Patriots provide primary election forum

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The public had the chance to hear candidates for Van Wert County offices speak during a Candidate’s Night Tuesday evening sponsored by the local Heartland Patriots group.

Six Republican candidates, including those for the contested offices of county treasurer and probate-juvenile court, had the opportunity to talk about their qualifications for the offices they seek during the event, which was held at First Friends Church on South Franklin Street.

Those speaking included Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas Riggenbach, County Commissioner Todd Wolfrum, County treasurer candidates Jeff McIntosh and Jerry Mazur, and County Probate-Juvenile judge candidates Kevin Taylor and Scott Gordon.

Sheriff Riggenbach spoke first, noting he is seeking re-election to his second four-year term in that office. The sheriff talked about his nearly 25 years of experience working in the sheriff’s office, adding that he has served in a number of capacities during that time.

“I consider it a privilege to be sheriff of Van Wert County and I hope to be able to continue this role in the future,” he said.

Sheriff Riggenbach also talked about the accomplishments of his term as sheriff, including SRO deputies in the Crestview and Lincolnview school districts, creation of a digital forensic technology lab, and assumption by the sheriff’s office of the county dog warden duties.

Through funds received for housing prisoners from other counties, the sheriff’s office has been able to purchase a new body scanner and new camera and door security system for the County Correctional Facility, and a camera and door lock system for the sheriff’s office building.

Sheriff Riggenbach also noted that he has applied for, and received, grant dollars to purchase equipment for his office, as well as dollars received from Clerk of Court Cindy Mollenkopf and from Prosecutor Eva Yarger that have been used to make improvements and purchase equipment.

The sheriff also answered a question about “red flag” legislation that seeks to take guns from people judged a danger to themselves and others, noting he doesn’t support legislation that doesn’t provide due process for those accused under such measures.

Also speaking was local attorney Scott Gordon, who is one of two Republicans running for probate-juvenile court judge. Gordon talked about his 30 years of experience as a local attorney, noting that his practice deals with juvenile defense, estates, and guardianship issues. He is also head of the Van Wert County Public Defenders’ office.

His education includes an MBA and law degree from Capital University in Columbus.

“I believe I have a rounded perspective of the law and how it is to be applied,” Gordon said, noting that he does not have a hidden agenda when it comes to how he feels the law should be written. “The law is the law and you apply it as it is written.”

He also talked about his community involvement, including being a former president of the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce, and is currently solicitor representing the villages of Ohio City, Wren, Middle Point, and Venedocia, and has also represented the village of Scott in the past.

He is also the father of four grown children and was a longtime coach for local sports teams.

“I believe I am experienced and ready for that position,” he said of his seeking the probate-juvenile judge’s position.

His primary opponent, incumbent Probate-Juvenile Judge Kevin Taylor, noted he is seeking his second six-year term in that office. Judge Taylor was appointed to the position in 2012 following the retirement of Rex Fortney, ran for Judge Fortney’s unexpired term that same year, and then was elected to his first full term in 2014.

Taylor was a private attorney for 31 years and spent 26 years as an assistant prosecuting attorney, including 10 years handling cases in Juvenile Court. He and his wife, Kathy, have four children and three grandchildren.

He is an active member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Van Wert, and had been a member of the former Jaycees Club, is a current member and past president of the Van Wert Optimist Club, and was a former campaign chair for United Way of Van Wert County, and a former president of the Van Wert Outdoorsmen Club.

Taylor talked about the duties of Probate Court, noting it is one of most active and demanding courts, with more than 200 separate 

“It’s not something you learn overnight,” Judge Taylor said, noting that the main task of a probate judge is to protect the rights of estate heirs and those of juveniles involved in adoptions. 

He noted that much of the business of the Probate Court is now online to provide better access to the public and attorneys, as well as the docket of both the Probate and Juvenile courts.

Juvenile Court cases, he noted, focus on effective treatment of the child and protection of the community. When children get in trouble, he noted, the first goal is not to punish them, but to rehabilitate them and, through community treatment and probation programs, make them productive members of society.

Judge Taylor also noted he has been a good fiscal manager of the court, adding he has turned an average of $55,000 in unused funds back to the county each of the past five years.

Last on the agenda were the two primary candidates for county treasurer.

Next up was Jeff McIntosh, a Crestview and Vantage graduate, noted he earned an accounting degree in college, but has spent the past 34 years working in the automotive sales business, with the past 24 years spent in management. As part of his job, he manages the four Guaranteed Auto used car business for Greve, as well as auto financing programs. 

Noting the recent problems with balancing in the county treasurer’s office, he assured voters he has experience with balancing books and keeping finances on track.

McIntosh said he has shadowed the office recently and has become somewhat familiar with the operations of the office. He also noted he is familiar with the software program used in the treasurer’s office.

He said he has spoken at length with Acting Treasurer Laura Metzger, retired Crestview Local Schools treasurer, adding he was very interested in making sure employees of the office are cross-trained on all positions to ensure a smoother operation of the office.

McIntosh said he was aware that being able to work well with others is important to a county treasurer, and noted he has always been able to do that in all his positions over the years.

He also answered the unspoken question of why he would want to change jobs after being successful in his current position.

“Hierarchy of needs has changed throughout time,” McIntosh said, noting that when he and his wife were young and raising a family, money was more important to them. 

Saying that he now has grandchildren, McIntosh said he didn’t want them to grow up in a town “that is in the state that we are in. I feel I can serve the county, do a lot better job than what’s being done, not make us a laughingstock, make us marketable to the country to have people come who want to live in Van Wert County, start a business in Van Wert County.”

McIntosh said he was more interested in serving the county, than in making a dollar.

His opponent, former Van Wert mayor Jerry Mazur, touted his business experience with Otis Elevator Company and Westinghouse Electric’s elevator business, as well as his management ability in a variety of positions with the companies, including more than four years spent in China.

He also noted he has taken a number of business courses and has experience in managing large budgets.

Mazur touted his role in creating the current city-county economic development entity, as well as his experience as mayor of Van Wert.

If elected treasurer, Mazur said he would reach out to receive aid and training from the state treasurer’s office, the county auditor’s office, and neighboring county officers in order to bring the county office into compliance.

“I will be a diligent steward of the county’s investment portfolio, and, most importantly, I will place great attention in the area of real estate tax receipts, and special attention with regard to keeping all records correct and current,” Mazur said, adding that he would also implement a cross-training program for deputy treasurers.

County Commissioner Todd Wolfrum, who is running unopposed in the primary, spoke briefly about his experience as county commissioner, while Commissioner Stan Owens, who is also running unopposed in March, was unable to attend because of illness.

Also speaking on Tuesday was County Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger, who took some time to update people in the situation in the county Board of Elections Office, in regards to security issues cited by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

Both he and Wolfrum said they felt the news release from LaRose’s office placing the county elections office on administrative oversight was unfortunate, especially when the issues in question were nearly completed at the time the release was sent out.