Derek Merrin supported rapid tenant evictions and accepted realtor lobby money

State Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova), the GOP nominee for Ohio’s 9^th Congressional District seat, supported legislation to allow landlords to rapidly evict tenants during holidays and weekends while taking campaign money from realtor lobbyists.

Merrin has served in the Ohio House of Representatives since 2016, where he has overseen legislation to make it harder for Ohioans to seek affordable and safe housing. In 2017, Merrin sponsored House Bill 390, which would have given tenants less time to respond to eviction notices. Under Merrin’s bill, holidays and weekends would count toward a three-day notice period, which must happen before the landlord obtains an eviction notice.

Merrin’s bill would have also changed the 10-day period for law enforcement or court officials to remove tenants from business days to calendar days. Housing rights groups warned at the time that Merrin’s bill would increase housing insecurity and homelessness.

Also in 2017, Merrin proposed a budget amendment to remove the authority for cities to establish efforts to address lead poisoning. This amendment was spawned after the city of Toledo passed an ordinance requiring some rental properties to be inspected before leasing to tenants. Merrin labeled the ordinance “unconstitutional” and “discriminatory” towards property owners.

Journalist and The Rooster writer D.J. Byrnes confronted Merrin on the issue in January, where the legislator said his idea was “the only legislative solution to [regulate lead toxins].” Merrin also said the Ohio Department of Health would have an easier time conducting lead pipe inspections, but they were reportedly not consulted about his amendment before it was introduced.

Actually asked Merrin about this on Wednesday. Majewski is winning the primary, but the one upshot to Merrin somehow winning would be seeing him in a competitive General Election for the first time in his career. https://t.co/iLRMPZGUio pic.twitter.com/AUIWQaRuKC

— The Rooster (@rooster_ohio) January 13, 2024

According to financial disclosures from 2022, Merrin earned at least $15,000 from six different rental properties in Lucas County, Ohio. In addition to being a landlord who owns several properties, Merrin also took at least $12,025 from Realtor Political Action Committees from 2015-2017 and an endorsement from the Toledo Regional Association of Realtors in 2015.

Honored to be ENDORSED by the Toledo Regional Association of Realtors today. Over 1,300+ Members Strong. Thank You! pic.twitter.com/XjW8I0tOdO

— Derek Merrin (@DerekMerrin) December 16, 2015

Merrin won the nomination in March, when he defeated his former statehouse colleague Craig Riedel by 9,560 votes in the Republican primary election. Merrin will face Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D) in the November general election, who is the longest serving woman in congressional history and is seeking her 22^nd consecutive term in Congress.