Merisa serves as Council President and an At-Large City Councilmember in Gahanna, having been decisively reelected to a second term in 2023. She is dedicated to enhancing community safety and wellness through tailored, data-driven, and fiscally responsible policies. Among her key accomplishments are the creation and adoption of comprehensive housing laws that stabilize the housing market, advancement of green energy aggregation, and contributions to tobacco retail regulations aimed at reducing youth tobacco addiction. Her current policy priorities focus on addressing climate change and its impacts, expanding pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, and increasing housing accessibility.
Raised in Canton, Ohio, she earned her law degree cum laude from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with Departmental Honors from the University of Cincinnati. In 2023, Merisa joined the Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company (OBLIC) as Loss Prevention Counsel after nearly 14 years in private practice. In her role at OBLIC, she assists Ohio lawyers by advancing forward-thinking policies and managing risks with a blend of empathy and strategic planning. Her thoughtful and strategic approach to advocacy has earned her recognition from her peers, including being named as a Top 40 Under 40 Attorney by the National LGBT Bar Association in 2016 and multiple SuperLawyers Rising Star designations. She is an active member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, and a 2024 Ohio State Bar Foundation Fellow.
In addition to the fulfillment she enjoys from professional endeavors, she and her husband Curtis enjoy spending time outdoors and cheering on the Cleveland Guardians with their son, Everett.