Veteran officeholder Lenny Eliason topped rookie politician Miki Brooks by about 14 percent in the Democratic primary for Athens County Commissioner last night.
Eliason, who has served 12 years as Athens County Commissioner, received about 57 percent of the votes compared to Realtor Brooks, who received about 43 percent of the votes after her first political race.
I was not surprised with the results
Eliason said. I was concerned as I would be with any other race but not surprised.
Eliason said the key to his success in the polls this year was his campaign plan.
Eliason campaigned through radio advertising, phone calls to voters and door-to-door campaigning. Of the about $6,900 it cost to run his campaign, less than $1,000 was paid for by Eliason, according to a previous article in The Post.
Brooks spent more than twice as much on campaigning as Eliason, funding her campaign with $15,000 of her own money. Her campaign strategy was to answer phone calls, run television advertisements and speak on radio shows, according to a previous article in The Post.
Brooks is a realtor at Ohio Realty and owns FullBrooks Cafe in Nelsonville. She could not be reached for a comment.
Both campaigns focused on similar topics, including the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District and the relocation of the sheriff's office.
Athens and Hocking County officials are working on a five-year plan to improve the District. Commissioners will have to determine what is best for Athens County residents.
The relocation of the sheriff's office, proposed by Sheriff Pat Kelly, would move the office from uptown Athens to a 26.41-acre plot of land off U.S. Route 33. Eliason said he wants to start the project by next year but does not want a tax instated to cover the cost, which will likely be between $985,000 and $1.2 million, according to a previous article in The Post.
Eliason said he will begin campaigning for the November election at the beginning of the summer. He added that he is confident he will get reelected to the office.
If reelected, Eliason said he will continue doing the same work he has been doing for the past 12 years.
The first hurdle was to (win the primary) he said. I hope my opponent supports us in the coming election.
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Alex Stuckey
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