Commissioner’s Race: Wessels Running to Bring 'True Civic Engagement'

Candidate name: Joe Wessels

Party: Democrat

Status: Challenger

BATAVIA, OH -- One of the seats most likely to directly affect Clermont County residents the most is up for election this year. With just three weeks until Ohio voters will be casting their ballots, The Clermont Lantern sat down with challenger Joe Wessels, who is facing incumbent Claire Corcoran.

Two-time Commissioner Claire Corcoran has a competitor in Loveland-based Joe Wessels, who works in communications for Cincinnati Public Schools.

In order to give voters as much information as they could ahead of the election, we sat down with both candidates to learn about why they’re running, why they love Clermont County, and where their priorities will lie if they win.

In Ohio, county commissioners serve as the primary administrative, legislative, and fiscal authority over the county. If you want to know the updates on a development or give your opinion; request a zoning change for your business or anything in between, that falls within the jurisdiction of the county.

Joe Wessels grew up in Colerain Township in Cincinnati. Having been a journalist for much of his career, Wessels has seen the deepest parts of how government affects businesses and development.

He said he believes in transparency and holding accountability to local government bodies. Wessels also understands what it means to be a part of a family and a growing community, having three children himself. He said he believes in a Clermont County that families can raise children in and be proud to call home.

Here’s what Wessels said he would do to create positive change in Clermont County if he is elected in November. 

But first, a reminder: Early voting is now open and will remain open until Election Day. Click here for info on location and times.

Q: Why are you running for County Commissioner?

A: For 50 years, there’s been a one-party establishment in Clermont County. [County commissioners] were only accountable to each other and not the citizens, so I thought ‘let’s change that.’ I'm a middle of the road Democrat, I believe in common sense and good government. I'm here to be somebody to kind of break that up a little bit and bring some clarity and some transparency and accountability.

Q: What would your biggest priorities be as county commissioner?

A: The first thing to do is bring citizen true civic citizen engagement back to Clermont County. They used to have a five-minute window, but recently they limited the public comment period to two minutes per-person and then capped it at 15 minutes. I would have evening meetings and I would change the comment period.

Q: What do you love about Clermont County?

A: I love the diversity. It's growing in ways that are challenging, but it still retains what makes it beautiful. I was on a beautiful 4,000-acre farm, up in the northeast part of the county, and we played in Stone Lake, and then the southern doorstep of the Ohio River.