Josh O'Farrell
Joshua 'Josh' O'Farrell is the former Democratic representative for the 96th District of the Ohio House of Representatives. Following the resignation of Representative Allan Sayre in 2010, he was selected to serve the remainder of the term from a pool of five qualified candidates including O'Farrell, former Belmont County Commissioner Mark Thomas and Harrison County Commissioner Barbara Pincola. He was narrowly defeated in the 2010 general election and the 2012 general election by Al Landis.
He is the Democratic candidate for the 98th District of the Ohio House of Representatives, which encompasses all of Tuscarawas County and the majority of Holmes County.
Career
O'Farrell is a 2000 graduate of New Philadelphia High School. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Notre Dame where he majored in history. He then went on to complete a Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2010. O'Farrell was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 2010 and was also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. He currently holds membership in the Tuscarawas County Bar Association, the Stark County Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, and the Ohio Association of Justice.O'Farrell is currently employed as an associate attorney by Tzangas, Plakas, Mannos Ltd. in Canton, Ohio. His experience and focus surrounds representing landowners throughout East Central and Northeast Ohio in oil and gas lease negotiations, pipeline right-of-way agreement negotiations, and in complex oil and gas litigation. O'Farrell also practices toxic torts and environmental litigation, commercial litigation, and professional negligence litigation.
Ohio House of Representatives; 96th District
Josh O'Farrell was chosen by the Ohio House of Representatives Democratic Caucus to replace outgoing Representative Alan Sayre and was sworn into office on June 2, 2010. O'Farrell adjusted quickly to his new role as a member of the 128th Ohio General Assembly, and spent his first full day as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives in session until 4 a.m. the next day. Within weeks of taking office, O'Farrell responded to severe storms that battered the 96th District; surveying the damage alongside Sugarcreek, Ohio, Fire Chief Jim Harrison.Representative O'Farrell was an active member of the Ohio House of Representatives; he introduced three bills during his six-month tenure and co-sponsored ten others. During his tenure, he served on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Financial Institutions, Real Estate, and Securities Committee, the Rules and Reference Committee, and the State Government Committee.
Bills introduced
Representative O'Farrell was the primary sponsor of three unique pieces of legislation during his shortened tenure as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. With the introduction of H.B. 601, he sought to protect American jobs by amending the Ohio Revised Code to deny tax breaks and other incentives to businesses that outsource jobs outside of the United States. In H.B. 604, O'Farrell introduced a bill that would remove barriers to disabled Ohio veterans in receiving specialty license plates. Finally, with H.B. 617, O'Farrell introduced a bill that would provide tax and economic incentives to support job creation and capital investment in the Ohio Appalachian Region.Bills co-sponsored
Representative O'Farrell additionally co-sponsored ten pieces of legislation during his time in the Ohio House of Representatives. Highlights from these endeavors include tax incentives for companies that undertake renewable energy solutions, a crackdown on human-trafficking, the protection of Second Amendment rights as it relates to conceal-carry license holders, and the expansion of rights for the families of wounded veterans.2010 election
Representative O'Farrell was challenged for his seat in the Ohio House of Representatives in the 2010 General Election by political newcomer Al Landis of Dover, Ohio. O'Farrell's campaign for reelection was carried out in a shortened time-frame, as he was forced to begin campaigning almost immediately after his appointment to the Ohio House of Representatives. Nevertheless, O'Farrell knocked on over 10,000 doors throughout the district leading up to the election.| County | Al Landis | Josh O'Farrell | O'Farrell difference |
| Republican | Democrat | -- | |
| Belmont | 5,822 | 5,200 | -622 |
| Harrison | 2,604 | 2,998 | 394 |
| Tuscarawas | 12,407 | 11,788 | -619 |
| Total | 20,833 | 19,986 | -847 |
| Percentage of votes | 51.04% | 48.96% | -2.08% |
The November 2, 2010, general election saw O'Farrell narrowly defeated by Landis.
Ohio House of Representatives; 98th District
Announcement
Campaign
2012 Election
Primary Results
Josh O'Farrell was unopposed in his bid for the Democratic Nomination for the 98th District of the Ohio House of Representatives.| Candidate | Party | Notes | Votes | Percentage |
| Joshua O'Farrell | Democratic | Unopposed | 2,682 | 100.00% |
General Election
Charitable Work & Philanthropy
In early 2011, O'Farrell and his wife Christin founded the O'Farrell Family Hug Foundation. The nonprofit organization was established to provide charitable support to families within Tuscarawas County and the surrounding areas. The Foundation's goal is strengthen the local community by focusing on meeting the basic needs of children and families. The O'Farrell's organize and host numerous events and fundraisers annually to support and further the Foundation's mission.On May 19, 2012, the Foundation held their 2nd Annual "Run for Shoes" event at Fort Laurens near Bolivar, Ohio. The event, which consisted of a 5K/1 Mile Walk/Children's "Fun Run," was deemed as extremely successful and helped raise the funds necessary to provide over 200 pairs of shoes to local children. The 2012 event marked an increase of the 125 pairs that were raised in the initial event a year prior. On June 30, 2012, a total of 136 of these shoes were distributed by Josh & Christin O'Farrell to families in need with the remainder of the raised funds being carried over to next year's event.
In 2011, the Foundation partnered with Adventure Harley-Davidson of Dover, Ohio to provide over 100 families with a Thanksgiving Day meal.