Henry County Commissioner Seats Up For Grabs

David Cordes

Henry County voters will have a chance to cast ballots for two Democratic and two Republican candidates during this year's Spring Primary election, Tuesday March 4.

There are two county commissioner seats open. Each candidate is unopposed in his party primary.

The four face off for the two available seats in the Nov. 4 General Election. Henry County Commissioner (Republican primary)

(Term beginning Jan. 2, 2009) Candidate: David A. Cordes Resides In: Napoleon

Incumbent: No

Family: Single

Native of: Ridgeville Corners area; has lived in Henry County 30-plus years

Education: 1985 Napoleon High School graduate; associate's degree, business management, Northwest State Community College, 1993; bachelor's degree, business management, Spring Arbor (Mich.) College, 1996; chiropractic physician, Cleveland Chiropractic College, 1999

Present employment: Cordes Chiropractic Center, Napoleon, business owner for more than seven years

Robert Hastedt

Civic public projects: Henry County Civil Service Board

Affiliations: Farm Bureau, Henry County Township Association; Napoleon Alive, Inc.; Northwest Networking; North-West Ohio Chiropractic Association; Ohio State Chiropractic Association; St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Napoleon Township

Previously held public office? No

Other experience: Farming: minimal tillage traditional agricultural crops, specialty crops, and livestock

Comments: His objective is to develop a larger, more diversified tax base in the county.

"We need to encourage business investment to develop diversified economic growth. This would create new job growth and increase our tax base to support county services.

"Henry County has under utilized assets- a southern main railroad, abundant northern water supply, etc. My background in business, education, and agriculture will help our county better manage its assets. If elected, I will work diligently to further develop economic growth." Henry County Commissioner

Republican primary)

(Term beginning Jan. 3, 2009)

Candidate: Robert "Bob" E. Hastedt

Resides In: rural Hamler Incumbent? No

Family: Wife, Deborah, sons Christopher and Troy

Native of: Holgate

Education: 1968 Holgate High School graduate

Other experience:

U.S. Army, Vietnam era

Present employment: farmer and business owner

Civic and public projects: president, Henry County South Joint Ambulance District board; Emergency Medical Technician and driver, Holgate EMS

Affiliations: past commander, American Legion Post 454, Ridgeville Corners, past officer and Sunday School teacher, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamler

Previously held public offi

ce: presently Monroe Township Trustee; currently president Henry County Township Trustee Association

Other experience: Tri- County Rural Electric board of trustees; representative to Ohio Rural Electric Cooperative Board; Henry County Solid Waste Management Advisory Board; Henry County Railroad Crossing Safety Committee; past member, Henry County Soil and Water Board of directors and Monroe Township Zoning Board of Appeals

Comments: "Being on the solid waste board, and having the landfill in my township, I am staying abreast of the current changes at the landfill.

"As a member of the railroad crossing committee, I was involved with the change made to a dangerous rail crossing on the bypass around Napoleon.

"I feel these experiences, along with the relationships formed through years of service to the community, have trained me for the position of county commissioner. If elected, I will continue to serve as I have in the past." Henry County Commissioner (Democratic primary)

Robin Weirauch, democratic candidate for county commissioner seat starting Jan. 3, 2009, and Richard C. Myers, incument, running for the commissioner term starting Jan. 2, 2009, did not return questionnaires.

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