COLUMBUS – State Representative Louis Blessing, Jr. (R-Cincinnati), chairman of the screening panel for applicants applying for the vacant 98th House District seat, announced that the five-person panel has unanimously recommended former State Representative Richard Hollington to be re-appointed to the seat for the 129th General Assembly.

“We had the privilege of interviewing a dozen well-qualified, thoughtful applicants for this appointment,” Rep. Blessing said. “In the end, we believe Representative Hollington’s previous service in the legislature coupled with his private sector work experience will be best suited to work with our caucus during these challenging economic times.”

Representative Hollington served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1967 to 1970 and recently served the 98th House District during the 2010 legislative session after being appointed following the resignation of former Representative Matt Dolan. Hollington is a senior partner in the Cleveland Law Firm of Baker Hostetler LLP and finance director for the Village of Hunting Valley. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School.

The House Republican Caucus will vote on the appointment during the next legislative session, scheduled for Tuesday, January 11. The 98th House District encompasses all of Geauga County and portions of Cuyahoga County.