Jefferson County Commissioner Election: Timmons v. Nemeth
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STEUBENVILLE--The two men vying for a seat on the Jefferson County commissioners have dramatically different takes on where the county is -- and how to get it where it needs to be.
The Nov. 3 general election ballot pits Eric Timmons, the Republican incumbent, against Democrat Brent Nemeth.
Timmons
Timmons, 50, was elected commissioner in 2022. A Steubenville resident, he has a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and is currently vice president and banking center manager at WesBanco in Steubenville.
• What do you see as the top two challenges facing Jefferson County going forward and how would you address them?
“Water and sewer infrastructure is the biggest issue in the county, followed by economic development and high-paying jobs: With regards to the water and sewer, we are going to have to move toward regionalizing all of Jefferson County into one water and sewer system, something the Ohio Environment Protection agency is encouraging. With the price to produce water and other associated costs skyrocketing, we need to share the revenues and costs across the board. For economic development, after talking with local labor and business leaders, there is optimism the county is headed for a boom. We need to start by utilizing our local education institutions to teach the vital skills necessary to fill the upcoming job opportunities that will be presented, keeping our young people paid and local.
• Costs are soaring even as revenues continue to decline. If you win re-election, what will your spending priorities be?
“With soaring costs and stagnant revenue, we will have to look at several options. With my fiscal background, I will be relied upon to make the right decisions to carry out the commissioners’ most important job -- spending the taxpayers’ money frugally. We must also look at building revenue by creating a climate to attract business and high-paying jobs, as well as young families, to the county. My spending priorities are with keeping the citizens safe and supporting our first responders, supporting our county employees and the services they provide and working to get grants and funding for our water and sewer infrastructure.
• What can you do as a Jefferson County commissioner that your opponent can’t?
“I bring experience and I don’t quit. I’m also heavily involved in the community and I travel to all parts of the county. I listen to the residents … how am I going to know their concerns if I’m not out and about? I was a Steubenville city councilman for seven years, before becoming a commissioner. I’ve built strong community and employee partnerships. I’m not going to give up when things get tough. I remember swearing my opponent in for a spot on the Jefferson Soil and Water Board -- he quit after four months. He quit the Farm Bureau after five weeks. I wouldn’t do that. I’m always going to fight for the citizens of the county. I also bring a financial background that will be needed.”
Nemeth
Nemeth, 50, earned his bachelor of science in civil engineering from Rose-Hulman in Terre Haute, Ind., and his law degree from West Virginia University College of Law. A Rayland resident, he’s worked as a municipal infrastructural civil engineer, construction manager, attorney and college professor and is a cattle producer.
• What do you see as the top two challenges facing Jefferson County going forward and how would you address them?
“First, we have a failing water system. Consumers shouldn’t be paying at rates to remedy years of mismanagement. A failing utility doesn’t invite new development. It threatens new housing and industry. We must think creatively to fund and engineer things to protect property values, maintain reasonable water rates, and facilitate future growth. Second, doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results, isn’t winning. We need new faces and new ideas, including from outside the county seat. Encouraging new participation begins by moving weekly commissioners meetings from 9 a.m., when people are at work, to evenings, when they can attend. And one weekly meeting per month should take place in the south end of the county and one in the north end, so everyone can take part.”
• Costs are soaring even as revenues continue to tank. If you’re elected (or win re-election), what will your spending priorities be?
“Working together with the auditor and department heads to demand competitive bidding on all contracts and leases (for instance, were proposals invited by many educational institutions for the former Eastern Gateway Community College building to get the most bang-for-the-buck in return for the county, or was the school simply transferred to the first-interested, Youngstown state University?); to renegotiate existing contracts and building leases; to aggregate purchasing across departments and with other jurisdictions; to target non-mandated programs (For example, will the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District dedicate its resources county-wide to grow our farms, or will it continue to become a separate parks commission, prioritizing its own properties?); to consolidate resources across departments; and to always look first at perfecting what we already have before performing new spending.
• What can you do as a Jefferson County commissioner that your opponent can’t?
“I’m a civil engineer, trained to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different solutions before committing capital to a project. I can design water, sewer and roadway systems. I know law, which includes rules governing county administration. For years, we’ve ranked near the bottom in Ohio for growth. I won’t just ceremoniously participate in ribbon-cuttings and run around generating a top 30 list. That’s being a supportive, nice guy -- that’s not being a leader. I’ll spend my time executing necessary, substantive tasks. I’ll man-up and disclose things. I wouldn’t just stand by while 100 jobs at the mall are easily let go. I’ll constantly chip away with resolve until true economic drivers appear with definitiveness, not just always claiming big things are about to occur.”