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OCTOBER 1, 2024
THEPOSTATHENS.COM
Charlie Adkins, Jon Rose vie for Athens County Commissioner
with other villages and townships. For example, Adkins put $1 ELIZABETH TALAGA | SLOT EDITOR million into an industrial park in Albany to extend the sewer out Charlie Adkins and Jon Rose are to the park or build new buildings. on the ballot for Athens County “It’s right at the end of the OU Commissioner for the November airport,” Adkins said. “Hopefully, that 2024 election. will help businesses coming in.” Adkins, a lifelong Athens County Adkins is also working with an resident, has been commissioner individual with property on Route 50 for 12 years and is running for reEast to put in a sewer plant. election as the Democratic candi“I’ve been working closely with date. Rose has lived in Athens for 20 that individual to make that happen,” years and is running as the IndeAdkins said. “It’s great for him, and pendent candidate. it’s great for the county because it’s Adkins worked as a volunteer going to bring jobs.” fireman, assistant fire chief and Aquaria Albano, a freshman studyfor the union at OU bargaining for ing business entrepreneurship from wages and benefits for 30 years Albany, said she looks for a commisbefore running for commissioner. sioner she can trust. “This gives me the opportunity to “I feel like (I look for) one that is help people and to do things when I just for the people,” Albano said. get that call,” Adkins said. “Someone that the people can trust, While Adkins has been in office, that will make a difference.” the state received money from Rose has been a paramedic since the American Rescue Plan, or ARP. 2015 and decided to run for comAthens County received $12 million missioner after experiencing the from the ARP, which Adkins shared
Chauncey built, so people on bikes do not have to go down the state highway. “Commissioners got a number of things that they do that were required under law,” Adkins said. “Then you’ve got things you can do as commissioner that’s your passion, that’s something that you want to do.” Adkins is also working on a new 911 center, a $12 million project, and sewer projects in New Marshfield and the Guysville and Stewart area. If reelected as commissioner in November, Adkins plans to work on a new communication system for the fire departments. “I think one of my most important jobs is the safety of the county residents,” Adkins said. Rose is focusing on sup(MIA PISHOTTI | ART DIRECTOR) porting the EMS system, growing small businesses in Athens, getting better-paying jobs with in-house training in Athens and expanding transportation services. working “If the EMS system collapses, conditions at then the whole county is going to Athens County EMS. suffer,” Rose said. “We also need Rose said the county was so to get higher paying jobs, support understaffed that there was a rolocal entrepreneurs and get them tating list of people who would be hooked up with the buildings that required to work an additional two the land bank owns, the infrastruchours the next day. Rose also felt ture that we already have in place.” he was underpaid, making $15.50 On his website, Jon Rose for an hour as a full-time paramedChange, Rose provides in-depth ic with extra credentials. Athens messages about his priorities. Rose County EMS tried to form a union, said he will work to find the root but it was very difficult. causes of why the cost of living “What brought me running for in Athens is so high and wants to commissioner is my experience make Athens a center for innovawith Athens County EMS,” Rose tion and growth. said. “The people who work there, “We’re struggling, and we need they’re all great, but their hands some help,” Rose said. “We need were tied because of the commissome fresh ideas.” sioners.” Election Day is Nov. 5, and early Throughout the past 12 years as voting begins Oct. 8. commissioner, Adkins has worked on several big projects for Athens. Most recently, Adkins worked on getting the bridge over the Hocking River from the bike path to
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