James “Oody” Lowe is running for a second term as county commissioner. He started his first term after being elected in 2020, and is current one of the three commissioners, all Republican.
(I am covering all candidates who speak at the Republican Women of Ross County for the spring election, as a fair and convenient standard. Since I missed Lowe’s appearance, I made it up to him Thursday.)
He said he would like another four years, and that the three commissioners work well together – although he allowed that Dwight Garrett is retiring from the board and is not running for re-election.
Lowe said the previous services he’s given are six years in the army, retired after 28 years with the Chillicothe Police, little more than seven years as a school safety officer for Chillicothe Schools, 18 years on the Adena school board…and of course, nearing three years as Ross county commissioner.
He said the job is not just Monday morning office hours – there are other meetings and duties that are not part of the public agendas.
Lowe said the main topics that came up at his Republican Women meet & greet was dealing with the county jail renovation – including a default by the first contractor, finding a new contractor, paying for COVID inflation, and a settlement from the original contractor.
He says he also saw the World Heritage nomination finalized, the county helping to fund Community Action for a new facility including a homeless shelter, and considering a State Route 104 sewer line and county airport renovation.
And as for his nickname? He says an aunt gave nicknames to all the kids…and that’s what she assigned to him.
Lowe has one Republican opponent, Jason Link, the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Chillicothe.
Hear him in his own words in the video interview in the article on the Scioto Post.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.