An Ohio University alumnus and former associate dean of OU’s College of Business has resigned from his job at the University of New Hampshire and is considering running for Congress.
Dan Innis, who graduated from the Honors Tutorial College with a business degree in 1985 and served in OU’s administration from 1991 to 2002, is considering running for New Hampshire's 1st congressional district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican.
“Things look very favorable, and I’ve been encouraged by the people I’ve talked with and I think we need some change,” Innis said.
OU’s College of Business Dean Hugh Sherman remembers his experiences working as a teacher when Innis was associate dean at OU.
“Innis was very popular when he was at OU,” Sherman said. “He cared very much for the students… He was a very personable guy.”
Innis is currently dean of the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire, a position he has held for six years.
“New Hampshire is pretty middle-of-the road, but it has a libertarian streak to it,” Innis said. “The state motto is ‘Live free or die.’ The state and its people actually mean that.”
If Innis decides to run he would focus on managing fiscal responsibility, lowering taxes and operating a smaller government.
“The primary focus is getting our fiscal house in order,” Innis said. “We simply have to solve our budget problems at the national level, and right now I don’t think Washington is planning enough. I think they’re moving from crisis to crisis.”
Innis, who is a married gay man, said his state has moved beyond LGBTA issues.
“I think in New Hampshire the voters look at (LGBTA) as no longer an issue,” Innis said. “It’s a state that pays attention to politics and doesn’t always vote on party lines. It’s hard to classify this state as red or blue. It doesn’t fit that mold.”
If Innis runs, he said he’ll run as a Republican, which is typically opposed to same-sex marriage. Innis does not see this as a problem, he said.
“There is certainly room for people like me in the Republican Party, and I hope people will see that,” Innis said.
University of New Hampshire officials were able to confirm that Innis has submitted his resignation, effective Nov. 1.
OU’s LGBT Center did not respond for comment by press time.
University of New Hampshire officials did not comment on whether he gave the school prior notice of his possible candidacy.
ld311710@ohiou.edu
@LucasDaprile
