An antitrust lawyer is expected to be the newest member of the Ohio Senate.

The Republican Senate screening committee announced today it’s recommending John Eklund to fill the unexpired term of Tim Grendell.  In September, Gov. John Kasich appointed Grendell to be a Geauga County juvenile judge.

Eklund is a partner at the law firm of Calfee, Halter & Griswold in Cleveland. He’s also been on the boards of the Geauga County YMCA and United Way.

The 18th state Senate District includes all of Geauga and Lake counties and part of Cuyahoga. Thirteen people put in for the appointment.  

Republicans delayed picking the new senator until after they finished drawing new boundaries for state House and Senate seats.

Eklund is expected to be sworn in next Wednesday(November 9).