A stockbroker from Gallia County will battle with two other Republicans for the party’s nomination in the race for the 93rd House seat.

A week ago John Carey announced he was leaving the Statehouse to take a position at Shawnee State University.

Ryan Smith, 38, was the last Republican to file for Carey’s seat, turning in his petitions to the Lawrence County Courthouse Tuesday.

“I have always felt like I wanted to make a difference in the community and area and make it a better place for southeastern Ohio,” Smith said. “I’m just excited about the opportunity.”

Smith, who works with Hilliard Lyons brokerage house in Gallipolis, is currently on his second four-year term on the Gallipolis school board and sits on the board of the Holzer Health Systems. He has also served as president of Gallia County Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Gallia Community Improvement Corp.

Before going on the school board in 2007, Smith co-chaired the community ad hoc committee focused on acquiring funding to build or renovated all city schools.

“I have worked closely with John (Carey) on the school funding issue,” Smith said. “He and Rep. Clyde Evans helped us with some legislation to help build the new schools.”

Smith puts job growth and education on the top of his agenda.

“First and foremost I am proud to be from southeast Ohio,” he said. “I want people in Columbus to know we have great people and deserve our fair share of the state resources. The key to growth in the area is population growth and we have to have jobs to do that. I would continue to work with the Ohio Department of Development and hopefully expand the small businesses we have. What I have found is you grow from within. It is best to grow from within and use the companies here and expand.”

Jackson County Commissioner Jim Riepenhoff, 64, and Lawrence Economic Development Corp. director Bill Dingus, 65, already have filed for the Republican primary to be March 6.

Wellston City Councilman Luke Scott, 20, is the only Democrat to run for Carey’s seat.

The GOP leadership will appoint someone to finish out Carey’s unexpired term through December 2012. Then the voters will choose their representative for the next two years.

“I am going to jump in head first and meet as many people as I can,” Smith said. “I am trying to improve things for my family and theirs.”