Ohio’s youngest elected official started his new job on January 2nd — council member-at-large for the city of Uhrichsville in Tuscarawas County.
Eric Harmon, who is just 19 years old, began his campaign while he was still in high school.
Now, the teen is about to enter his second semester as a freshman at Kent State-Tuscarawas, majoring in integrated social studies.
“It’s busy, yeah,” Harmon said, laughing. “I’ve always been interested in politics and I wanted to make a difference.”
Harmon, who ran unopposed, said he has three main issues he wants to focus on as councilman — boosting the local economy, working on infrastructure, and expanding city services.
“We’re in the perfect location economically. We’re right in between Columbus and Pittsburgh and we’ve got Cleveland right up the road,” Harmon said. “So anything we can do to attract any kind of small business or industry, we need to be doing.”
His first order of business, he said, is to install a basketball court next to the city’s water park.
Harmon is the youngest council member in Uhrichsville city history.
But he has big shoes to fill — he’s replacing former Councilwoman Linda Davis, who has served the city for longer than he’s been alive. Harmon’s aunt Cathy Cottis also serves on council.
He will serve a four-year term, wrapping up right as he graduates from college.
