Scioto Countian Terry Johnson has been selected to replace 14th District Ohio Senator Joe Uecker, R-Miami, who retired on Aug. 31 to be a regional economic development manager for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Johnson was the 90th District state representative for part of Lawrence, Scioto and Adams counties from 2011-2018. He was the coroner of Scioto County for a decade.

Johnson was chosen from six candidates and, on Wednesday, after the Senate GOP screening committee recommended him, he was selected to serve the last year of Uecker’s term. He will be the incumbent Republican candidate in the November 2020 election.

In a Facebook post, Johnson thanked his supporters.

“Your prayers were heard by God, your letters and notes to the Selection Committee were read and appreciated, and the outcome was finally decided,” he wrote. “Serving others is one of the great joys of my life and I’m looking forward to getting to work once again in the legislature for the people of Southern Ohio.”

“It was humbling to be included for consideration with the five other applicants, as each one is a great Ohioan and a great American,” Johnson continued. “It is my sincere hope that the six of us will continue to work together to make the 14th District an even stronger and more prosperous place to live, work, and raise our families.”

The 14th Ohio Senate district includes part of Lawrence County as well as Scioto, Adams, Brown and Clermont counties.