GOP committee will pick Stephens’ successor

It will take, at most, 43 votes. That is the magic number one Lawrence County Republican may need to take over the seat on the Lawrence County Commission, soon to be vacated by Jason Stephens.

On March 14, Ray Dutey, longtime county auditor, will retired from office. The next day, Stephens, who won the post in the last November general election, becomes the new auditor. That leaves his commission seat open.

No sooner than March 19, can the Republican Central Committee meet to pick Stephens’ successor. That person will finish out the remaining almost two years of Stephens’ term. Then it will be up to the voters during the general election in November 2012. But until then it’s in the hands of the 84 members of the party’s central committee.

Right now at least six have said they want Stephens’ job. They range from a retired steelworker and former school board member to a 30-year-old entrepreneur to a college professor. There’s a veteran grassroots politician versus those whose experience in the county politician arena is negligible.

Recently, these six spoke to The Tribune about their background and why they want on the Lawrence County Commission.

Bill Pratt, 37, is a fourth-generation dairy farmer based out of Chesapeake. A year ago, he ran for his first public office, winning a seat on the Chesapeake school board. For the past 13 years he has served on the Ironton Metropolitan Housing Authority, which he has chaired for the past six years.

“I had an itch to be in politics for a while, but really didn’t have the time,” Pratt said. “My wife and I have been building our careers and family. This was a good chance for me.”

Though Pratt has never run for a county office, he has a family lineage of public service. His great uncle Pearl Pratt was once county auditor and Pearl’s brother was at one-time chair of the Republican party.

“My priorities would be fighting crime … my top priority,” he said. “My house was recently robbed in October and I think we need to concentrate on helping the sheriff’s office do their jobs. Roads would be my second objective, to keep them in repair. And we want to concentrate on helping local business to achieve what they desire in terms of creating jobs.”

Dr. Dave Lucas, 59, teaches communications studies at the Ironton campus of Ohio University Southern. This is not Lucas’ first foray into politics. In 1998 he unsuccessfully ran for state representative against Bill Ogg. He describes himself as a unifier.

“I think we stand on the threshold in Lawrence County to do some very, very innovative and special things,” Lucas said. “I think with some creative thinking and aggressive action Lawrence County can once again reach the point of excellence and success and prosperity. I think it is very important at this moment to be forward-thinking. I feel I can bring to bear my experience, background and connections, locally and statewide.”

Bob Mayo, 57, is a Proctorville-based businessman, who ran for commission in 2006, losing to Democrat Doug Malone. He served two-terms on the Fairland school board, leading the ticket.

“The main objective I would have is to try to motivate more entrepreneurship in the county,” Mayo said. “The entrepreneur is the engine that drives our economy. We have to find ways to motivate those by increasing their business, adding to business, adding to jobs. Search out those who are starting a new business and help them get started.”

Mayo would like to hold countywide meetings to help those trying to start a business.

“I have spent the last five years trying to gain a position (in the county). I have spent a lot of time and effort and a lot of money. I have certainly put in more effort. The commissioner’s seat is pretty much the focal point of the county government. It has the most ability to reach out to others in the county and motivate economic growth and work with the various partners of the county. I think I have gained the respect from a lot of voters in Lawrence County. We need to work hard at getting jobs for our kids in Lawrence County. There are a lot of things going on in Lawrence County I am optimistic about.”

Perry Brock, 50, owner of Brock Burial Vault Co., is in his fourteenth year as a Fayette Township Trustee. He is on the board of directors of the state township trustee association where he chairs the finance committee and is a member of the policy, conference and state fair committees. He is also president of the Lawrence County Township Association serving on the Homeland Security and broadband committees. Two years ago, Brock ran unsuccessfully for county treasurer and has run in the Republican primary for commissioner.

“It is a job where you can help people,” Brock said. “That is what I have done all my life, to make Lawrence County a better place. I just want to see Lawrence County grow in business. We need things to keep our young people in Lawrence County.”

Paul Johnson, 61, is retired from AK Steel with 37 years of service and recently finished six years on the Rock Hill school board.

“I like working for the people,” he said. “That is what it is on the school board. I know (commission) is on a bigger scale. I kind of miss it and this came open.”

Johnson said if he were appointed he would focus on the elderly and young people.

“I would like to see elderly people have something to do,” Johnson said. “And jobs for the young people. When they come out of school, there is nothing here. I know how to work with a budget. I did it with the school board. Rock Hill had 250 employees. That is a big employer. Working for the people, that is what I want to do.”

Drew Artis, is a 30-year-old entrepreneur and business instructor. He has worked as business manager of emergency services at King’s Daughters Medical Center and administrator of a cancer center in Athens. Currently he teaches business at Daymar College in New Boston.

“I think Lawrence County has a lot of potential,” Artis said. “It needs to be run as a business, not from a political standpoint. I would like to use the land. I think we have a lot of vital assets in Lawrence County, such as the river and rail and all the property. We need to come up with attractive incentives to bring business to the area to create jobs. We need to take care and retain businesses that are currently here … I want to take care of what we have.”

When the central committee votes on a successor to Stephens, it will take a simple majority of those who attend the meeting to win, according to Ray Dutey, Republican party chair for the county. However this time with such a large number vying for the job, the committee might have to take a second run at the selection process.

“We have been talking and I think if several stay in it, we will take the top two,” Dutey said. “And have another runoff that same night.”