State Representative Marian Harris (D-Columbus) proudly represents the 19th Ohio House District in her first term as a State Representative. The 19th District includes Westerville, New Albany, Reynoldsburg, Canal Winchester, Groveport, Jefferson and Madison Townships, parts of Obetz and parts of Columbus.

After earning a Bachelor’s degree in physiology from Mt. Holyoke College, Rep. Harris worked in medical research at Downstate Medical Center in New York City. She moved to Columbus in the early 1970’s, where she sought her Elementary Education certification from Ohio Dominican College while working as a pre-school teacher at the Columbus Jewish Community Center. This marked the beginning of her strongly-held belief in the importance of early childhood education. She also briefly taught at a Catholic School and in Columbus City Schools.

Rep. Harris was then recruited by a politically-active parent to volunteer on a political campaign and fell in love with politics. After working on Senator Howard Metzenbaum’s successful primary and President Jimmy Carter’s successful general elections, she went to work for Senator Metzenbaum, serving in the human services area as a constituent aide and policy liaison with his Washington, D.C. office.

She returned to Columbus to head the Office of Family Support Services in the Ohio Department of MR/DD for Governor Dick Celeste. When her program to help families keep disabled family members at home was successfully implemented statewide, she coordinated Governor Celeste’s very successful “Capital for a Day” program. That program took the Governor and his Cabinet to 34 cities – a truly exemplary grassroots effort which brought state government face-to-face with the people.

In the years since, Rep. Harris has led a successful volunteer and event management business, participated in several campaigns, and worked part-time at the local library and at Mental Health America of Franklin County. Her service on various boards and commissions reflect her interest in the human condition.

Her passion is early childhood issues – initiatives to ensure that a child starts school physically, emotionally and behaviorally ready to learn. Prevention is key, and she is a firm believer that concentrating on the early years will pay significant dividends both financially and in human well-being over the long term.

Rep. Harris is Vice Chair of the Aging and Disability Services Committee. She also sits on the Education; Health Access and Affordability; and Alternative Energy committees.

Rep. Harris, who is a mother of three and proud grandmother of six, lives in Columbus.