Rep. Don Manning remembered by governor as ‘tireless advocate’ for Valley

State Rep. Don Manning, R-New Middletown, died Friday of an apparent heart attack.

“I have few details at this point other than Rep. Manning was experiencing chest pains yesterday afternoon. He was taken to a local hospital and passed from us yesterday," said the statement from Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford.

Manning was 54. He was elected in 2018 after Democratic State Rep. John Boccieri vacated his seat and Manning defeated Democrat Eric Ungaro.

Republican Gov. Mike Dewine posted said Manning "was a tireless advocate for advancing issues important to the Mahoning Valley" and said he worked hard on behalf of GM-Lordstown workers and for economic development in the area.

Later in the day, DeWine began his Saturday coronavirus briefing with a tribute to Manning.

"He really did a wonderful job representing the Mahoning Valley in the statehouse," he said, adding that during the coronavirus crisis he had been working to get information to constituents and frequently texted with DeWine and Ohio health director Dr. Amy Acton.

"He was trying to tell you: 'Take this seriously,'" Acton, who is also from the Mahoning Valley, said on Saturday. "It is a tremendous loss and one that’s really hard for me to comprehend right now.”

This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Rep. Don Manning remembered by governor as ‘tireless advocate’ for Valley."