Ohio’s new U.S. senator has named his regional director for southeast Ohio and it is a name familiar to Lawrence Countians.

Juli Stephens has been announced for the position for Republican Bernie Moreno’s office.

Moreno was elected to the Senate in November 2024, defeating incumbent three-term Democrat Sherrod Brown.

Stephens previously served for two years as field representative for U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, who retired after 2024. She is the wife of State Rep. Jason Stephens, who served two years as Ohio’s speaker of the House.

Prior to that, she served several terms as field representative for Bill Johnson, until his U.S. House district was changed, due to redistricting and Lawrence County was moved into Wenstrup’s district.

Republican David Taylor was elected in 2024 as successor to Wenstrup in the 2nd District, which covers Lawrence County. Teresa Lewis has been named as Taylor’s field representative for the region covering Lawrence County, Stephens said.