Athens City Council woman Deborah Phillips has taken steps toward challenging incumbent Republican Jimmy Stewart in the Ohio House of Representatives' 92nd District this fall.
Phillips, who has represented the 4th Ward in Athens City Council since 2003, said she is running because the district needs better representation, especially as it concerns school-funding reform, saying that Stewart follows what the Republican leadership in Columbus dictates.
There isn't a good debate
she said.
Phillips is the executive director of the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, whose mission is to organize and advocate for high-quality public education opportunities for all Ohio children according to its Web site.
I have worked for the past seven years on school-funding reform and in that process
have learned a lot about different issues affecting our region
she said.
Though Phillips has not formally announced her candidacy, she filed a declaration of treasurer in December, which is required by the state to legally raise money for her campaign committee, Friends of Deborah Phillips.
Stewart said he was not surprised by the news because he was informed of her candidacy in December on the house floor by new Ohio Democratic Party Chairman and current Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern.
Stewart said Redfern also added at the time that the Democratic Party was done with the 92nd District and would focus their resources on other districts in the state.
Regardless
I will campaign as hard as I always campaign
he said.
Phillips said she was unaware of those sentiments and that she expects the continued support of her party.
Redfern echoed similar sentiments in an official response assuring that Stewart is mistaken in thinking he won't face a fight.
Stewart must have bumped his head. Only short-term memory loss could explain why he thinks he won't have a serious fight on his hands after his long record of support for the failed policies of Bob Taft
according to a press release.
Phillips might face an uphill battle in her attempt to unseat Stewart. He took 58.61 percent of the total vote in 2004 against Democratic challenger Pat Lang, including 51 percent in Athens County, a traditional Democratic stronghold.
The 92nd District comprises four counties, including Athens, Meigs, Washington and Morgan. Stewart received about two-thirds of the vote in the latter three.
Phillips will not be the only Democratic challenger, as Syracuse resident Michael Struble has announced his intention to run in the Democratic primary.
Candidates have until Feb. 16 to formally declare their candidacy.
17
Archives
