Republican takes step toward running for Eliason's seat

The race for Athens County commissioner is heating up with a Republican taking out petitions to challenge incumbent Democrat Lenny Eliason, who has now officially announced his bid for re-election.

Two Democrats already had taken out petitions to challenge Eliason in the May primary. These include Nelsonville businesswoman Miki Brooks and 2008 commissioner primary candidate Charlie Adkins of Albany.

Now, Larry Conrath Realty agent Matt Gaiser, a Republican, is also circulating petitions to run for the office. Having a degree in culinary arts and being a certified chef, Gaiser came to Athens seven years ago as a restaurant manager to open Damon's restaurant, according to his biography on the Larry Conrath Realty Web site.

Both Gaiser and wife, Hillery, left the hospitality industry to start a family, and launch new careers in real estate, the site bio states. Gaiser has been an active member of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce since 2000, and has held positions as the co-chair, and then chair of the ambassador committee. In 2002, Gaiser was voted as the "Ambassador of the Year" by business peers in the Athens area, according to the site.

"At this time, I am strongly considering running, and am actively circulating petitions," Gaiser said when asked about his candidacy. "When I file, I will begin to speak to certain issues and specific reasons for my running."

He said he expects to file his petitions by this Thursday's deadline.

Meanwhile, Eliason officially announced his bid for re-election over the weekend. Eliason has been county commissioner since August 1998 when he was appointed to an unexpired term. He won election to his first full term in November 1998.

"I have enjoyed serving the citizens of Athens County and look forward to continuing that service," Eliason said in his announcement.

Prior to elected office, Eliason had a 20-year career in the broadcasting industry in various markets in Ohio, including 10 years as a station owner. (For a brief period, Eliason wrote a sports column for The Athens NEWS.)

Eliason is now serving as the first vice president of the National Association of Counties and will become president in July 2011, his release said.

He is a board member of the Tri-County Community Action Agency, the Buckeye Hills Hocking Valley Regional Development District Executive and General Policy committees and the Appalachian Development Corporation. Eliason also chairs the Athens County Economic Development Council. He has previously served on the Area Agency on Aging Board, the Southeastern Ohio Emergency Medical Services Board (SEOEMS) and the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail Board.

Eliason primary challenger Charlie Adkins has run for a county commissioner seat before.

Previously, Adkins lost a coin-toss after tying with contender Jim Pancake in the Democratic primary for former Commissioner Bill Theisen's open seat. Republican Larry Payne later defeated Pancake in the general election.

Adkins is a former union president at Ohio University, leading the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1699 Council 8 for 20 years. He also chaired the statewide Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) board for several years. Adkins is retired from OU.

Adkins has named his father, former Athens County Commissioner Tommy Adkins, as campaign manager, and has said that if elected, he will make himself visible throughout the county, working with constituents.

Charlie Adkins said he brings something different to the table than any other candidate. "I just think I could bring a different view and a different dynamic there," Adkins said. "I think all three of us bring something different to the table. I just think that what I can bring is a better deal."

The third Democrat running for the seat, Miki (Michelle) Brooks, works as a realtor with Ohio Realty. She is also a member of the Nelsonville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, president of the Stuart's Opera House Board of Directors, and is retired as a guidance counselor from Tri-County Career Center. Owner of FullBrooks Café on the Nelsonville Public Square, Brooks said she is also involved in Nelsonville's Final Fridays and helped organize North Pole Nelsonville last year.

When asked about her potential run last August, Brooks said she sees running for the office as a big job interview with a lot of people.

"And then you trust that they will make the right choice about who to hire, and that's basically what they're doing," Brooks said.