DELAWARE — Republican Renee Vaughan is projected to occupy a county commissioner office at the Delaware County Historic Courthouse come Dec. 31.
But the race for Delaware County commissioner is close enough to trigger an automatic recount if the margin holds when election results are certified.
Vaughan currently leads Democrat Ryan Grissinger by 514 votes, according to final, unofficial totals from the Delaware County Board of Elections.
The final, unofficial results show Vaughan ahead with a total of 57,350 votes, representing the razor-thin majority of 50.23%.
That leaves Democrat Ryan Grissinger with the minority at 49.77%. A total of 114,186 votes were cast in the race.
The margin is approximately 0.45% of the votes cast. Ohio requires an automatic recount in a county race when the margin in the official results is 0.5% or less, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.
“It’s been a crazy night, I haven’t started behind in a campaign in a long time,” Vaughan told Delaware Source. Grissinger was leading until roughly the final 20% of remaining votes were counted.
“It’s closer than I ever thought it would be. I think it’s a result of the political landscape. Republicans didn’t fare well across the board in Delaware County,” she said.
“I’m glad the residents could see I was the best qualified candidate.”
County commissioners serve a four-year term and are paid a starting annual salary of $112,502, with increases set by the Ohio Revised Code.
Vaughan will join fellow republican commissioners Gary Merrell, whose term expires Jan. 1, 2029, and Jeff Benton, whose term expires Jan. 2, 2029.
Together, the three commissioners will work together to make county decisions, including approving county capital projects, overseeing county finances, managing county property and more.
Vaughan is a current Genoa Township trustee and her term does not expire until Dec. 31, 2027, but legally, she cannot occupy both elected officials.
Vaughan said she has until before her commissioner term begins to submit her resignation.
The remaining two township trustees have 30 days from the date the vacancy occurs to appoint a qualified resident elector to fill the seat by a majority vote.
That selected resident will then serve the rest of Vaughan’s term, which will last less than a year until the next general election.
About Vaughan
Vaughan, 55, was a Genoa Township trustee for six years, and the Delaware County Republican Party endorsed her.
She is also president of the Delaware County Township Association and director of the Ohio Township Association.
Vaughan previously told Delaware Source the county is at a critical point in its growth, and as commissioner, she plans to manage it responsibly.
During her first year in office, Vaughan said she would work with township, city and village leaders to “identify priority infrastructure needs, evaluate where development is placing the greatest demands on roads and public services and establish a coordinated plan to address those needs.”
She also wants growth to attract more manufacturing and “knowledge-based” jobs in the area to create opportunities for residents to work closer to home, thus putting less of a strain on roads due to frequent commuting and strengthening the county’s economy.
But she anticipates balancing the benefits of new development with the costs it creates for existing residents that will make decision-making harder.
“The key is location. We must encourage the right types of development in the right places, where infrastructure can support it and where it complements the character of our communities,” she said.
She also said she plans to create regular opportunities for residents to speak with her and her fellow commissioners outside of regular meetings, which take place at 9:30 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.
Vaughan also hopes to make decision-making more understandable by providing thorough explanations about the reasoning, impacts and how taxpayer dollars will be spent.
“My goal is to ensure residents understand county decisions and have a meaningful opportunity to provide input,” she said.
