A statement, State Representative Jon Cross, 83rd Ohio House District:
To the constituents of the 83rd Ohio House District,
As I conclude my service as your State Representative, I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude and reflect on the progress we’ve made together for Hancock, Hardin, and Logan counties.
It has been an incredible honor to serve you over the past six years. When I first took office in 2019, I pledged to work tirelessly on your behalf to ensure Ohio remains safer, stronger, and open for business. Through unprecedented challenges, our state government upheld its commitment to protecting constitutional rights, balancing budgets, reducing taxes, and making strategic investments in education, infrastructure, workforce training, and economic development. Together, we have kept Ohio competitive and positioned it as a national leader in business and opportunity.
Thanks to strong leadership across all branches of state government and the trust you placed in me, we have delivered results that make Ohio one of the best states to live, learn, work, and prosper. I am proud to have contributed to policies that helped Ohio achieve recognition as a top-ten business-friendly state, an accomplishment reflecting the thoughtful decisions of the leaders you elect.
In our district, I fought every day for your families, schools, and businesses, working tirelessly to address the issues that matter most to our community. Over the course of my tenure, I was honored to pass 14 bills that were signed into law. These included the TechCred and Individual Microcredential Assistance Program, which helped upskill our workforce, and the Family Forward Act, providing financial assistance for families seeking to adopt. I worked to reform Ohio’s workplace discrimination laws and advanced the medical scope of practice for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, ensuring our healthcare system better serves patients.
In education, I modernized school report cards and reformed hiring policies for substitute teachers, empowering school boards with greater flexibility. To protect public health, I spearheaded the designation of January as Radon Awareness Month and ensured homebuyers received new educational resources about the dangers of radon. Additionally, I championed the Business Fairness Act, which kept businesses open during emergencies and reformed natural gas pipeline safety laws to protect our communities. I also prioritized economic initiatives, such as reducing the annual registration tax for commercial trailers and creating the Ohio Venture Capital Tax Credit to encourage innovation and investment in our state.
These efforts, including the designation of the Patrolman David L. Sterner Memorial Overpass in Hancock County, and the designation of the Major David McGue Memorial Highway in Hardin County reflect my deep commitment to improving the daily lives of residents in our district. Each of these accomplishments required dedication and collaboration, and I am immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together. I am grateful for the support of my legislative aides Cort Everhart, Ben Weber, and Reed Neal, whose hard work made these achievements possible. I also deeply appreciate the bipartisan cooperation of my colleagues in the legislature and the partnership of Governor Mike DeWine, who signed these initiatives into law.
I am especially proud of the budget wins we secured, which brought transformative projects to our district. We invested $5 million in dredging at Indian Lake to protect vital water infrastructure and secured an additional $2.75 million for rehabilitation and vegetation removal. The Findlay-Hancock County YMCA received $1.25 million for a new facility, including an Early Learning Center for Excellence. Modernizing livestock facilities at the Hancock and Hardin County Fairgrounds was another priority, with $500,000 allocated to each. Additionally, $500,000 was dedicated to purchasing a new fire pump truck, ensuring our firefighters have the tools they need to keep our communities safe.
Flood mitigation at Eagle Creek saw a historic $30 million investment, and the Interstate 75 and Hancock County Road 99 interchange reconstruction project received $26.9 million to improve transportation and support economic growth. These efforts reflect my dedication to returning your tax dollars to the district in ways that make a tangible difference.
Through my role on the House Finance Committee, I championed statewide initiatives like the $50 million rural broadband expansion program, the $250 million water infrastructure fund, and the $750 million “All Ohio Future Fund.” In total, these efforts brought $123 million back to the 83rd District for schools, safety grants, community projects, and infrastructure enhancements. Each project was driven by a focus on making Northwest Ohio a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Serving as Assistant Majority Floor Leader and previous Chair of the House Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education, I also had the privilege of overseeing a $3 billion budget for Ohio’s colleges and universities. This work supported the development of world-class talent and ensured that our state remains competitive in the global economy.
Growing up in Hardin County, I learned the value of grit, determination, and hard work. These lessons have guided me throughout my public service. While no job is ever perfect, I am proud of the progress we made together and the strong foundation we have built for the future of Northwest Ohio.
I want to publicly express my gratitude to Robert Sprague for his service before me and to offer my full support to our State Representative-elect, Ty Mathews. I am confident he will build on our successes and bring new energy to the work ahead for our district.
Finally, I owe everything to the love and support of my family. To my wife Christina and our sons Carson and Connor, my mother Judy, my siblings, and my in-laws thank you for standing by me every step of the way. I am also deeply grateful to Matt Jennings, my campaign chairman and advisor, for his unwavering guidance and dedication.
While my time as your State Representative is ending, my commitment to this community remains steadfast. My family and I will continue to live, work, and raise our children in Findlay. I look forward to seeing you at the grocery store, local restaurants, or community events and saying a friendly hello or giving a high-five to celebrate something exciting! I’ll always be proud to call Northwest Ohio home.
If I can ever be of assistance, please don’t be shy to ask. Serving you has been the honor of a lifetime.
State Representative Jon Cross, 83rd Ohio House District
