State Representative Michael Stinziano

State Representative 18th Ohio House District

Representative Michael Stinziano proudly serves the residents and businesses of Franklinton, German Village, The Hilltop, Lockbourne, Merion Village, Obetz, The University Community, Victorian Village, Westgate, and Southern and Far South Franklin County.

In 2012, Michael will be running to represent the 18th House District which includes many of the same communities he currently represents as well as Bexley, Grandview Heights, Olde Town East and the University District.

The youngest of four children, Michael grew up understanding the importance of championing independent thinking and fairness, and serving others.

Michael was born at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Franklinton and grew up on King Avenue in the Short North. Following high school graduation, Michael received a bachelor’s degree in leadership studies from the University of Richmond. Then, while working for the Woodrow Wilson International Center, a think-tank for national and international issues in Washington, D.C., Michael earned a master’s degree in public administration from George Washington University. After returning to Columbus, Michael became an attorney upon graduation from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Both during and after college, Michael pursued public service opportunities that allowed him to work in government at the local, state, federal, and international levels. Michael worked as a congressional intern in Washington; as a research assistant for two members of the British Parliament; as a legal extern for the Supreme Court of Ohio; as a law clerk for the Ohio House Democratic Caucus; and as an assistant to the general counsel for Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. In 2008, Michael became director of the Franklin County Board of Elections.

At the Board of Elections, Michael led one of the largest election jurisdictions in the country. As director, Michael was committed to sound financial planning that resulted in maintaining a high level of service to the public while reducing costs for the taxpayer.

Representative Stinziano serves on the House Insurance, Judiciary and Ethics, Public Utilities, and State Government and Elections Committees as well as on the e-Tech Ohio Commission, the House Study Committee on Technology, and the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority.

Michael is an active member of the Central Ohio community serving as a member of the Board of Gladden Community House, Friends of the Hilltop, The Board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbus and the International Visitors Council, Columbus. In addition, Michael serves as a Chairperson for the Columbus Bar Association’s Government Agencies Committee. Michael has also served on the Board of Kids Voting Central Ohio, has volunteered as a mediator in the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Night Mediation Program and also served as a director of the Dispute Resolution and Youth Program (DRY) at the Moritz College of Law.

Michael also belongs to the Columbus Italian Club, the Hilltop chapter of Kiwanis International, and the Shamrock Club of Columbus.

Michael is the son of former State Representative Mike Stinziano, who represented many of these same neighborhoods of Columbus for 22 years, and Lisa Stinziano.

Michael and his wife Caroline McNamee Stinziano, a certified public accountant, live in Victorian Village with their two rescue pugs. Michael and Caroline belong to St. Francis of Assisi Parish.