Young, McClure likely winners in Mad River Twp. race

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

An incumbent and an employee of the Clark County Engineer are the likely winners in the Mad River Township Board of Trustees race.

Jay Young was appointed to a trustee seat in March 2020 to fill the vacancy left by former Trustee Joe Catanzaro. He won his bid for another term on Tuesday. Candidate Robert W. McClure, who has been employed by the Clark County Engineer for 22 years, also won a seat.

That is according to unofficial election results that were reported Tuesday night by the Clark County Board of Elections.

Four candidates in total were vying for two seats on the Mad River Township’s Board of Trustees.

Young and McClure were running against Kathleen Baber and Jeremy E. Whitacre, who served on the village of Enon’s council and wanted to transition into a trustee role.

Young had 26.49% of the vote, McClure had 25.99%, Whitacre had 25.45% and Baber had 22.07% of the vote, according to the Clark County Board of Elections.

Polls closed in Clark County at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Mad River Twp. has three trustees who make decisions in regard to roads, waste disposal, emergency services, police protection, parks and revenue derived from property taxes.

Young is a lifelong Mad River Twp. resident who is an owner and manager of Young’s Jersey Dairy, his family’s business.

Young was seeking to continue his role as trustee, he said, because he had been a volunteer in many aspects in his life and he wanted to serve his community as trustee.

“I believe a trustee is a representative of the township and should be available to hear residents’ concerns and opinions and to communicate effectively,” he said.

McClure has been employed by the Clark County Engineer for 22 years.

“I believe I have the knowledge and experience needed to make informed and necessary decisions concerning our aging roads and infrastructure, as well as challenges facing the EMS,” McClure said.

McClure said as trustee he would work to improve the maintenance of township roadways, to improve staffing issues with the emergency services and to earn the trust of the community.

Whitacre is a lifelong Mad River Twp. resident who served on the village of Enon’s council and wanted to transition into a trustee role.

“It has been an honor serving as a councilman for the village of Enon the past six years, while I thoroughly enjoy serving on this board I thought it was time to take on a new challenge,” he said.

Baber said she was a challenger looking to bring a “fresh voice” during this year’s race for a trustee seat.

The Greenon graduate entered into the public sphere to attend public meetings after an application from a development company to build a housing development on Stine Road came before the planning and rural zoning commissions.

Baber and other township residents organized meetings and submitted a petition in regard to the rezoning in their community. A referendum challenging the rezoning appeared on this year’s November ballot.

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