Schwieterman challenges incumbent Laffin

CELINA - The race for a Mercer County commission seat beginning Jan. 2, 2021, finds incumbent Jerry Laffin of Coldwater facing off against challenger Andy Schwieterman of Celina for the Republican nomination.

The winner advances to the Nov. 3 general election to take on Democratic candidate Don Holtvoigt of Celina, who is running unopposed.
in the primary election.

Jerry Laffin   

Jerry Laffin, who first took office on Jan. 2, 1981, is serving his 10th term as a Mercer County commissioner. Laffin, 81, has a wife, Nancy, two daughters, a son, 11 grandchildren and a great-grandchild on the way. He's also a farmer.

Laffin graduated from Celina High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1961-1963.

Prior to becoming commissioner, Laffin served as a Washington Township trustee for three years, he said when asked about experience that qualifies him to serve as commissioner. He also pointed out that he was very active in FFA during his high school years. It was in FFA where he underwent training in leadership, public speaking and parliamentary procedure. He was elected state FFA vice president and head usher at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.

"I enjoy the job and I feel I still have something to offer," he said about his decision to mount a run for his 11th term. "I've worked with architects and contractors throughout my years so there is some knowledge there that I have that I feel is beneficial."

Winning another term would allow him the opportunity to continue serving the people of Mercer County.

"I've learned the ins and outs and the do's and don'ts of the office of commissioners," he said.

Laffin also pointed out he wants to see the new ag center project completed. Commissioners are proceeding with plans to turn the former Cheryl Ann building into an agriculture services center to house offices for the county's soil and water conservation district, Ohio State University Extension and Farm Service Agency.

The renovation could start as soon as this spring and cost between $2.5 million to $3 million, depending on which, if any, alternate additions commissioners choose once they receive bids.

Touching on what he believes to be some of the major accomplishments under his watch as commissioner, Laffin highlighted the commissioners' decision to make community and economic development a full-time department.

"I feel that's been very beneficial to the county. I'm proud of what has happened," he said, adding that the county continually has the lowest unemployment rate in the state in part due to the community development office that has brought industry to the area.

The commissioners in the early 1980s also established a revolving loan fund that has loaned nearly $16 million and helped create 1,792 jobs, he said.

The low-interest loans can be used to buy fixed assets such as land, buildings, machinery and equipment and as working capital to expand an existing or start-up business. Except for local infrastructure needs, the loans are repaid to the fund with interest to provide funding for future loans.

Also, working hand in hand with the engineer's office, commissioners during Laffin's time in office have replaced or reconstructed many bridges that were in bad shape, Laffin said.

Andy Schwieterman  

Schwieterman, 36, is a dairy farmer and real estate auctioneer. He and his wife, Amanda, have three children.

He graduated from Celina High School and went to real estate and auction school.

"I've been a dairy farmer my whole life. I understand what the ag world is about here in the county," he told the newspaper when asked what experience he has that qualifies him to serve as commissioner. "I've also served on the (county) soil and water (conservation) board now for eight years, going on my ninth year."

He is the current chairman of the soil and water conservation board. Through his work on the board, Schwieterman said he learned about making appropriations, a skill that would come into play as commissioner when setting the annual budget.

Asked why he's running for commissioner, Schwieterman - who describes himself as pro-life, pro-family and pro-government - pointed to five key personal principles driving his campaign.

The first principle, he said, is faith.

"I'd like to have everybody get addicted to God," he said. "Because if we get everybody addicted to God then all the other addictions will cease."

His second principle is family. He proposes to build an indoor family activity center somewhere in Mercer County. He would launch a feasibility study to determine the best location and the most viable way of financing it.

"I'm all about family activities," he said. "It doesn't have to be a pool and an ice rink. Start something and see where it goes."

Schwieterman said he finds it discouraging when he sees a parent or grandparent on social media writing about looking for something to do and being told to drive to a destination outside of the area.

"Why can't we have that here? It seems relevant that we could do it here and all the counties around us would enjoy it too," he said, adding the county needs amenities that attract and retain young people and their families.

The third principle is friendship. He said he would like to build friendships with surrounding counties.

"Just like our neighbors around us at home … I think we should all know what each other's doing around us and how we can help each other out," Schwieterman said.

Schwieterman said the fourth principle is financial knowledge. If elected he said he would advocate financial education so all residents have the basic understanding to invest, save and best position themselves for the future.

"Can we find a way to help them out personally to make them financially free?" Schwieterman mused.

The last principle is fitness, saying obesity is an issue in some areas. He envisions a partnership between local fitness centers and physicians.

"My idea is if you lose 10 pounds you get a free day at the fitness center. If you lose 50 pounds, you get a free consultation with a doctor," he said. "Whether that works or not, I don't know. That's something I need to communicate."

If elected, Schwieterman said he hopes to make adoption easier in the county.

"I understand it's expensive, and we'll see if we can make it a little easier," he said. "I don't think there's a greater place to grow kids than there is in the county here and the small communities that we live in."

He also wants to champion local organizations such as FFA, Scouts and 4-H to get county children involved in wholesome, leadership-building activity.

"Because that's where our future leaders are, and those are the people that are going to lead this county next. We need to show them the way," he said.

Correction:

Andy Schwieterman, a candidate for the Mercer County commissioner seat beginning Jan. 2, 2020, said he describes himself as pro-life, pro-family and pro-gun. His position was misstated. The error was made in reporting.