NEW: Self Serving Landlord Derek Merrin’s “rental properties are not yet lead safe”

Columbus Dispatch : "Merrin owns five rental properties in Toledo, three of which do not yet have lead-safe certificates."

New reporting exposes self-serving landlord Derek Merrin for once again putting "profits ahead of the health of children."

According to the Columbus Dispatch, Merrin owns "several properties in Toledo" but "has not yet certified them as lead-safe" - despite a city ordinance that "requires all rental properties… to get a lead safe certificate from the city health department."

Merrin has a "history of criticizing lead safety measures in the statehouse and introducing measures favorable to landlords," including receiving tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from real estate interests for introducing legislation that would remove mandatory lead pipe testing for rentals.

DCCC Spokesperson Aidan Johnson:
"Derek Merrin's decision to overlook the health and safety of Toledo children and families to make a profit is just another example of his pattern of putting himself and corporate interests before Ohioans. Northwest Ohio wants a representative who will work for them, not against them - and that's why they'll reject Merrin's self-serving, power-hungry extremism this November."

Columbus Dispatch: Ohio congressional candidate's rental properties are not yet lead-safe
Erin Glynn | October 6, 2024

• An Ohio congressional candidate with several rental properties in Toledo has not yet certified them as lead-safe, according to city records.

• State Rep. Derek Merrin, R-Monclova, is challenging U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, for the 9th District seat.

• Toledo passed an ordinance regulating lead exposure in rental properties in 2016, in an effort to prevent childhood lead poisoning. Hundreds of children in Toledo test at a high level for lead in their blood, according to the city.

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say lead exposure can damage a child's brain and nervous system and lead to slowed development, and problems with hearing, speech, learning and behavior.

• The city of Toledo requires all rental properties with one to four units built before 1978 to get a lead safe certificate from the city health department. Deadlines to have the certificates vary based on the neighborhood the property is in.

• Merrin owns five rental properties in Toledo, three of which do not yet have lead-safe certificates.

• Merrin has history of criticizing lead safety measures in the statehouse and introducing measures favorable to landlords.

• In 2017, he criticized the Toledo's lead ordinance, calling it "unconstitutional" and "target discrimination" against property owners. Merrin introduced an amendment to give the state health department authority over lead regulations.

• The same year, Merrin sponsored a bill in the Ohio House to count holidays and weekends in the three-day notice period before a tenant can be evicted. The bill died in committee in 2018.