District: 59 Term: 2nd (includes appointed and elected terms) Term Limit: Eligible to run for another two-year term Address: 77 S. High St 12th Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6111 Phone: (614) 466-6107 Fax: (614) 719-3959 Email: district59@ohr.state.oh.us
Biography
Ronald V. Gerberry, State Representative of the 59th House District in the Ohio Legislature, represents the communities of Milton, Jackson, Austintown, Berlin, Ellsworth, Canfield, Boardman, and Poland in Mahoning County. A native of Youngstown, he has lived in the area his entire life, graduating from Austintown Fitch High School and earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from Youngstown State University. He and his wife Kathy, also a life-long resident of the area, have three grown children, Deanna, Ronald Jr., and Daniel who have also graduated from Austintown Fitch.
Representative Gerberry first served in the Ohio General Assembly in 1982. During his tenure in the Ohio Legislature, Representative Gerberry had the honor of serving in several key leadership positions including: Chairman of the House Education Committee, Vice Chair of Financial Institutions Committee, and Assistant Minority Whip. After term limits forced Representative Gerberry from the Legislature in 2000, he returned to the Valley to serve as Mahoning County Recorder.
Representative Gerberry’s work ethic, experience, and years of public service were called upon once again by leadership in the Ohio House of Representatives when, in May 2007, he was appointed to finish the term of Representative Ken Carano. Representative Gerberry is a recognized leader in the community and has earned many service awards from various civic, business, professional and social service organizations including: Outstanding Legislator Award from the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers (1996), Distinguished Government Service Award from The Ohio Council of Private Colleges and Schools (1993), Public Official of the Year from the National Association of Social Workers Ohio Chapter Region 4, and two Legislator of the Year Awards one from the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators and the other from Citizens United for Responsible Education (both given in 1987).
Representative Gerberry is delighted with the opportunity to serve the Ohio legislature. He plans to continue being an advocate on issues such as education, health care, and economic development. He presently serves on the following House Committees: Chairman of State Government, Education, Elections and Ethics, and Public Utilities.
Education
B.A., Political Science, Youngstown State University, 1975
Service Award, Member of the Austintown Board of Education (1974-1982); Service Award, North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (1986-1990); Award for Support of Disabled Ohioans, Epilepsy Association of Central Ohio (1984); Legislator of the Year Award, Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (1987); Legislator of the Year Award, Citizens United for Responsible Education (1987); Educator of the Year, Mahoning County Elementary School Administrators (1988); Public Official of the Year, National Association of Social Workers Ohio Chapter Region 4 (1991); Legislator of the Year, Administrators, Board Members and Citizens (1992); Distinguished Government Service Award, Ohio Council of Private Colleges and Schools (1993); Legislative Leadership Award, Ohio Coalition for the Education of Handicapped Children (1993); Outstanding Legislator Award, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers (1996); Certificate of Appreciation, Ohio Educational Service Center Association (1999); Service Award, Mahoning County Educational Service Center (2000)
Memberships/Affiliations
Responsibilities
A State Representative is an elected official whose job is to serve as a direct link between those Ohioans he or she was elected to represent and state government. In order to best fulfill this role, a representative responds to constituent concerns and works to provide solutions through legislative action. In order to best serve their constituents, a state representative attends meetings of their local civic, social and business groups in addition to responding to mail, email and telephone correspondence from constituents in their district.
