Elected to the Ohio House in November 2008, Rep. Marian Harris has been working hard to serve the 19th District which includes -Westerville, New Albany, Reynoldsburg, Groveport, and Canal Winchester, plus Plain, Jefferson and Madison Townships as well as parts of Blendon Township, Obetz and Columbus. Rep. Harris cares deeply for the people in her district and is committed to serving their needs and interests. She has been available and responsive to her constituents through regular town hall meetings and Saturday office hours, she knows the District well, and she has been working with local and state officials to help create a business climate that will reduce unemployment.

Rep. Harris understands the concerns of working families in a tough economy and is committed to helping grow Ohio through investment in both infrastructure and energy that will provide new jobs. Bills she has introduced include requiring new construction that uses state funds to build "green" (which has passed in the House) and limiting water and sewer rate increases charged to residents by private companies.

In addition to her focus on the economy, Rep. Harris is a champion of legislation that helps Ohio families. She has sponsored a bill to make it easier for family members to care for children when parents are unavailable and has co-sponsored legislation dealing with foreclosures, education funding, and the use of DNA in criminal cases.  Rep. Harris is currently working on a major bipartisan bill, jointly sponsored with Rep. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, that addresses the issue of domestic violence.  She sits on the House Education, Alternative Energy and Health Care Access and Affordability Committees and is vice chair of the Aging and Disability Services Committee. She is a member of the Mental Health Caucus, Early Childhood Caucus, Fatherhood Commission, Advisory Committee on Aging, and the Advisory Committee for the Westerville Medical Campus of OhioHeath.

A mother of three grown children and grandmother of six, Rep. Harris has extensive experience working in both the public and private sector. Before she was elected to the Ohio Statehouse in 2008, Rep. Harris worked for the Mental Health Association of Franklin County from 2004-2007, and she served on Gov. Strickland's transition team in 2006-2007 as part of his Early Childhood Social and Emotional Development Work Group.

A cum laude graduate of Mt Holyoke College, Rep. Harris first worked as a teacher prior to entering into public service as an aide to US Senator Howard Metzenbaum. With boundless energy and passion, Rep. Harris has served as an advocate, consultant, fundraiser and organizer for over 25 years. She worked as Chief of the Office of Family Support Services for the Department of MRDD from 1984-1987; she coordinated Special Projects for former Governor Celeste's Office from 1984-1989; and she was named Special Assistant to the Director of the Ohio Department of Development in 1990.

In 2003 Rep. Harris served both as the coordinator for HELP (Help End Lead Poisoning) and as an organizer for the Emergency Campaign for Ohio's Future. In 2004 she also served a consultant for the Ohio Voter Protection Project for eight Central Ohio counties. As a partner with SPM Associates beginning in 1990, her business clients included the Independent Insurance Agents of Columbus, Capital Square Review and Advisory Board, Action for Children, First Night Columbus, Huntington Bank, the United Way of Franklin County, the League of Women Voters and the North Market. SPM Associates helped to raise funds for various non-profit organizations, including Meals-on-Wheels, the Ohio Legislative Advocacy Project and the Center for New Directions. Her project management experience includes work for the Columbus Museum of Art, the Ohio Humanities Council and the Franklin County Coalition for Children.

Before being elected to the Statehouse, Rep. Harris also served as a consultant for a variety of legislative groups, including the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution, the Association of Ohio Substance Abuse Providers, the Ohio Air Quality Review Board, the Public Children's Services Association of Ohio, and the Ohio Coalition on Homelessness and Housing. She has served on the Boards of Choices, the YWCA, North Central Mental Health Center, the ADAMH Board, Huckleberry House, Godman Guild and Parentheses.