Dennis Willard leaves BJ

Beacon Journal statehouse bureau chief Dennis Willard resigned from the BJ to work for Ohio's Democratic Party. No word on who, if anyone, will replace him in Columbus.

Willard joined the BJ's statehouse bureau as its chief in 1995 after eight years with other news organizations in Columbus. The Youngstown native once was in the U.S. Navy with the American Forces Radio and Television Service. He has an undergraduate degree in political science and a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio State University.

BJ Managing Editor Doug Oplinger emailed this response to my request for information:

John:

Dennis left after about 15 years as our Columbus bureau chief. He had a reputation in Columbus of being thorough, tough, honest and taking no sides, and for the last two years used his ability to cut through the crap to write some very good political commentary in columns that appeared two to three times a week. His blunt commentary showed that he wasn't afraid to offend or praise anyone, and used as a foundation the common person's sense of fairness.

A little over three weeks ago he had overtures from both parties as they looked for good people to get them through an especially volatile mid-term election and the 2012 Presidential election. The state Democratic Party made him an offer that was too good to refuse.

Dennis had a very good run at the Beacon Journal, winning numerous investigative, explanatory and public service awards. He also was a runnerup for the Taylor Award for Fairness from the Nieman Foundation and was invited to speak to the Hechinger Institute at Columbia University on some of his work. His work on school choice was entered as evidence when the U.S. Supreme Court heard the Cleveland voucher case.

Dennis was not only a great journalist; he was a good friend.

Doug