An incumbent state lawmaker and attorney-turned-homeschool mom are the choices in the May 21 Republican primary for the 69th House District.
Incumbent Rep. Steven Doan is an attorney and former Bevin administration official who was elected to the House in 2022. His opponent is Diane Brown, who told LINK nky she “took a step back from law to be a full-time mom.”
Both candidates live in Erlanger.
The primary winner will face Democrat Wilanne Stangel of Erlanger, a Boone County Library system employee, on Nov. 5.
The 69th House District covers parts of both Boone and Kenton counties, including Florence and parts of Crestview Hills, Edgewood, Elsmere, Erlanger and Independence.
Diane Brown
Diane Brown is a graduate of Thomas More College (now University) and NKU’s Chase College of Law. She was admitted to practice in Kentucky and Ohio before taking time away to be a full-time mom and, eventually, a homeschool mom.
Brown has served on the Kenton County Planning Commission. She is active in her church, her son’s Scout troop and the food pantry for the Grow Network. She and her husband, Jim, have a teenage son.
LINK nky asked Brown to respond to two questions about her plans if she is elected to the 67th House seat in November. These are her responses:
What plans do you have for Northern Kentucky?
“I am a strong advocate for local control, believing that decisions affecting the community should be made closest to the community, and therefore plan to oppose legislation that would remove that control. I believe NKY’s economic engine will be boosted by reducing the income tax. I will continue to support legislation that helps reduce that tax, and that streamlines or reduces the bureaucracy for businesses, small and large. I am committed to having tax dollars which we send to Frankfort returned for infrastructure, such as Stephenson Road, which helps keep our families safe by ensuring first responders and public works can travel the roads safely.”
How will you make sure NKY’s voice is heard in Frankfort?
“I feel it is very important that the voice of NKY be heard in Frankfort, as it represents a large population center and a large amount of tax revenue. I have experience speaking my mind and speaking up when it’s important. I also know how to advocate my position well, a skill I plan to take to Frankfort and use for the people of NKY, just as I did as a litigation attorney and as a representative to the Kenton County Planning Commission. The skills I used as a mediator will be very important to work with other NKY representatives, as well as the remainder of the legislature, to bring forward the issues and values that are important to NKY. I plan to dig in and work hard, to show up for votes – not let my personal interest interfere with the work that needs to be done for the people of the 69th District, and NKY as a whole.”
Steven Doan
Steven Doan is a practicing attorney who ran against, and beat, former longtime state Rep. Adam Koenig for the 69th House district seat in 2022. His campaign website says Doan “has been unwavering in advocating for conservative public policies” in the Kentucky General Assembly during his first term in office.
“Throughout the 2022 session, he notably served on pivotal committees such as education, judiciary and local government. He takes pride in his consistent voting record, which includes advocating for tax reduction, safeguarding the welfare of children and championing support for small businesses,” the site says.
Before Doan was elected to the Kentucky House, he served on Erlanger City Council. Before that, he was general counsel for the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy under Gov. Matt Bevin. His campaign website says Doan is also active in “various Northern Kentucky nonprofit associations as a board member.”
According to Doan’s website, he earned both his undergraduate and his law degree at NKU. He is married and has two children.
LINK nky asked Doan to respond to two questions about his plans if he is reelected to the 67th House seat in November.
Doan did not respond to the request.