GALLIPOLIS — Dr. Clyde Evans looks to utilize his legislative experience crafting fiscal and education policy in the Ohio Senate and is mounting a run for the 17th District seat that includes Gallia County next year.

Evans, currently serving his fourth term in the state House of Representatives, concluded a two-day blitz of the 10 counties in the 17th District on Thursday with a fundraiser in Gallipolis, which doubled as his formal local announcement of his candidacy for the seat now held by John A. Carey of Wellston.

Carey will not run again for the Senate due to term limitations.

“I will be totally focused on using my fiscal and education expertise to create jobs for our communities,” said Evans, a Republican from Rio Grande who has promoted links between education and job creation to train individuals for new positions in a technology-driven world.

“As a four-term member of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee, I worked to cut unnecessary spending so we could focus our resources most effectively on job development,” he said. “That’s one reason why I received a ‘Watchdog of the Treasury’ award.”

First elected to the House in 2002, Evans represents the 87th District of Gallia, Jackson, Vinton, and eastern Lawrence and Ross counties. He also serves on the Ohio School Facilities Commission, is a ranking member of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, and chairs the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Finance and Appropriations panel.

The Gallia County native has worked in public and higher education, and was an administrator at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College prior to his election to the House.

“My career in primary, secondary and higher education gives me the ability to squeeze every bit of help possible out of our schools and universities to improve our economy,” Evans said. “We must leverage the strength of the six college level educational institutions in the 17th District to create new jobs.”

He also stressed the importance of agriculture and natural resources to the regional economy, “but education is the new foundation for southern Ohio’s economy. I can help build that new economic foundation for our communities.”

The 17th District also includes al or part of Clinton, Fayette, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pickaway, Pike, Ross and Vinton counties.