State Senator John Carey represents the 17th Senate District, which includes Clinton, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Pike, Ross, Vinton and portions of Lawrence and Pickaway County. Before coming to the Senate in 2003, he served four terms as the State Representative for the 94th House District. A lifelong resident of Wellston, John has stayed true to his roots throughout his legislative career, fighting to make Southern Ohio a more attractive place for economic growth, improve educational opportunities for local students and better the quality of life in the region. This hard work has earned him a reputation as one of the most dedicated, effective and intelligent members of the General Assembly.

John currently serves as chair of the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, which helps write the state operating budget every two years. He also served multiple terms as chair of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee, making him one of only a few lawmakers in Ohio history to chair both finance panels.

In addition, Senator Carey sits on the Senate Education Committee, Agriculture Committee, State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee and Rules Committee, as well as the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee and the state Controlling Board, a bipartisan panel responsible for reviewing state contracts and other agency spending requests. In addition, he was appointed earlier this year to serve on the Ohio Broadband Council, which works to expand access to broadband across the state.

Over the years, Senator Carey has passed a number of important bills. As a member of the House, he worked to establish the Rural Industrial Park Loan program, which provides assistance to struggling rural communities to help build industrial parks, and he later fought in the Senate to make it easier for rural counties to apply for Job Ready Sites program funds. He has also won support for legislation to strengthen worker training programs; establish a statewide emergency alert system for at-risk adults; increase funding for indigent defense; create the “Gold Star Family” license plate to honor Ohio military families; and crackdown on the production of methamphetamines in the state. In addition, he spearheaded an effort to create the Ohio Home First waiver program, which gives Medicaid-eligible, nursing home residents the option to receive care in their homes immediately, while saving the state millions of dollars a year.

John also spends a great deal of time away from the Statehouse, talking with constituents and working to address issues in the 17th District. He regularly holds open door meetings. In addition, he has worked in recent years to bring state and local officials and other stakeholders together for the Coal Summit in Wellston to discuss the future of Ohio’s coal industry; the Auto Supplier Summit in Circleville to explore ways to make the 17th District more attractive for prospective auto suppliers; and a joint House and Senate hearing to address the DHL issue in Wilmington.

In 2006, Senator Carey received an Honorary Doctorate Degree for Public Service from the University of Rio Grande and was named Ohio University Outstanding State Government Alumnus. In addition, he has been recognized as Man of the Year by both the Wellston and Jackson Area Chambers of Commerce and was placed on the Wellston High School Wall of Fame in 2008. He is active in the Ohio Farm Bureau, the Ohio Township Trustees Association and is a member of the Hope United Methodist Church.

John graduated from Wellston High School and attended Ohio University, where he earned a degree in political science. After college, he worked as an aide to U.S. Representative Clarence Miller and served as Mayor of Wellston from 1988 to 1994.

John currently resides in Wellston with his wife, Lynley, and two sons, Justin and Jordan.

The Ohio Statehouse

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Phone: (614) 466-8156

SD17@senate.state.oh.us