ATHENS, Ohio — Democrat Autumn Brown has won a seat on the Athens County Board of Commissioners, defeating Republican Sarah Smith 12,976 votes to 7,087 in unofficial election-night results from the Athens County Board of Elections, according to the Athens County Independent. Brown replaces Commissioner Lenny Eliason, who has served on the board since his appointment in 1998, and her win keeps the three-member board entirely in Democratic hands, the Independent reported.
Speaking from The Mine Tavern on election night, Brown told the Athens County Independent she was “super excited,” adding: “I’m grateful that the Athens County community took the time to get to know me. I’m ready to get to work.” Smith told the Athens County Independent she was disappointed, said “I knew it was an uphill battle from the start as this is a heavily Democratic county,” and congratulated Brown.
{AD}
Brown comes to the board after 30 years at the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities, where she managed county-operated budgets and served on county-wide teams — experience her campaign cited as preparation for the commissioner’s office, according to the Athens County Independent. She positioned herself as continuing Eliason’s work while bringing new ideas to the board.
Both candidates emphasized more transparency in county government during the campaign, according to the Athens County Independent; Smith’s campaign emphasized economic development, while Brown’s emphasized strategic planning. The seat’s term begins Jan. 1, 2027, according to the Independent’s results roundup.
{AD}
Nearly 60 percent of Athens County voters cast ballots in the Nov. 3 general election, according to the Athens County Board of Elections figures reported by the Athens County Independent. The same electorate rejected eight levies on Tuesday’s ballot, including the countywide Athens City-County Health Department 1-mill levy, which fell 9,788 votes for to 10,001 against in the board of elections figures reported by the Independent — decisions that will shape the budget environment Brown joins in January.
The results are unofficial until the Athens County Board of Elections certifies them later this month. Brown is set to take the seat on Jan. 1, 2027, joining the board as it sets the county’s spending and services priorities for the year ahead.
Photo: Ed!, CC BY-SA 3.0