Caitlyn Zachry | STAFF WRITER
cz142106@ohiou.edu
The filing deadline of Jan. 4 for primary election candidates fielded more than 23 petitions for Athens County positions, with one drawing as many as 9 applicants and others as few as 1.
Athens County Sheriff candidates will find out today if their petitions for the March 4 primary are certified.
Despite statements that he would retire after his current term, incumbent Vern Castle, 60, filed to run against fellow Democrat Patrick Kelly, 57, in the primary. Stephen Kane, 53, was the only Republican to file.
Castle said he hopes to keep his position for another term in order to continue some of the office's projects and complete unfinished business.
We very recently got involved with the narcotics task force
he said. I'm very happy with the work we've done with them. The guys seem to be taking care of a lot of cases.
Kelly said he is running because so many of the residents of Athens County are concerned about the lack of leadership in the sheriff's office.
They are disgusted that they've paid out over a quarter of a million dollars in lawsuits for racial discrimination and civil rights violations the Nelsonville native said.
While Kane did not criticize Castle, he questioned some of the recent moves within the office, and said he would like to provide the breath of fresh air Athens County needs.
You read in the papers about all of the problems at the sheriff's office he said. When you call them
you really don't know if they're going to come or not.
Castle declined to comment on his opponents and said he would like to avoid negative statements in
his campaign.
If certified, the candidates' petitions can still be protested until Jan. 15.
Coroner
The race for a new county coroner probably won't be your typical political showdown.
The two candidates for Athens County Coroner, of opposing parties, are colleagues and friends.
I'd even say he's a mentor to me
Republican Todd Fredricks said of his opponent, Democrat Harold
Clay Thompson.
The two met when Thompson taught Fredricks at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Fredricks, 42, is now an assistant professor of family medicine at the College of Osteopathic Medicine, while Thompson is a tenured faculty member.
Thompson has practiced medicine in Athens County for 30 years, serving as the medical director for the city jail and Health Pro ambulance service. He has also hosted the radio show Family Health for the past nine years.
I've had an interest in the office because my background is in emergency medicine
Thompson said. I've had interaction with the coroner many times
and I've always appreciated the job.
Fredricks, who is currently working as a physician on a military base in Iraq, said he will likely be there until May. However, he wants to downplay his military service during the campaign.
The older I've grown and the more I've seen
the more deeply passionate I've become about public service
he said. I'm excited about running and I hope the people of Athens and Athens County will give me a chance to
