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Incumbent Nick Laux is being challenged by Jodie L. Swaney for an open Jefferson Township trustee seat in the Nov. 7 general election.
Laux is a 64-year-old fabricator at Celina Glass. He has a wife, Myra, and is a graduate of Celina High School. He has been a Jefferson Township trustee for nearly seven years.
Asked what experience he has that qualifies him to serve as township trustee, Laux said he was born and raised in Mercer County, grew up on a farm and worked for neighboring farmers and has been involved in construction, including excavating and tilling, for over 50 years.
He also worked at Honda of America Manufacturing for 26 years.
"I really enjoy working for the residents of Jefferson Township, being able to take their calls any time of the day, all hours of the day," he said. "When I do get a call … I usually try to get the best answer that I can for their questions as quick and as soon as possible."
Laux said he wants to continue taking care of his community, pointing out it's been a lifelong dream of his to be a township trustee.
"As a Jefferson Township trustee, one of the many things that I do is I plow snow through the wintertime and I address ice on the roadways, manage high water and drainage issues … throughout the year," he said.
He said he's also tasked with managing cemeteries and the mowing of side ditches and responds to damage caused by high winds and storms, namely by moving limbs and trees from roadways.
Swaney, 65, is retired after having worked in the insurance business for 47 years. She and her husband, Dick, have three children and seven grandchildren.
She graduated from Celina High School in 1976 and attended Wright State University-Lake Campus. She also earned a Certified Insurance Counselor designation.
Swaney has never held public office but noted she was on the Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce board of trustees for over 20 years.
She cited her business background as experience that qualifies her to serve as township trustee.
"I'm 65 years old and I've been involved in business since I was 18," she said.
Swaney said her family had owned D&W Marina, now called Lakeshore Marina, for 49 years. She worked in various capacities with the marina before graduating high school.
She and her husband owned Carta Villa Restaurant in Celina from 1983 to 1992.
"And then with me having ownership of the (insurance) agency, I feel like I have a lot of business experience," Swaney added.
Swaney reiterated that she has worked most of her life, at times holding multiple jobs.
"I think work is probably our hobby, both mine and my husband," she said. "That's probably why we're so compatible because we both work as our hobby. We enjoy it and everything that it represents."
Asked why she's running for township trustee, Swaney said she wants "to serve the people."
If elected, Swaney said she would jump right in and try to learn the ropes as soon as possible.
