Republican incumbent Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb will hold onto his seat another four years, based on preliminary election results from the Licking County Board of Elections.
Results reported from Licking County Board of Elections show Bubb earned 67.87% of the vote, and James Snedden, a Democrat, had 32.13% of votes.
Snedden and Bubb have faced off for the commissioner chair three times during the last 15 years, with Snedden saying he was running because “nobody else is stepping up.”
Read more: Democrat James Snedden says it’s time for a change in the county commissioners’ office
Bubb, who has held the commissioner’s seat for 20 years, is entering his sixth term as Licking County Commissioner.
“When I’m elected I run as a Republican,” Bubb said Tuesday night. “Tomorrow I’m 100% the commissioner for all the people in Licking County… If you have a concern, an idea, or whatever I’m approachable and I want to hear you.”
Since Bubb was first elected in 2004, he has worked to help get the UNESCO World Heritage Site title for the Newark Earthworks, worked on the full renovation of the Licking County Courthouse, helped develop the transportation improvement district, and helped create Grow Licking County, and Explore Licking County, the development and tourism offices.
Read more: Republican Tim Bubb says after 20 years in office, he has more work to do as county commissioner
Bubb said he appreciates the challenges that Intel has brought to the county with its $28 billion computer-chip manufacturing campus, and he is still passionate about his work.
“I welcome the challenge because I’m from here,” Bubb said.
Though Snedden has run for office several times in recent years, this race may have been his last.
Snedden is a Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War from November 1967 to November 1969. Before his retirement, he worked at the Newark Air Force Base in Heath repairing guidance systems. Prior to this election, Snedden was active in advocating for road maintenance, helping the homeless, and for mental health support.
“I think this is it. I will be 78 years old next month, so it’s time to call it quits,” Snedden said on Tuesday night after election results were reported. “I would like to thank every one of my supporters for coming out and voting for me, and I hope the best for this county.”
“I figured I would lose, but hey, when no one is stepping up someone has to [run],” Snedden continued. “I tried to make a run for it.”
Bubb reported nearly $2,000 in donations during the general election, including $500 from fellow Licking County Commissioner Rick Black, $500 from the Realtors Political Action Committee of Ohio – based in Columbus – and $100 from Newark Mayor Jeff Hall, according to campaign finance reports filed with the board of elections. Snedden reported $0 in donations in April, the latest campaign finance report available from the board.
Caroline Zollinger and Daniela Gomez Vargas write 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.