YOUNGSTOWN — The surprising decision by the Youngstown State University’s Board of Trustees to hire U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, a conservative Republican with no higher education experience, as the school’s president through a confidential search was met with loud objections that haven’t died down.

Also, when Johnson takes over as president no later than March 15, it will leave the 6th Congressional District — which has Mahoning as its most-populous county — without a representative in the U.S. House until a special general election is scheduled by Gov. Mike DeWine.

The YSU board of trustees voted 8-1 on Nov. 21 to hire Johnson, R-Canfield, after agreeing five days prior at a quickly called emergency meeting to offer him the job.

Molly Seals was the lone trustee to vote “no” on offering the job to Johnson and the hiring.

The decision was met with vocal criticism from faculty, students, alumni and donors who objected to the confidential search as well as the decision to hire Johnson because of his politics and lack of experience in higher education.

The YSU Academic Senate issued “no-confidence” resolutions Dec. 16 against the trustees and Johnson.

Johnson said he is “more focused on what I’m going to be doing at YSU than I am with the people that don’t like the decision.”

Those who opposed the decision were not permitted to speak at the trustees’ Nov. 21 meeting and were told by Michael Peterson, trustee president, that they could talk at a Dec. 7 trustees meeting. But the trustees reversed that decision and refused comments and questions at the Dec. 7 meeting.

Johnson’s politics during his 13-plus years in Congress drew the most opposition, particularly his votes objecting to the 2020 presidential election — in which Republican Donald Trump, who Johnson supports, falsely claims was stolen — as well as his positions opposing gay marriage and abortions, and what he says is “indoctrination” at some universities.

Johnson said he has a right to his opinions, but he would continue to make YSU a place of inclusion. He also said that while he didn’t apply for the job, Johnson said his hiring is what’s best for YSU.

Johnson’s annual salary will be $410,000 — considerably more than the $174,000 he makes as a congressman — and he is getting numerous perks at YSU including free housing at the Pollock House, a $750 monthly automobile allowance and free membership in a local country club and a civic organization.

Johnson was first elected to Congress in the November 2010 election.

He plans to resign in February or early March. That will leave the district without representation for several months.

This is the first election since 2006 in which the 6th Congressional District doesn’t have an incumbent.

The open seat attracted three Republicans including two current officeholders: state Sen. Michael Rulli of Salem, state Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus of Paris Township and Rick Tsai of East Palestine.

Also, two Democrats — Michael L. Kripchak of Youngstown and Rylan Z. Finzer of Bedford Heights — filed for the seat.

The 11-county district has an 18% advantage for Republicans based on voting trends in partisan statewide elections over the past decade. The seat is considered a safe one for Republicans.

Because Rulli has represented Mahoning and Columbiana, the district’s most-populous and third most-populous counties, respectively, for the past five years, he is seen as the favorite.

Stoltzfus has represented a portion of Stark County for the past five years.

In the 2022 election, 30.4% of the votes came from Mahoning with 16.3% from Stark and 12.6% from Columbiana.

DeWine, a Republican, won’t schedule the special primary and general election until after Johnson’s official resignation.

The timing of Johnson’s resignation means a special primary for the remainder of his unexpired term can’t be held at the same time as the March 19, 2024, primary for the full two-year term starting in January 2025.

Though DeWine can schedule the special elections at any time, he has planned previous ones for congressional vacancies during the same months as typical elections: May (during nonpresidential years), August and November.

There is the possibility of a special primary in May and a general election in August or an August primary and a November general election, though nothing has been determined.

Under the latter scenario, two general elections for the seat would be in November: one for the full two-year term and one to fill Johnson’s unexpired term for about six weeks, depending on the certification of the results. It also would leave the district’s seat vacant for as long as nine months.