MOUNT VERNON — After 16 years as county commissioner, Teresa Bemiller announced last August she was stepping back from public service.
Four Knox County natives seek to win the position in the March 19 Republican primary and move on to the November General Election. In-person voting begins Feb. 21.
Jeffrey Harmer, Barry Lester, Jennifer Snow, and Scott Zimmerman bring varied backgrounds to the race. They cite levy renewal, health care access, growth, utility solar, and communication as among the most significant issues facing Knox County.
Meet the Candidates: Knox County Republican Primary Q&A
Knox Pages will host a candidate Q&A on Feb. 20 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Woodward Opera House. The evening features the county treasurer’s race as well as the sheriff and county commissioner races. The event, sponsored by Griffin Insurance, is free, but an RSVP is appreciated. You can also click here to submit a question to the candidates.
Harmer, Lester, Snow, and Zimmerman are running for the term starting Jan. 2, 2025. Knox Pages requested them to provide background information about their candidacy. Following are their responses.
Jeffrey Harmer
Occupation: General Manager for over 25-year Apple Valley Property Owners Association, police officer with the Village of Danville, president of the Knox County Board of Health
Education: Graduated from Fredericktown High School, Certified Peace Officer, member of the Community Association Institute where I attained a designation of Association Management Specialist, 240 Firefighter, Intermediate EMT
Qualifications for office: I currently manage Apple Valley, a 3700-acre development with over 10,000 members and a multi-million-dollar budget. I am directly responsible for the daily operations, for the effective and efficient use of financial/personnel resources. I have experience with public health as I currently serve as the president of the Knox County Board of Health and have been on the board for more than 15 years.
Having been on the front lines of public safety for decades as a firefighter and an emergency medical technician, coupled with my current position as a police officer, gives me a level of understanding of the demands for those agencies as they responded to keep Knox County safe. Summarizing my experience in public leadership and community management, I’ve facilitated open discussions, collaborated with stakeholders, and made decisions to address community needs effectively. I’ve worked to build trust, promote participation, and ensure that the voices of community members are heard and valued. Overall, my experience in public board management has been dedicated to serving the community and creating a safe and thriving community for all.
Why are you running for office?
I care more about people than politics. I am ready to be a servant leader and act as steward of the resources and responsibilities entrusted to me, ensuring that they are used wisely and ethically for the benefit of others while prioritizing fiscal responsibility and accountability in county government. Having the ability to listen to the needs and concerns of others is vital in making well-informed decisions for the people of Knox County.
What are the three most significant issues facing the county?
1. The current increase in population and the need to guide the growth around current infrastructure as we plan for the future.
2. County resources such as farmland and water are crucial for ensuring environmental sustainability, food security, and quality of life for residents.
3. Access to healthcare including primary care, mental health and substance abuse across Knox County is difficult to those living in the rural area.
What will you do to address them?
1. Housing growth requires a planned approach that considers various factors such as infrastructure, development, and communities. Growth will also require supportive services such as affordable childcare, healthcare, education, and job training to help residents thrive in their communities. Engaging residents, local townships, communities, and businesses in the planning process to ensure their voices are heard is vital.
2. Comprehensive land-use plans should prioritize farmland preservation, guide development away from sensitive ecosystems, and identify areas for sustainable growth. These efforts contribute to the long-term health of our communities and environment. Maintaining property rights while accommodating landowners requires a delicate balance between development and respecting private property rights. Taking these decisions to the closest form of government will foster better actions for the people. None of us can predict the new technology, funding, and agendas that are on the horizon in the coming decades but taking a community approach and utilizing all the people will guide this thriving county toward the next millennium.
3. Support expansion of community health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that provide access and affordable primary care services, mental health, substance abuse, preventive care, and wellness programs for under-served populations. These facilities will reduce the level of responses from our public safety services. Prevention in the areas of health and safety is far less expensive than a reactionary response.
Barry Lester
Occupation: Sales Manager – Mansfield Motor Group
Education: High School Diploma – Fredericktown High School
Qualifications for office: 40 years of business management including Chief Operating Officer – Midwestern Auto Group supervising 200 employees; versed in financial analysis, team building, employee benefits, HR, and vendor negotiations.
Why are you running for office?
I believe we need transparency in government, we need to continue the fight against farmland solar along with the future growth challenges that may try to take advantage of our county. I have a fresh perspective that will be advantageous. Our first responders need added support.
What are the three most significant issues facing the county?
Farmland solar, our county aquifer, support services, and rapid housing development (overall growth).
What will you do to address them?
I plan to be more transparent by informing our county citizens, in real time, about issues that ultimately require a majority buy-in; current should be current for many issues that are brought to the office and are being discussed and negotiated. This will allow the office to have more citizen involvement by creating awareness.
Traveling the county during the last several months, I have become acutely aware of the need to keep our 22 townships’ trustees involved. We should align them with current information. This will allow greater knowledge to have the authority and confidence to make decisions. This will become even more important facing strategic decisions for growth and development of housing that is here and now. I will implement a formal reporting system to the townships on a regular basis and expect the same respected response.
Budgetary coordination and fiscal responsibility are a large part of my resume. I bring the aptitude of managing a multi-million dollar gross and net company’s financial success, tripling profits in less than 10 years. Overseeing and taking a fresh look at the challenges for fiscal responsibility dominates this position. I will come fully prepared.
The ability to perform in this position full-time will have a great advantage, very much like Teresa Bemiller has done for several years. I respectfully acknowledge that this is why she is effective. This is the seat I am running for, as Teresa is retiring at the end of the year.
Jennifer Snow
Occupation: Licensed Real Estate Agent, Owner of Mister Builder and Mister Electric
Education: Graduate of East Knox High School 1990 and Hondros Business College 1994
Qualifications: I have been an entrepreneur my whole life. I started a mowing business when I was 12 years old until I was old enough to qualify for a great program called JTPA funded by a county grant for low income families. There I learned the secretarial skills that I would end up using for my future businesses. From age 16-18, I worked at the much loved Ponderosa and K-Mart where I learned the great skill of serving and dealing with many types of personalities, whether good or bad!
After graduating high school, I worked with MR/DD patients, where I learned how to be humble, kind, and thankful for my blessing of good health. Then I finally got the chance to use those much learned secretarial skills for Turf Doctor. That is where I learned to work two careers; my full-time job and a cleaning business. But I still wasn’t busy enough, so my electrician husband and I decided to start Mister Electric, which led us to build our first spec home at age 21, which kicked off our business, Mister Builder, which led me to getting my real estate license.
Not enough caffeine could keep me going, so we purchased one little coffee drive-thru called Java Hut, which we grew to 5 locations and managed over 30 employees. In the last 30 years, we have built over 40 homes and developed 2 housing developments, creating jobs and managing 100s of contractors in Knox County. On top of juggling all of this, I managed to foster 23 teenage daughters in 21 of those years while raising two of our own, to give back to our community. Not to mention, all the while still volunteering in our church youth camps and groups, leading Girl Scouts, coaching our kids’ teams, helping serve in the food pantries and several mission trips. All of these experiences make me the well-rounded candidate that is capable of doing the job as your next county commissioner!
Why are you running for office?
I want to build a better relationship with our community and townships to help our county handle the growth that is coming our way, all while doing the job as commissioner.
What are the three most significant issues facing the county?
1. The growth coming our way. We need to prepare and be ready to monetize the growth that is coming our way in order to help pay for the infrastructure that is going to be needed.
2. We need to address why the levies are not getting renewed, primarily Children Services.
3. We need to come together as a community to come to an agreement on industrial solar and find ways to protect our farmland.
What will you do to address them?
1. We need to create a contractor registration that will help keep tax money in the townships, municipalities, etc.
2. I believe with my experience, I can help with getting this levy passed by educating the public so the monies aren’t coming out of the commissioner’s budget. Our less fortunate children need to be protected and taken care of.
3. As commissioner, I would schedule evening meetings once a month so working people can have an opportunity to get involved and speak with the commissioner(s), hear what is happening in our county, and work together to create transparency. I will also plan to attend at least 2 township meetings per month to have better communication and build much-needed relationships with the trustees and taxpayers.
Scott Zimmerman
Occupation: Owner of Complete Maintenance LLC ( Ornamental tree, herbicide and pesticide service)
Education: Mount Vernon High School, Muskingum Area Technical College.
Qualifications for office: 13 years at the State of Ohio (MVDC) Therapeutic Program Worker for 6 years. Then 7 years in Industrial. Maintenance. After MVDC, I worked at Ariel Corporation for 2 years. Then, I started my public servant career back up with the city of Mount Vernon for 17-plus years. I started in the street department for the first 6 years and then transferred to the Parks Department where I was foreman and superintendent of Park’s public buildings and lands and the cemetery for the remaining 10-plus years.
Why are you running for office?
Being a public servant is one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life and I would want to continue that as commissioner for Knox County.
What are the three most significant issues facing the county?
1. The intended growth from Intel. Growth without Sprawl.
2. Communications between the County, City, Villages and Townships
3. Improve infrastructure
What will you do to address them?
1. Maintain an open line of communication—participation with the Knox Area Development Foundation, city, villages, and townships.
2. Communication is a two-way street, and it begins with a willingness and a desire to improve. As commissioner, I will always have an open-door policy. With any government official or local citizens.
3. As county commissioner, I will work diligently with our county engineer on upcoming infrastructure needs.
Knox Pages previously published bios on the Knox County treasurer and Knox County sheriff candidates.
