Schaffer holds a B.A. in Political Science and Communications from Mount Union College, and has also served as chairman of the Fairfield County, Ohio, Republican Party. With Representative Jon D. Myers unable to run for another term due to term limitations, Schaffer, along with Bryan Fox, vied for the Republican nomination. Schaffer won the nomination with 58% of the electorate. He faced Democrat Dennis Lupher in the general election, and won again with 58% of the votes. In 2002, Schaffer coasted to a second term unopposed. In 2004, Schaffer again faced primary opposition in Bradley J. Sodders, but won with 85.58% of the vote. He again ran unopposed in the general election, and was sworn into a third term on January 3, 2005. Schaffer is not eligible to run for re-election to the Senate in 2014 due to term limits. He is instead running for District 77 in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Ohio Senate
Since Jay Hottinger was unable to run again for his seat in the Ohio Senate, Schaffer sacrificed a fourth term in the House to run for the Thirty First District of the Senate. In a three-way primary with fellow Representative Ron Hood and Jeff Furr, Schaffer won the nomination with 48.59% of the vote. Again facing Dennis Lupher, Schaffer moved to the Senate, earning 57.26% of the votes. Schaffer was selected to replace retiring Senator Hill on May 7, 2019. In his first term, Schaffer served as Chairman of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee in the 128th General Assembly. In 2010, Schaffer, again facing Lupher, won a second Senate term with 67.29% of the vote. Subsequently, Senate PresidentTom Niehaus named Schaffer as a member of the committees on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources ; Energy and Public Utilities; Insurance, Commerce and Labor; and Ways and Means and Economic Development.
Policies, positions and initiatives
For one of his first measures in the 129th General Assembly, Schaffer has introduced a bill that directs the state auditor to conduct at least four performance audits per biennium of two executive agencies and two non-executive agencies. Schaffer has also introduced legislation that allows for holders of a concealed carry license to carry their weapons in bars and restaurants provided that they are not consuming alcohol. The bill was controversial, but passed the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate. Schaffer has stated Ohio is the only state with "specific mandates" on how guns must be carried in vehicles. He said the restrictions are confusing and have led to the arrest of out-of-state residents unaware of the law. The National Rifle Association-backed bill was staunchly opposed by law enforcement groups such as the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio. The bill ultimately passed and was signed into law by Ohio Governor John Kasich.
