Three file for county commission

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Three candidates, including two Republicans and one Democrat, have filed petitions to run for Highland County Commissioner, while one candidate who considered such a run decided to forego the race.

Republicans Terry Britton and Barb Cole, along with Democrat Tara Campbell, all filed petitions by Wednesday’s deadline to seek the county commission seat being vacated by Tom Horst, who is retiring.

Incumbent Republican Shane Wilkin filed for re-election. No one filed to challenge Wilkin.

Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera, a Republican, filed for re-election, after earlier winning a special election to fill the unexpired term of former Sheriff Ron Ward. No one else filed for sheriff.

Other incumbent Republicans filed to retain their county seats, without opposition from either party. They include Clerk of Courts Dwight “Ike” Hodson, Engineer Dean Otworth, Prosecutor Anneka Collins, Recorder Chad McConnaughey, Treasurer Vicki Warnock and Coroner Jeff Beery.

Lee Koogler, the president of Hillsboro City Council, pulled petitions for county commissioner, but decided against seeking the office.

Koogler, a Republican, said Wednesday that after considering potential conflicts with his duties as an attorney in the local county court system, he has decided to focus on his practice and his duties with the city of Hillsboro.

“While I was greatly interested in the position and would have enjoyed the ability to do more at a county level, at this point in time I’m going to focus on the full plate that I already have,” said Koogler.

Non-partisan candidates have until a later date to file for office.

Reach Gary Abernathy at 937-393-3456 or on Twitter @abernathygary.

By Gary Abernathy

[email protected]

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