The Ohio House of Representatives’ Democratic Caucus appointed State Representative Stephen D. Slesnick (D-Canton) to the 52nd District seat in March, succeeding current Canton Mayor William J. Healy II. Reelected in 2008, Rep. Slesnick serves as the voice of his hometown at the Statehouse.

Rep. Slesnick is a proud, lifelong Ohioan with deep roots in his community. He graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in consumer affairs, honing his business skills through internships at Octagon International and Morgan Stanley.

Upon graduation, he returned to Canton to join his family’s business. Slesnick quickly rose through the ranks to become Vice President of Slesnick Iron & Metal, a scrap metal recycling business in Canton. He is also a sitting board member of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.

Rep. Slesnick’s responsibilities at his family’s company mirror some of his greatest priorities in state office: growing business, attracting new clients and guiding investment strategy. He points to school funding and economic development as his top initial priorities because of their direct link to opportunity and prosperity. Rep. Slesnick takes the confidence and trust of his voters very seriously and vows to use their input to help shape his work at the Statehouse.

The Canton representative is Chairman of the Ohio House Agriculture and Development Subcommittee of the Finance Committee, and serves on the Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities Committee, the Health Committee, the Local Government and Public Administration Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee.

Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish appointed Rep. Slesnick to the "Ohio Broadband Council and Broadband Ohio Network." Rep. Slesnick also sits on the "Transportation Improvement District" in Stark County.

Rep. Slesnick lives in Canton.