Patton files to enter county commissioner race
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The president of the Highland County Board of Realtors has filed petitions to run for a spot on the Highland County Board of Commissioners.
Josh Patton, a Democrat, has filed to run against Republican incumbent Tom Horst.
Patton could face a contested primary with fellow Democrat Randy Mustard. Mustard told The Highland County Press last week that he has taken out petitions to run against Horst, and that he plans on filing this week. Mustard was re-elected to his position as a Paint Township Trustee in the November general election.
Horst is already potentially facing competition from fellow Republican Fred Boggess, a New Vienna area resident who has taken out petitions, but has not filed.
Republican Terry Mikkelsen, a Hillsboro resident and former candidate for Hillsboro mayor, has taken out petitions in the race but has not yet filed them.
Patton, a Berrysville resident who is an owner of First Advantage Realty and Auction, LLC, said that although this is the first time he has sought public office, his experience running a successful local business in a difficult economy will be a benefit to taxpayers.
"The economy being the way it has been for the past few years, it has been horrible," Patton said. "With me being successful in the real estate field, but also starting my own business and being able to manage my funds and budget, I can bring that expertise to Highland County."
Patton has a degree from Southern State Community College in business management with a focus on real estate. He has also been an instructor of real estate classes at SSCC.
"We are all well-aware of the way the economy is, and the way it has been for the past few years," Patton said. "I was able to build my business, despite the economy. I know it takes a lot of discipline and management, and I think we need that in the county. I'd like to focus on trying to figure out what we need to do to get businesses in Highland County, whether it's smaller businesses of five people, or companies with 5,000 employees. We need to focus on different avenues and different ways to get people interested in moving in, and get the people who are already here interested in trying to open up their own businesses."
Ohio could potentially have two primaries in 2012, with state and local candidates and the U.S. Senate race being decided in March, and the presidential primary and U.S. House of Representatives being decided on June 12. The filing deadline for partisan candidates for the March 6 primary is Dec. 7. The deadline for Independent candidates is March 5.
Incumbent Republican Shane Wilkin is also up for re-election this year, and faces competition from New Market resident Steve Cowdrey (R).
In other county races, former Highland County commissioner Gary Heaton has filed to run for county treasurer. Heaton, a Democrat, was defeated in his bid for re-election in 2010 by current commissioner Jeremy Shaffer. Heaton will face incumbent Republican Vickie Warnock. Republican Lewis Teters has also taken out petitions. Democrat Debbie Zile has taken out petitions for the race, but has not filed.
Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, a Republican, has filed petitions to run. Collins, a former assistant prosecutor in the office, was appointed earlier this year by the Republican Central Committee following the retirement of prosecutor Jim Grandey. Attorney Kim-McGuire Haines has taken out petitions to run as an Independent, but has until March 5 to file them.
Chad McConnaughey has filed petitions to run for Highland County Recorder against incumbent Richard Counter. Counter was appointed to the office by the Republican Central Committee earlier this year after former recorder Ike Hodson was appointed as Highland County Clerk of Courts. The clerk of courts office had been left open following the retirement of Paulette Donley.
Hodson has has filed to run for clerk of courts.
The president of the Highland County Board of Realtors has filed petitions to run for a spot on the Highland County Board of Commissioners.
Josh Patton, a Democrat, has filed to run against Republican incumbent Tom Horst.
Patton could face a contested primary with fellow Democrat Randy Mustard. Mustard told The Highland County Press last week that he has taken out petitions to run against Horst, and that he plans on filing this week. Mustard was re-elected to his position as a Paint Township Trustee in the November general election.
Horst is already potentially facing competition from fellow Republican Fred Boggess, a New Vienna area resident who has taken out petitions, but has not filed.
Republican Terry Mikkelsen, a Hillsboro resident and former candidate for Hillsboro mayor, has taken out petitions in the race but has not yet filed them.
Patton, a Berrysville resident who is an owner of First Advantage Realty and Auction, LLC, said that although this is the first time he has sought public office, his experience running a successful local business in a difficult economy will be a benefit to taxpayers.
"The economy being the way it has been for the past few years, it has been horrible," Patton said. "With me being successful in the real estate field, but also starting my own business and being able to manage my funds and budget, I can bring that expertise to Highland County."
Patton has a degree from Southern State Community College in business management with a focus on real estate. He has also been an instructor of real estate classes at SSCC.
"We are all well aware of the way the economy is and the way it has been for the past few years," Patton said. "I was able to build my business, despite the economy. I know it takes a lot of discipline and management, and I think we need that in the county. I'd like to focus on trying to figure out what we need to do to get businesses in Highland County, whether it's smaller businesses of five people, or companies with 5,000 employees. We need to focus on different avenues and different ways to get people interested in moving in and get the people who are already here interested in trying to open up their own businesses."
Ohio could potentially have two primaries in 2012, with state and local candidates and the U.S. Senate race being decided in March, and the presidential primary and U.S. House of Representatives being decided on June 12. The filing deadline for partisan candidates for the March 6 primary is Dec. 7. The deadline for Independent candidates is March 5.
Incumbent Republican Shane Wilkin is also up for re-election this year, and faces competition from New Market resident Steve Cowdrey (R).
In other county races, former Highland County commissioner Gary Heaton has filed to run for county treasurer. Heaton, a Democrat, was defeated in his bid for re-election in 2010 by current commissioner Jeremy Shaffer. Heaton will face incumbent Republican Vickie Warnock. Republican Lewis Teters has also taken out petitions. Republican Debbie Zile has taken out petitions for the race but has not filed.
Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, a Republican, has filed petitions to run. Collins, a former assistant prosecutor in the office, was appointed earlier this year by the Republican Central Committee following the retirement of prosecutor Jim Grandey. Attorney Kim-McGuire Haines has taken out petitions to run as an Independent but has until March 5 to file them.
Chad McConnaughey has filed petitions to run for Highland County Recorder against incumbent Richard Counter. Counter was appointed to the office by the Republican Central Committee earlier this year after former recorder Ike Hodson was appointed as Highland County Clerk of Courts. The clerk of courts office had been left open following the retirement of Paulette Donley.
Hodson has filed to run for clerk of courts.
[[In-content Ad]]