Jack Cera

State Representative Jack Cera, a native of Bellaire, Ohio (Belmont County) served in the Ohio House of Representatives for 23 years. Most recently he was appointed to the Ohio House of Representatives in December 2011 to serve as the State Representative of then House District 95. After redistricting took effect prior to the 130th General Assembly, he represented House District 96 which encompasses portions of Belmont County, all of Jefferson County, and all of Monroe County. Cera reached his term limit in 2020.

Rep. Cera served as Ranking Member on the powerful Finance Committee and also served on Ways and Means and Agriculture

and Rural Development. Rep. Cera was also a member of the Controlling Board which oversees the release of taxpayers’ money. He was part of the Congressional Redistricting workgroup that proposed the changes approved by the voters.

Rep. Cera was instrumental in starting the Roadwork Development Fund which directed gas tax funding to economic development for the first time and for the expansion of the flood warning system following the deadly floods of 1990. Over the years, Cera worked to bring millions of dollars back to his district for a variety of projects. During his last term he led the effort to bring additional highway money back to the shale area for local governments and funded the Rural Industrial Park program. He always took a bipartisan approach to his work in the legislature.

Cera has also worked for the Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services as Workforce Development Director. He served as the Executive Director of the Jefferson Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority. 

Rep. Cera previously volunteered in the community on The Belmont County Port Authority Board, The Belmont County Planning Commission, The Bellaire Public Library Board, The Bellaire Park District Board, The Bellaire Girls Softball Association and the East Ohio Girls Softball Association.

Representative Cera is a 1974 graduate of Bellaire High School where he excelled in the classroom and on the football field. His 97-yard interception return for a touchdown was a school record for over 20 years. He was recruited to play football at Brown University, but his playing days ended after one year due to injury. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Brown in 1978. 

Representative Cera is married to his wife of 36 years, Becky, a Registered Nurse. They have two daughters, Jaclyn and Bethany.​