Hofstetter, Frazier vie for county commission

Jonathan Hofstetter

Richard Frazier

DGKN staff report

Two southeastern Wayne County residents are vying to fill a seat that will be open next year on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners.

Early voting is set to begin next week in Wayne County for the May primary.

Richard Frazier, of Fredericksburg, and Jonathan Hofstetter, of Kidron, are both on the Republican ticket and the winner will advance to November’s general election.

Commissioner Becky Foster’s term is complete at the end of this year and the new commissioner begins Jan. 1 alongside current commissioners Ron Amstutz and Sue Smail.

Frazier, lead pastor of DayBreak Community Church and executive director of the Wooster Hope Center, and Hofstetter, an area first responder who serves on the Sugar Creek Township board of trustees have answered questions posed to them by The DGKN.

Because of the time commitment as a full-time county commissioner, Frazier has said if elected, he will step down from his responsibilities as executive director of the Wooster Hope Center but will continue to volunteer and serve on the center’s board.

Similarly, Hofstetter has said he will put his first responder career on hold. If he is approved by voters in the May primary as the Republican nominee, and in the November election as county commissioner, he will leave an unexpired seat on the board of trustees for the township. Township trustees Tom Gregory and Scott Widmer will have 30 days to fill his seat after his term begins Jan. 1 for the county.

Q & A with Wayne County Commission candidates on May 2022 ballot

Richard Frazier

1. Why have you decided to run for County Commission?

As a lifetime resident of Wayne County, I love this county and do what I can to help make it a better place to live so my children will one day grow up and raise a family here. That is just one of the reasons why I have volunteered 30+ hours each week for the past 11 years to help people in Wayne County. I have decided to run for County Commissioner as just another way to help and make positive changes on a greater level. I am qualified and have a proven track record.

2. If elected, how will this position affect your current occupation?

As a pastor, I personally believe that I should be bi-vocational as my “job” isn’t being a pastor, it is a calling on my life. I will continue to fulfill my responsibilities as Lead Pastor of DayBreak Com-munity Church. However, if voters elect me, I will step down from my responsibilities as Executive Director of the Woo-ster Hope Center to be able to give the attention that the Wayne County Commissioner position deserves. I will continue to volunteer through the Wooster Hope Center when possible and will continue to serve on its board.

3. Why do you think you are qualified for this position?

The combined experience from being an elected official for Southeast School Board, and from being the Executive Director of the Wooster Hope Center these past 11 years, and from being a lead Pastor of DayBreak Community Church has afforded me the opportunity to work alongside with many different people and organizations in Wayne County and oversee annual financial budgets of up to $15 million. I have a Bachelors of Arts from Malone University in Business Management with a minor in religious studies. Right after college I had a paid internship at Tekfor in their accounting department working with the controller. I then began working at TriCounty ESC which gave me the opportunity to work in all the school districts in Wayne County and working with a lot of great teachers and principals. It was during that time that I learned how important it was to encourage people to work together for the common good. With the experience I gained from TriCounty ESC, the Southeast school board, and the Wooster Hope Center, I have learned to work with people of different backgrounds to achieve success. My education, combined with my experience and track record, make me qualified to serve as Wayne County’s next commissioner.

4. What are your key goals if elected?

Ultimately, I want to continue to be the person who I have been by using my financial, education, and leadership experience to help Wayne County be the best it can be. I believe you have a choice to either be part of the problem or part of the solution and my goal is to work with other county wide elected officials and local organizations to be part of the solution to resolve some of the issues that Wayne County is facing today. Another goal I have is to do the work it takes to find other ways to take care of county needs without supporting an increase in taxes. I will execute an open-door policy for all Wayne County residents for the purpose is to encourage open communication, feedback, and discussion about any matter of importance.
As an elected official is not supposed to be a “Lone Ranger” position and I am a strong believer that a person is only as good as who they surround themselves with.

Jonathan Hofstetter

1. Why have you decided to run for County Commission?

I became interested last year as I had the opportunity to work on the Wayne County Planning Commission and Wayne County Landbank. While working on both boards, I began to work with both Commissioners, Smail and Foster. I have enjoyed learning how the planning commission and landbank work. These appointments were indications that current commissioners were inviting me to understand these aspects of county government. Being involved in government outside of our township is an excellent experience. Running for county office is a big step, and I felt the work I have done in our township has helped to prepare me for the next level. The Ohio Township Association classes are also an excellent foundation to build on. I felt like I had a resume strong enough to try for County Commissioner.

2. If elected, how will this position affect your current occupation?

The county commissioner’s position pays sufficient for me to put my first responder career on hold and devote full time to the commissioner post. I have discussed the time commitment needed to do the job with commissioners, and it needs to be full-time. There are multiple meetings to keep engaged with our county’s communities, whether during the day or in the evening. Then there are the meetings and work to maintain the county’s budget. The commissioner’s office is in charge of finances for all county departments. The commissioner position deserves someone committed to being involved full-time. This also means stepping down as a township trustee, which would be a conflict in any case.

3. Why do you think you are qualified for this position?
I believe my work in Sugar Creek Township has laid a solid foundation. I have taken public records classes and attended Ohio ethics training. I have regularly participated at the Ohio Township Association winter conference, graduated from their Leadership Academy, and taken webinars throughout the year. I’ve also progressed in learning how to seek grants to help reduce pressure on the local tax burden. Our township has received some small grants, and we are getting better at it.
I’ve also worked hard with others to find solutions to resolve a conflict over fire and EMS services in our community, a conflict that went on for years and was detrimental to our community. I’ve been a part of finding workable solutions to strengthen leadership and citizen relationships in our community.
I have involved myself in the county to help build my knowledge and understanding of ideas from other communities. My knowledge of our budget, which is just over 1 million dollars, helps as I will need to quickly adapt to the county’s $134 million budget. The last experience I had was working through a pandemic. With Cares Act and American Rescue Plan dollars coming to our area, these programs have added new rules and regulations concerning the use and expenditures. All of these experiences, I believe, are items to help make a transition to the next level.

4. What are your key goals if elected?
My main goal will be to do my homework, think independently, and work cooperatively as I learn from Commissioners Amstutz and Smail and others in the county government. Understanding the data they reviewed and how they make their decisions is very valuable. My goal will also be to apply my knowledge in planning, community revitalization, and sensitivity to working with other organizations and local governments to solve problems. Another goal will be to apply my knowledge of navigating federal grant funds to add value in managing the county’s use of these funds. Auditor of State Keith Faber said it well in his address to the Ohio Township Association. Our children and grandchildren will be the ones to pay for the American Rescue Plan. Improve your communities so that they will get to use the projects as well. I couldn’t agree more. My goal is to be responsible with the funds, whether it’s our tax dollars, grants, or American Rescue Plan dollars.