Tuscarawas County, Ohio (WJER) - The 98th District Ohio house seat will remain in Republican Hands. Uhrichsville Law Director Brett Hillyer had about 68-percent of the vote against his Democratic opponent, businessman and former Sugarcreek mayor Jeremiah Johnson.

Hillyer says his election caps off a journey that began 11 months ago when he and his family first decided he should run.

“It’s truly humbling when you drive down the street and you see someone with a yard sign or someone told you they voted for you or somebody stops by the law office to pick up campaign literature,” he says.

Hillyer says he’s eager to get to work on addressing some of the issues that impact eastern Ohio to help make those communities vibrant and viable for the next century.  

He will replace the district’s current representative Al Landis, who reached his term limit and was ineligible for re-election.