With former Athens County 911 coordinator Randy Mace entering the race for county commissioner as a write-in candidate, GOP voters in Athens County now have the opportunity to vote Republican on the ballot in the general election.
Though unwilling to discuss specific strategies, the campaign is making serious strides to raise awareness about Mace as a write-in candidate, said Athens County Republican Party Chairman Pete Couladis.
“We're working to inform the Republican voters to vote for him,” Couladis said. “Our main goal is to get enough votes to be on the ballot in the general election.”
As a write-in candidate, Mace needs to receive 50 votes in the March primary be on the ballot in November’s general election, according to the Athens County Board of Elections.
Although Couladis encouraged him to run for the commissioner’s seat, Mace says he controls his campaign.
“(Couladis) tells me when the deadlines are, but I’m the one running my campaign,” he said. “I’m not working for any special interests, but hopefully one day soon I’ll be working for everybody.”
Though a Republican, he’s striving to appeal to all Athens County voters.
“I know that if all I get is Republican votes, I don’t have a chance,” Mace said. “Athens is a majority (of) Democrats, and I think I can relate to people in the county because I’ve been here all my life.”
Along with bringing a different viewpoint to the job, Mace feels the need to examine county spending more critically.
“I’m going to be really concerned about every penny we’re getting,” he said. “I know budgeting, I know how to manage people, and I know how to bring people together and not be adversaries, but be allies.”
Born in Athens County, he grew up delivering the Athens Messenger and graduated from Ohio University with a journalism degree.
Also in the March primary, four Democrats will challenge incumbent Athens County Commissioner Mark Sullivan.
Democrats Paul Smoke Barrett of Glouster, Robert Baughman of Nelsonville, Chris Chmiel of Albany, and Mike O’Brien of Shade are vying for Sullivan’s Democratic nomination.
jj360410@ohiou.edu
