Ohio House Republicans have given Representative Nick Santucci of Niles a position of importance as he begins his second term in Columbus.

Santucci, who took the oath of office Monday, announced in a news release that he will serve on Speaker Matt Huffman’s leadership team as majority whip.

Santucci represents the 64th House District, which includes a portion of Trumbull County.

 The Majority Whip is elected by all members of the House and is responsible for monitoring legislation and securing votes for legislation on the floor.

The term Whip originated in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is derived from the 'whipper-in' at a fox hunt, referring to the member of the hunting team responsible for keeping the dogs from straying from the team during a chase.

“I believe this role is vital in uniting our caucus and delivering results for Ohio. From fostering communication to advancing our priorities, I’m ready to serve. I am grateful to my colleagues for their confidence and deeply appreciative of the opportunity to work directly with Speaker Huffman to help move the needle for working families across Ohio,” said Santucci in a news release.

 The news release says Santucci is the first representative elected from Trumbull County to serve as majority whip in 48 years.

He successfully worked on major legislation in the previous General Assembly to expand emergency medical services training, enhance Ohio’s blight and brownfield remediation efforts, combat human trafficking, and secure millions of dollars in state funding for Trumbull County.