Incumbent county engineer to face challenger in 2012

The son of a former Athens County engineer has announced his candidacy for that position in 2012.

Jeff Maiden revealed last week that he will challenge incumbent County Engineer Archie Stanley in the Democratic primary in March. Maiden is the son of the late Rex Maiden, who served as county engineer before Stanley and challenged Stanley for the position unsuccessfully in 1996. Rex Maiden also challenged Stanley in 2004 but passed away three months before the election. Stanley is seeking his ninth four-year term.

Jeff Maiden – whose first name is also Rex but goes by Jeff – said in a press release that he has been a registered professional engineer since 1987 and a professional surveyor since 1992. Maiden also holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Ohio University. The release states that he has 30 years of experience designing and building civil infrastructure projects in southeastern Ohio.

Maiden said that he has a number of goals if elected to serve as engineer.

Some of these goals, he said, include "providing new leadership through a strong work ethic; becoming more responsive to public concerns over right-of-way, bridge and roadway issues; and improving communication with property owners along the county road system."

Maiden said he would also advise the township and village governments on engineering and floodplain issues as well as develop a schedule and a plan for the asphalt paving of all county roads. He said he would like to improve the efficiency and productivity of the County Engineer's Office by designing and constructing more road and bridge projects with county employees.

"Jeff has spent his entire career in the private sector, and he believes that he can bring a new perspective to the office of the Athens County engineer," the release states.

A resident of Athens County for nearly 40 years, Maiden currently resides in The Plains with his family.

From 1982 through 1993, he was the vice-president of Maiden and Jenkins Construction Company in Nelsonville (a company started by his father), according to the release. His responsibilities included project management and administration for various construction projects, including bridge and highway projects, waterline and sanitary sewer projects, and commercial buildings.

"His construction experience at Maiden and Jenkins became the foundation for creating engineering designs that are not only constructible, but efficient and cost effective," the release stated.

Maiden became a full-time design engineer and land surveyor in May 1993, when he founded the RJM Engineering Company in Athens.

As the current president and owner of RJM Engineering Company, Inc., Maiden has developed infrastructure projects for the city of Athens, Ohio University, the city of Nelsonville, Athens County, and many private-sector clients, the release said.

Stanley announced he would seek another term during the Athens County Democratic Party fall dinner in October. He has cited a number of projects he would like to accomplish in the county, such as having all hard-surface county roads. He also stated his intention to continue bridge-work in the county so that no bridges will need replacement by the end of what would be his ninth term if re-elected. One of the major accomplishments Stanley has cited is the new engineer's office facility near Canaanville. This was constructed using funds in part from selling the old engineer's depot on East State Street. Stanley was originally appointed county engineer in October 1979, taking over for Rex Maiden.