A Washington County woman has joined the race to represent Ohio’s 94th House District in her first step into politics.
Yolan Dennis, a registered nurse at a family medical practice, filed petitions to run as a Republican candidate at the Athens County Board of Elections on Tuesday morning, and later made her official candidacy announcement from Barlow, Ohio.
“The timing was right this time,” Dennis said. “After lots of prayer and talking with those around me I decided it was time.”
Before Dennis can challenge incumbent Debbie Phillips, D-Athens, in the general November election, she must defeat Dan Lance, a Republican from Pomeroy, in the May primary. Lance was not available for comment by press time.
Throughout her campaign, she said she will emphasize improving education, agriculture and the economy. She described herself as a mother of five, a churchgoer, a bass fiddle player and a CCW-holding member of the National Rifle Association.
She has been married to her husband, Lloyd Dennis, for 35 years.
“I met her at a meeting a couple weeks ago; she seems like a good candidate with a good message,” said Pete Couladis, chair of the Athens County Republican Party.
Phillips, who defeated a Republican by less than .2 percent in 2008, recognized that she’s running a relatively toss-up district.
“This district has generally been a close district in terms of Democrat/Republican,” Phillips said. “I think as a result it has a tendency to have legislators who listen to local constituents.”
Though new candidates have entered the race, Phillips said she will likely be sticking to her guns for the November 2014 election.
“During campaigns you try to be very accessible to people,” Phillips said. “My campaign tends to be very grassroots, going from door to door, town hall meetings, focusing on the citizens’ priorities.”
The 94th district, which covers Meigs County and portions of Athens, Washington and Vinton counties, has both liberal and conservative voter-bases.
“I think we just have to wait and see,” Dennis said. “Some areas lean to (Phillips). More conservative areas lean to me.”
Despite the close-call election in 2008, Phillips won in a big victory in 2012.
As for the city of Athens, Couladis said he is aware the odds are stacked against Republicans in the left-leaning city, but he believes Dennis still has a shot of winning the house seat.
“The odds are against our candidate because of the numbers,” Couladis said. “You got to run on your record. … That’s the key, your record, not the letter that’s after your name.”
@LucasDaprile
ld311710@ohiou.edu
