After winning his primary on May 5, Harrison Township Trustee and former Licking County Commissioner Mark A. Van Buren said his thought process hasn’t changed.
Van Buren, a registered Republican running for Licking County Commissioner, hopes to fill a seat held by incumbent Rick Black, retiring after 12 years in office. He faces Democrat Kathy McLeish and write-in candidate Brian Belcher in the November election.
“I ran in the primary talking about growth and what we need to do to try to control it, to local decisions and zoning,” Van Buren said. “We just have more and more people coming, mainly from the west, and people found Licking County.”
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He said local zoning is crucial to managing growth while preserving Licking County’s rural charm. Zoning decisions are made by townships, cities and villages, but not county commissioners. In the role of commissioner, Van Buren said he could leverage tax abatement approval to influence the terms of development.
However, Van Buren stated certain data center projects are not seeking tax abatements, so county commissioners need to advise local governments to make the best decisions for their communities.
“I’m not telling them what decision to make, but I want to know how to make that decision, and that’s one thing the county commissioners can do is — let’s make sure there’s the tools in the toolbox to help them make those decisions,” Van Buren said.
The county commissioners manage various county agencies and local government departments. Commissioners control the county’s budget, which primarily goes towards judicial and public safety systems alongside infrastructure projects, like roads and intersections.
Van Buren said the growth across the county is straining schools, roads and other services.
“We need to protect the quality of life of existing residents while preparing for demands that new development places on the roads, water, sewer, emergency services and schools,” he said during the Oct. 1 candidate forum co-hosted by WCLT and The Reporting Project. “Each community has its own character and priorities, and those local voices deserve respect. As a farmer, I also understand the importance of agriculture and farmland. I support and the comprehensive planning that considers agricultural land, property rights, and appropriate locations for development.
He’s concerned about the increasing talk of eliminating property taxes, and said a move like that could cripple essential services like the Southwest Licking Joint Fire District, where he serves as a representative for Harrison Township.
Van Buren emphasized sales tax as a crucial revenue source. He wants to prioritize shopping and spending inside Licking County to keep property taxes lower. Extra sales tax revenue can then be used to fund school districts and local services.
And, Van Buren said, he hopes to prioritize accessibility to and transparency of the local government.
“Residents should be able to reach their elected officials… understand spending decisions and receive answers to their concerns,” he said. “I would remain available, explain my decisions and maintain regular communication with residents and local officials.”
Read more: 2026 Licking County Candidate Forum
The Licking County Commissioners meet weekly on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Van Buren said these meeting hours are not accessible for residents who work or have children. He wants to have evening meetings once per month or be available in the office during the evening for people to interact more regularly.
“I do not believe you should have to take vacation or try to get sick time just to come to a county commissioner meeting,” he explained. “I would like to have an evening meeting every month.”
Van Buren said he does not believe in signing a non-disclosure agreement with developer companies, as county commissioner Tim Bubb said he did in 2022, and that developer discussions should not happen in closed executive sessions.
“If somebody wants to come in and talk about development, [Harrison Township’s] meeting is first Monday of the month. Come talk to us,” Van Buren said. “We’re not going to hide anything from anybody, because if it’s so great, then tell us and tell the community and get the community excited if it’s so great. But if you’ve got to hide something from somebody, it may not be that good.”
Van Buren has lived in Licking County his entire life, leaving only for a few years after high school to earn a bachelor’s degree in business from The Ohio State University in 1990. He co-owns Van Buren Acres, a family farm south of Kirkersville, with his wife and brother and earned a master’s degree in finance from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 2011.
Since 1996, Van Buren has served the public in various ways across Licking County, including as a Kirkersville Village Council member in 1996-1997 and as a Harrison Township trustee from 1997 to 2008. That year, he was appointed to the Licking County Commissioners after one commissioner vacated their seat, and lost his reelection campaign for the seat later that year. In 2010, he returned to Harrison Township as a trustee.
Additionally, Van Buren has served and continues to serve on many different boards and committees across the county. He is currently on the board of directors for the Ohio Township Association, vice president and past president of the Licking County Township Association, treasurer and member of the board of trustees of the Licking County Farm Bureau, and represents the Pataskala Area Chamber of Commerce at Explore Licking County, to name a few.
He says that his experience as a public servant has given him a unique perspective on the issue of growth and development in Licking County.
“I’m a big believer [that] whatever decisions are made today are going to affect us not five or ten, but 20, 30, and 40 years down the road,” Van Buren said. “I’m not against growth. It just has to be done right.”
If elected, Van Buren said he would step down from the Ohio Township Association, Licking County Township Association, the Transportation Improvement District and the West Licking Joint Fire District.
Early, in-person voting began at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the board of elections office at 20 S. 2nd Street in downtown Newark. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Friday, Oct. 23. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24; from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26; from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27; from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28 until Friday, Oct. 30; from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1.
There will be no in-person early voting the Monday before Election Day.
In-person voting on Election Day will be from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Absentee ballots — including mailed ballots — must be returned to the board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Tyler K. Thompson writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.
Thompson is one of two Kirtley Mather Fellows at The Reporting Project. The fellowship in memory of Kirtley Mather, Denison Class of 1909, provides students with opportunities to engage in service for the common good.