Jefferson County sees large Republican contingent sworn in

OFFICIALS — Ohio Seventh District Court of Appeals Judge Katelyn Dickey, back, center, stood with Republican elected officials during a swearing in ceremony at First Christian Church, Saturday. From left are, front, Jefferson County Coroner Dr. Michael Scarpone; Treasurer-Elect Brian Scarpone; District Court No. 3 Judge David Scarpone; District Court No. 1 Judge Lisa Ferguson; Commissioner Ron “Jake” Kleineke; Commissioner Tony Morelli and Clerk of Courts Andrew Plesich; and, back, as Jefferson County Recorder Scott Renforth; Dickey; and 96th District state Rep. Ron Ferguson. -- Christopher Dacanay
STEUBENVILLE — Perhaps the largest contingent of Republicans in recent years was sworn into public office in Jefferson County Saturday.
During a ceremony at First Christian Church, eight Jefferson County Republicans pledged to “faithfully, honestly and impartially” discharge the duties of their elected positions and support the U.S. and Ohio constitutions.
Oaths of office were administered to a state representative and nearly all of the Republicans who won county-level seats in the Nov. 5 general election. Democratic and independent candidates-elect will be sworn into their respective positions on a later occasion.
Newly sworn-in officials include 96th District Rep. Ron Ferguson, as well as Jefferson County District Court No. 1 Judge Lisa Ferguson, Coroner Dr. Michael Scarpone, Recorder Scott Renforth, District Court No. 3 Judge David Scarpone, Clerk of Courts Andrew Plesich and commissioners Ron “Jake” Kleineke and Tony Morelli. Treasurer-elect Brian Scarpone will be sworn in in August.
This is the largest group of Republicans sworn into public office in Jefferson County in recent memory, according to Tom Gentile, vice chair of the Jefferson County Republican Party and chair of the Jefferson County Board of Elections.
“I think it’s reflective of the way times have changed in Jefferson County,” Gentile said of the large Republican cohort. “It’s positive. We have a great slate of people. They all worked very hard to get here and ran good, clean campaigns, and we’re proud of all of them.”
The majority of the oaths were administered by fellow Republican Katelyn Dickey, a judge in the Ohio Seventh District Court of Appeals. Dickey first assumed office on April 10 and was elected to her first full term in November.
As an incumbent state representative, Ron Ferguson administered the oath for his mother, Lisa Ferguson. She has sworn in her son before, but this was the first time that the roles were reversed.
Ron Ferguson is entering his third term representing Jefferson and Monroe counties and a portion of Belmont County. Come the next General Assembly, some of Ferguson’s main priorities will be eliminating Ohio’s income tax and fixing the state’s tax structure, especially as it relates to property taxes.
Ferguson said the Republican continent is “awesome,” adding that the Republican Party is the “big tent party” with room for individuals who believe in “common sense, American values.”
Lisa Ferguson is entering her second full, elected term as a district court judge — she was first appointed to fill an unexpired term and has since served one other full term. Ferguson said she’s looking forward to continuing programs and advancements made in the court, such as fully staffing its probation office.
A lifelong Republican, Ferguson said it’s “very exciting” to see her party be so highly represented among election victors.
Dr. Michael Scarpone will be serving his third full term, having previously filled another half-term. He’s eager to work out necessary agreements to have locally provided virtual autopsies using 3D CT scan technology, which would provide better quality autopsies and be more timely than outsourcing. He also looks to upgrade the office and get staff more robust death investigation training.
The Republican Party represents traditional American values of hard work and family, Scarpone said, and the people of Jefferson County resonate with that.
Entering his second term, Renforth thanked Jefferson County voters who gave him “the opportunity to continue to serve.” Renforth looks to continue advancing technology and other upgrades made at the recorder’s office, streamlining operations and making office access easier for the public.
Renforth said the Republican victory is “fantastic,” but the entire lineup of county elected officials is “very, very solid” — Republicans, Democrats and independents. He’s “very thankful” to serve alongside such a “wonderful group of men and women,” who he said and unified and look out for each other.
David Scarpone is entering his sixth term, including one appointment to fill an unexpired term. Scarpone said he’s looking forward to “moving the the court into the 21st century with electronic filing, while still keeping the integrity and partiality, (and) administering justice for the people of Jefferson County.”
The people of Jefferson County “have voted for who they feel will perform and discharge the duties of their elected office (best),” Scarpone said, adding that Nov. 5 election results speak more about the candidates than their party.
Kleineke was sworn in for his first term as commissioner by his close friend and retired Jefferson County Common Pleas Court Judge John Mascio. There are still many people to meet and things to learn, Kleineke said, but he anticipates working well with fellow commissioners Morelli and Eric Timmons, a Republican, to handle the county’s budget.
Regarding the Republican contingent, Kleineke said, “The people have spoken. God and country still count.”
Entering his second term, Morelli hopes to continue the “positive energy” in Jefferson County generated by investment in recreation and infrastructure. He’s also hoping to get the spec building at the Jefferson County Industrial Park completed and filled, preemptively resolve flooding issues at the Jefferson County Justice Center and close Crossridge Landfill, a source of ongoing environmental pollution.
Morelli said many Democrats supported him in the election. He added that the Democratic Party gets a “bad name” on the national stage, and many Democrats believe in the same principles that Republicans hold.
Plesich, who’s entering his second term, plans to wrap up ongoing projects — building on the “foundation” that was set during the past four years. Those projects include the implementation of electronic filing and uploading digitized case files to the clerk of courts website. In 2025, Plesich plans to pursue a grant for electronic filing the county courts, as well as video arraignment technology for those courts.
The incoming Republicans are a “positive thing for the county,” Plesich said, adding that the results show “the citizens of the country are paying attention to their elected officials, and they definitely spoke during the election.”
Brian Scarpone will be sworn into his first term around August, prior to when his term will begin in September. Still, he’s looking forward to “serving the people of Jefferson County. That’s what it’s all about. It’s not about politics, it’s about doing what’s right for Jefferson County.”
The Republican victory in Jefferson County is “historic,” Scarpone said, but it also shows the Republican Party’s commitment to serving the public, making government more efficien, and upholding “the laws and the rights of the people.”