Brandt seeks commissioner’s nomination

Van Wert independent/contributor content

Kim Brandt, Van Wert County 9-1-1 coordinator since 2000, has officially opened her candidacy for the Republican nomination for Van Wert County commissioner for the January 2, 2013, term.

Brandt said she would bring her leadership experience, strong work ethic, ability to work well with others, and fiscally conservative approach to the commissioner’s office. She believes in Van Wert County as a great place to live, work, raise a family, start a business, and retire, and also believes that the front door to Van Wert County is not only the Lincoln Highway, but the information superhighway also known as the Internet. Improvement in the information and impression presented to the world through a united digital front would help to bring jobs, innovation, and new residents to Van Wert County.

Brandt is a 31-year resident of Willshire and is the daughter of Ron Medaugh of Van Wert (Bee Gee Realty) and Janice Medaugh of Decatur, Ind. (retiree of General Electric in Fort Wayne). Brandt is a 1979 graduate of Bellmont High School and has an associate’s degree in business and merchandising from Patricia Stevens College in Milwaukee, Wis.

Brandt resides at 1098 Ohio 81 with her husband, Cary (Moser Motors in Berne Ind). The Brandts have been happily married for 31 years and have two children. Her son, William Brandt, Ph.D., is a cancer research scientist at Johns Hopkins University, and his wife, Nicole Brandt, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and assistant professor at University of Maryland. They reside in Baltimore, Md.

Brandt’s daughter, Jenelle Painter, RDCS, is a cardiac sonographer at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, and Jenelle’s husband, Jordan Painter, is a union carpenter. They reside in Decatur and have two young sons, Dylan Lee and Brandt Lewis Painter.

On a personal level, Brandt is dedicated to service, warm-hearted, and accessible, all of which have helped her to be successful in working with various boards and community committees throughout her career. Brandt has served on the Parkway Local Board of Education for 10 years, including terms as board vice president and president. She is a member and former president of the Ohio Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association, a member of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, chairs the Van Wert County Crime Stoppers Board, is a member of the Vantage School Board, and is a former member of the Main Street Van Wert Board of Directors.

At the community level, Brandt attends Praise Point Church in Willshire and is a member of Van Wert Rotary Club, Van Wert Optimist Club, the Fraternal Order of Police, Van Wert County Firefighters Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803.

Brandt’s 9-1-1 coordination, as well as community involvement, has allowed her to establish working relationships with city, county and village officials, as well as state and federal legislative representatives. As a member of the Parkway school board, Brandt was part of the $32 million building project that came in $1 million under budget. Parkway is a fiscally sound school district with an excellent rating based on state test results. Through her school board experience, she gained insight into hiring effective principals, treasurers, and superintendents, as well as negotiating with unions.

As Van Wert County 9-1-1 coordinator, Brandt is responsible for daily operations, such as creating and managing the budget, purchasing and maintaining 9-1-1 equipment, coordinating training, addressing any 9-1-1 issues, and coordinating operations with telephone companies and emergency responders. Brandt was proactive in implementing equipment and technology that allows 9-1-1 to locate people when calling from their cell phone. When local funds were unavailable, Brandt sought and secured grant funding for the equipment updates from the state. In addition, she is very active in securing continued funding for the 9-1-1 centers through state legislation.

Bringing jobs to the county megasite, as well as maintaining the businesses that currently provide jobs to county residents, is a high priority for Brandt. To accomplish this prosperity, she would nationally and internationally market Van Wert County using the Internet and social networking to improve the county’s digital presence.

Brandt said her experience, relationships, attitude, and motivation will help to enhance Van Wert County. For more information, go to www.KimBrandtForCommissioner.com and on Facebook at Brandt Commissioner 2013.