COLUMBUS — Rep. Jason Stephens, R-93, has received his first committee appointments since joining the Ohio House of Representatives.

Speaker of the House Larry Householder recently named Stephens vice-chair of the State and Local Government Committee and appointed him to serve on three other committees.

Stephens was appointed to the Economic and Workforce Development, Primary and Secondary Education and Ways and Means committees.

 “I am looking forward to working on each committee and with my colleagues to improve the lives of Ohioans,” Stephens said in a news release.

Stephens, who served in local government for two decades, including nine years as Lawrence County auditor, was appointed to his current seat after Ryan Smith resigned to become president of University of Rio Grande.

He will run for election to the seat in 2020, facing Bobbi Montgomery and Jeff Halley in the Republican primary.