Commissioner

Colton Copley

• Office sought: Lawrence County Commissioner

• Party: Republican

• Age: 36

• Residence: South Point

• Professional Background: Bachelors Degree from Marshall University and received Doctorate Degree from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

• Occupation: Lawrence County commissioner and emergency room physician at Cabell Huntington Hospital

• Political Experience: Currently serving as Lawrence County Commissioner. Previously served as president of the school board at South Point Local School District.

• Civic Involvement: I am active in my local church, Christ Temple. I have been involved in youth sports coaching youth soccer, softball, basketball and volunteering as a high school football coach. I volunteer time to serve on the Lawrence County Special Olympics board (…).

• What will your top priority be if elected to office? I want to continue to work towards bringing high paying jobs and industry to our area. We have made progress through the last year on issues such as the jail, addiction services, and being fiscally responsible for our constituents. (…)

• What makes you the best candidate for the job? I have proven (…) that my strengths in communication and critical thinking are pivotal to being successful as commissioner. I brought a savings of greater than $400,000 to the county by working through our jail’s medical bills and finding a true cost savings.

• What professional accomplishments are you most proud of in your life? I am proud of my career in medicine. (…) There isn’t a shift that goes by that I don’t have an opportunity to make life or death decisions that my training has prepared me for. (…)

• What would you do to increase bipartisanship and cooperation in our government? (…) I am a proud Republican, but I understand that there are individuals who are in the opposite party or no party affiliation at all, who also love Lawrence County and want the best for it. (…)

• Other comments (30 words or less): Over the last year, I have been successful as your county commissioner. I ask that you support me with your vote to serve a full term as your commissioner.

Shawn Hacker

• Office Sought: County Commissioner

• Party: Republican
• Age: 34
• Residence: Ironton
• Professional background: Bachelor’s Degree from Shawnee State University in environmental engineering, with a concentration in hazardous waste management; served eight years in the Army National Guard; member of Local 8 Southeast Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers
• Occupation: Area Manager at APG Polytech
• Political Experience: First time running for political office
• Civic Involvement: Active, lifetime member of my local church – St. Joseph/St. Lawrence Catholic Parish; 4th Degree member of Knights of Columbus, where I’m involved in fundraising for special needs children; member of the NRA, Buckeye Firearms Association and North American Hunting Club.
• What will your top priority be if elected to office? Continue with the efforts to bring good paying jobs to our area, and work diligently toward finding a solution to our jail issue.
• What makes you the best candidate for the job? (…) I’m well accustomed to working well in high stress situations when needed, and I have excelled in staying within the budget. I intend to gift $25,000 of my commissioner’s salary back to Lawrence County. (…)
• What professional accomplishments are you most proud of in your life? (…) Knowing that, no matter how difficult a time I’ve had finding a job, then getting laid off (like so many other people in our region), I’ve never quit trying. I have learned to persevere through faith in God, my family and my community.

• What would you do to increase bipartisanship and cooperation in our government? I’m a strong conservative Republican; however, I know that not everyone agrees with my views. I believe the true goal is to work together despite our party, collaborate and pull this county out of the depressed state it’s been spiraling into (…).

• Other comments (30 words or less): I will use the experience gained throughout my professional and military careers, and apply it to the office of county commissioner. I love Lawrence County, and I humbly ask for your support and vote.

DeAnna Holliday

• Office sought: Lawrence County Commissioner

• Party: Republican

• Age: 50

• Residence: 63 TWP RD 282, Ironton

• Professional Background: I worked 10 years in the cellular communications industry. Since then, I have owned and operated my own businesses for over 20 years and, for the last three-plus years, I have proudly served this county as your Lawrence County commissioner.

• Occupation: President, Lawrence County Commissioners

• Political experience: I served eight years on the Dawson Bryant Board of Education; I am currently serving a four-year term as Lawrence County Commissioner; and I currently serve on the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, Board of Directors. (…)

• Civic involvement: You will find me at events throughout the county, supporting youth, seniors, veterans and individual clubs and organizations. I am a member of the NWTF, where I represent a strong women’s group that encourages women to get involved in the outdoors. (…)

• What will your top priority be if elected to office? My top priority will continue to be people. I’ll continue to create opportunities for citizens by creating jobs, strengthening current infrastructure and creating new, while enhancing current county services, adding recreational opportunity and by cleaning up our landscape.

• What makes you the best candidate for the job? My experience and my heartfelt desire to serve you. I have protected the financial health of our county, implemented new initiatives and built strong relationships locally, at the state and nationally. (…)

• What professional accomplishments are you most proud of? I am very proud of my personal businesses, one of which is six generations strong in our county. I’m most proud to serve as your commissioner. I’m also proud of initiatives that I’ve championed like, Project First Impression and Imagination Library. (…)

• What would you do to increase bipartisanship and cooperation in our government? I believe my actions speak for themselves. No one has worked harder to unite people in this county, understanding that “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”-Helen Keller. (…)

• Other comments (30 words or less): When you re-elect me, you secure strong representation for this county. (…) I am the most experienced, determined and proven candidate on the local ballot; I ask you to allow me to continue this work that I am so passionate about.

Brian A. Pinkerman

• Office Sought: Lawrence County Commissioner

• Party: Republican

•  Age:  49

• Residence: Proctorville/Scottown

• Professional background: Machinist (16 years); Union representative with I.A.M.; Owner/Operator of Pinkerman’s Excavating and Construction LLC (since 2005)

• Occupation: Business Owner/Operator, Class A CDL License

• Political Experience:  Rome Township Trustee (second term, seven years)

• Civic Involvement: President, Rome Township Board of Trustees; president, Lawrence County Storm Water Task Force; vice president, Lawrence County Township Association; serve on Lawrence County Planning Commission; support Lawrence County 4-H Agricultural Program; member of Finley United Methodist Church

• What will your top priority be if elected to office? (…) I want to bring all of Lawrence County offices together to work as a team, to help build, grow and maintain the integrity of our county. I want to be a voice of the citizens of the county to our state Legislature.

• What makes you the best candidate for the job? I will be a full-time commissioner. (…) The Commissioner duties will be my top priority. I have both government and business experience appropriating funds, creating budgets. I believe in accountability of our actions and our decisions.

• What professional accomplishments are you most proud of in your life? Having a successful family business. Building professional relationships with many county offices; The engineer’s office, to obtain Issue 1 money for blacktopping, The Storm Water Task Force, to resolve many drainage and water issues. (…)

• What would you do to increase bipartisanship and cooperation in our government? I have the ability to work with anyone, it doesn’t matter if you’re an office holder, a worker or fellow citizen of Lawrence County.  Communication is key, following up and following through with projects and promises, helping in any way I can.

• Other comments (30 words or less): My family has been a part of Lawrence County since the 1800s, farming and working hard. (…)  I have a passion and a desire to see Lawrence County grow and prosper for many generations to come. (…)

Other candidates: Jeff Blakeman