News
Three Men Vie For Legislative Opening
By: Fred Kight
Posted on:
Three Republicans are going after John Carey's soon-to-be-empty seat in the Ohio House.
They are Ryan Smith of Gallipolis, Bill Dingus of South Point, and Jim Riepenhoff of Wellston.
Carey is leaving his 87th District job at the end of the month to take a position at Shawnee State University.
He tells WOUB News that he will not endorse a successor.
"I'm going to let the screening committee do their job," he says. "All three people that are running are good people."
A screening committee will make a recommendation and the House GOP Caucus will make the decision.
That's expected in January.
Carey has been hired as the assistant to the president for Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives at Shawnee State University, effective January 1.
Carey is 52 years old and from Wellston.
Will he get back into politics later?
Maybe, he says.
"Well, you never say never. Not in the immediate future but maybe somewhere down the road."
Carey has served in the legislature for 17 years.