Cincinnati Councilwoman Minette Cooper said Wednesday she will likely run for the Ohio House seat being vacated by Sam Britton, but will not accept appointment to the seat before Mr. Britton's term ends.

Cooper

        “I will run for state office, I believe. But I'd like to stay on council, personally, as long as possible. I think I owe it to the people who voted for me,” she said.

        “I love my council job, and I'm excited about my role as the chair of the Intergovernmental Committee,” Ms. Cooper said.

        That role sends her to Columbus at least once a month for meetings with state lawmakers.

        Democratic Party leaders had been discussing a deal in which the term-limited Mr. Britton would step down early.

        Ms. Cooper, also in her last term, would be appointed to his seat, and Mr. Britton's wife, Kaye Britton, would be appointed to Ms. Cooper's seat on City Council.

        Ms. Cooper announced at a Democratic caucus meeting Wednesday morning that she would not accept those terms.

        If Ms. Cooper runs, she will probably face Tyrone Yates — who, like Ms. Cooper, is a former vice mayor — in a May primary.

        The Democratic candidate would then face Sandy Hall, a former Deer Park councilwoman who filed petitions Wednesday. She is the only announced Republican candidate in the newly configured (and renumbered) 33rd District.

        “I have no problems running against whoever I have to run against,” Miss Hall said Wednesday. “I think it's definitely an uphill battle. If you look at the demographics, it's largely Democratic, and in the city largely African-American.”

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