Former Carter County Magistrate Jill York will be the Republican candidate in a Dec. 8 special election to fill a vacant state House seat.

Republican officials from the 96th House District, which includes Carter and Lewis counties, chose York on Tuesday night as their party's nominee at a meeting at the Carter County Justice Center in Grayson. Dallas Burchett of Grayson also sought the nomination.

York, 43, of Grayson, will face Democrat Barry Webb, a repairman and welder for AK Steel in the Ashland area. Democratic officials selected Webb, 50, Monday.

The House seat opened earlier this year when Robin Webb, D-Grayson, vacated it after winning a special election for a state Senate seat. In the Senate, she replaced Republican Charlie Borders, who took an appointment by Gov. Steve Beshear to the state Public Service Commission.

Democrats now control the state House by a 64-35 margin.

York was appointed a magistrate in November 2005 by then-Gov. Ernie Fletcher. She lost a contest for re-election to the fiscal court.

York, who is single, owns the graphic and creative design business PrintWorks Unlimited Inc. in Grayson. She received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Transylvania University and did graduate work in journalism at Marshall University.

Jobs will be a major issue in the race, York said.

"The challenges facing this region will require a lot of energy. I think I have that to give," she said. "I'm in a place now where I can give back to my community."