Delaware resident Denise Martin has announced that she will seek the nomination for the 67th District seat in the Ohio House of Representatives.
According to a press release issued by her campaign, Martin will run in the May 2018 primary. She hopes to succeed State Rep. Andrew Brenner, R-Powell, who cannot run for the seat in 2018 due to term limits. The 67th Ohio House district is comprised of the western portion of Delaware County, including Delaware, Lewis Center, and Powell.
The campaign press release states that Martin currently serves as court administrator for the Delaware County Domestic Relations Court and previously worked as an assistant prosecutor for the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for eight years. While in Marion County, she prosecuted felonies including murder, rape, domestic violence, possession and trafficking of illegal narcotics, and assault.
“I have spent my career fighting for justice for victims of crime, and I want to take that fight to the Ohio Statehouse, where I will zealously advocate on behalf of Delaware County residents, local government, businesses, and schools, and give them a voice at the Statehouse on issues that are important locally and statewide,” said Martin in the press release.
A conservative Republican, Martin said she is running to be an accessible, effective, and responsive leader for Delaware County residents, according to the press release. As Ohio faces critical issues in the coming years, the press release states, Martin said she “will represent Delaware County values and tax dollars, ensuring the residents of the 67th District will have a strong advocate at the Statehouse.”
A graduate of Mt. Gilead High School, Martin earned a bachelor of arts degree from The Ohio State University and a juris doctorate from Capital University Law School. Martin has two daughters, Kennedy and Katherine, and has lived in Delaware County since 2000. She is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. She serves as the Development Committee Chairman of the Delaware County Republican Party and is a graduate of the Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute.
According to the press release, the Martin for Ohio committee is led by campaign co-chairmen Delaware County Municipal Clerk of Court Cindy Dinovo and Delaware County Sheriff Russ Martin. Former Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Teri Morgan serves as the campaign’s treasurer.
“Denise’s experience as a prosecutor, her record of community leadership, and her deep relationships in Delaware County make her the ideal candidate to serve as our next state representative,” said Dinovo in her endorsement of Martin.
According to Kristen Frissora, Executive Committee Chairman of the Delaware County Republican Party, the Delaware County Republican Party Central Committee is expected to endorse a candidate in the race in January.
“… there is a process and that is ultimately up to the vote of the central committee,” Frissora said via email.
