Taylor Sappington, current Nelsonville auditor, won the position of Athens County Treasurer after the Democratic primary election Tuesday.
Sappington had 1,514 votes, or 53.67%, winning by 207 votes against opponent Athens City Councilmember Beth Clodfelter, D-At Large, who received 1,307 votes, or 46.33% as of Tuesday at 8:45 p.m.
Around 9 a.m., Sappington posted to X, previously known as Twitter, encouraging Athens County residents to vote in the primaries.
“I would be immeasurably proud to earn your confidence for County Treasurer in the Democratic Primary, today,“ Sappington wrote. “Thank you!!"
During a forum in February, Sappington said he is qualified for the position from his experience with Nelsonville City Council and as City Auditor.
“I believe that combined, my time in the auditor’s office and my education have really been a consistent building of both my resume and my experience to where I could do this job effectively,” Sappington said. “I could do this job collaboratively and efficiently.”
Around 10 p.m. Sappington posted to X an announcement about his winning.
“I am proud to be the winner of tonight’s competitive primary for the Athens County Treasurer,“ Sappington said. “We deserve good, honest, relentless leaders and it’ll be the entire focus of my term as your treasurer."
Sappington also attributed his skills and knowledge to his education at Ohio University, having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Government in 2015 and his Master of Public Administration in 2023.
The treasurer's term will begin in September 2025, which is 10 months after the 2024 general election in November.
“I'm ready on day one,” Sappington said at the forum. “There won't be a learning curve. And frankly, the results of my service show that I will do a great job if the voters give me the chance.”
Sappington said his top priority would be the Land Bank, which repurposes abandoned properties around Athens County to make them available to residents.
