A lifelong resident of Wayne County, Representative Amstutz was raised on a dairy farm between Dalton and Kidron. In 1971, he moved to Orrville and has lived in Wooster since 1981. He served on the Orrville City Charter Commission in 1974 and 1975. His political career began in 1976 when he was elected Mayor of the City of Orville. He held the position through 1980, when he ran successfully for the Ohio House of Representatives. Prior to his career in public service, Representative Amstutz worked for five years in the Orrville office of The Daily Record. Amstutz is a graduate of Central Christian High School and holds his bachelor's degree in government communications from Capital University. Amstutz won his first term in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1980, replacing five term representative John Johnson. The original district was composed of all of Wayne County, and portions of Stark County and Holmes County. Term limits went into effect in Ohio in 1992, allowing legislators from that point on to only serve eight consecutive years in one chamber. With the completion of his tenth term in 2000, Amstutz was ineligible to run again in the House. However, Senator Grace L. Drake of the 22nd District of the Ohio Senate was also facing term limits. Amstutz ran for her seat, and won. He was sworn in as a state senator on January 8, 2001. In the Ohio Senate, Amstutz served as chairman of Senate Ways and Means from 2003 to 2008. In 2004, Amstutz successfully ran for reelection.
Ohio House of Representatives
Amstutz initially discussed running for Congress, in the 16th Congressional District, which incumbent of 18 terms, Ralph Regula, was planning to vacate. However, he soon after decided he would return to the Ohio House of Representatives. He faced primary opposition from Charlie Hardmen, but won the election with 64% of the vote. He went on to win the general election handily. Amstutz was chosen to be Ranking Member of the House Finance and Financial Institutions Committee for the 128th General Assembly. When Republicans regained control of the House for the 129th General Assembly, Amstutz serves as Chairman of the Finance and Appropriations Committee. He will again serve as Chairman in the 130th General Assembly.
Committee assignments
Finance & Appropriations—Chair
State Controlling Board
Wayne County Commissioner
Amstutz currently serves as a Wayne County Commissioner since departing the Ohio House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2016.
Electoral history
Year
Democrat
Votes
Pct
Republican
Votes
Pct
Independent
Votes
Pct
Libertarian
Votes
Pct
2004
Unopposed
Ron Amstutz
116,588
100.0%
2000
Elizabeth Kelley
55,951
35.50%
Ron Amstutz
91,542
58.10%
Randy Jotte
6,977
4.40%
Cheryl Neufer
3,014
1.90%
Personal life
Representative Amstutz and his wife have two grown children and live in Wooster, Ohio.
