Introduction
Larry Householder is the state representative for Ohio's 72nd District and is the two-time and current Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district includes Coshocton and Perry counties, as well as about half of Licking County. Householder previously served the same district from 1997 to 2004, including as Speaker from 2001 to 2004. Householder was elected to return to the Statehouse in 2016 and selected to serve again as Speaker on January 7, 2019. He was arrested by the FBI on July 21, 2020 on federal charges of money laundering.
Life and career
Householder was born and raised in Junction City, Ohio, where he worked on the family farm.He then attended Ohio University, receiving a degree in political science. He is married with five children.
Professionally, Householder ran an insurance agency and served as Perry County Commissioner before seeking higher office. In 1996, Householder ran for State Representative of Ohio's 78th district, challenging incumbent democrat Mary Abel of Athens. Householder defeated Abel with 55.03% of the vote. He would be elected three more times.
In 1998, Householder was elected to serve as Assistant Majority Whip.
In 2001, he was elected to serve as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, the highest-post in the House.He would serve as Speaker for two terms.During his tenure as Speaker, Householder led efforts for major legislative reform in Ohio, including introducing concealed carry, passing tort reform and defunding Planned Parenthood—making Ohio the first state to do so.
In 2004, Householder and several top advisers were under federal investigation for alleged money laundering and irregular campaign practices. The government closed the case without filing charges. He would be term-limited in 2004. Householder later served as a Perry County Auditor.
Return to the Ohio House of Representatives
When incumbent state Representative Bill Hayes decided to run for Licking County Prosecutor in 2016, Householder decided to try and take his old seat back, renamed district 72 after redistricting.Facing Coshocton councilmember Cliff N. Biggers, Coshocton being a county Householder never represented, Householder won the Republican nomination with almost 64% of the vote.
Householder defeated Democrat John Carlisle by a 72% to 28% margin to return to the House of Representatives for the first time in over twelve years. A former Speaker, Householder became a freshman legislator along with former President of the Ohio Senate Keith Faber. On January 7, 2019, Householder was elected by a bipartisan majority of legislators to serve again as Speaker of the Ohio House.
Library Programming Controversy
In May 2019, Householder addressed letters to the Ohio Library Council and the Newark Library in Licking County criticizing the use of providing an outlet for teens in the LGBTQ community at the taxpayers' expense. In response to the letter, the Newark Ohio Pride Coalition, the organization hosting the event, issued a formal statement, which noted that the LGBTQ teen event was being paid by their organization via a non-governmental grant. Later that evening, the Newark Library canceled the event for LGBTQ teens. In response to the cancellation, the Newark Ohio Pride Coalition obtained a new location for the event.
Arrest
On July 21, 2020, Householder and four others were arrested by the FBI in connection with a $60 million dollar bribery case.