for our area. 

Republican Brett Hillyer was officially sworn into office Monday to begin the 133rd General Assembly session. He says he didn’t spend all his time in ceremonies as he was also helping choose house leadership.

“Today was very busy getting everything in order for the house and electing the speaker of the house. Some said that it was [the most] contested political battle in Ohio, but I think it was anticlimactic. Everyone came, they voted and elected a new speaker of the house,” he says.

Hillyer says he’s already been gathering input from constituents in our area about some of their main concerns heading into the new year.

“We’ve just been talking about various issues that might be in the budget. I had the fortunate opportunity to meet with local teachers from across Tuscarawas and Holmes county at Pangrazio’s in Dennison last week and hear the issues they saw with educational policy and educational funding,” he says.

Hillyer says he’ll still be connected to the district, living in Uhrichsville and commuting to work every day that he has to be in Columbus.

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