2024 Candidates
My name is Jennifer Kimmey. I am excited about running for Morrow County Recorder to serve the community where I grew up as a sixth generation Morrow County resident. While this office is considerably smaller in stature than offices I have managed in the past – I find it no less important because this is a grass roots job which deserves the same respect and management as larger federal services. I have two boys 20 and 24. My oldest is Charles Shearer who is completing his final year of medical school and will serve as a Navy Doctor for his residency. Samuel Shearer is a yacht hydraulic mechanic and just completed his initial internship for certification.
I retired from the US Army after 25 years attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel commissioned as a Finance and Accounting Officer. I managed multiple finance offices with most notably, the United States Treasury at NATO Belgium with 50 employees. I was later selected to serve as a diplomat working for seven US Ambassadors as a military advisor and foreign military sales manager. After retirement I obtained my teaching certification and taught Army JROTC, AP US Government and Politics, Economics, and World History. I worked for Broward County Schools for five years and Nova Southeastern University for three years. I also have a BS in Hospitality Management/Business, a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters in National Security /Political Science.
My goals for the office are consistent with the successful offices I have led in the past – leave each one better than found. Ways I have achieved these goals are focusing on: customer service, efficiency, accuracy, technical updates, county collaboration, researching best practices in our countries, community need awareness, teamwork, and transparency.
Being a Republican for me is supporting personal freedoms allowed by the US Constitution, a Free Market Economy, minimalist government interference to personal and business pursuits, reduction in unnecessary government regulation which creates roadblocks to growth and finally, fiscal responsibility. In life, I follow the “Golden Rule” treating people the way I want to be treated. Reciprocal respect is a dwindling quality in today’s society.
Question: What is your family and professional background?
Answer:
I was born and raised in a conservative Christian home in Zanesville, Ohio. I graduated from Zanesville Christian High School in 1981.
My entire career (31 years) has been working with real estate documents, preparing them, having them properly executed and ensuring they are recorded correctly. I have hand-delivered land documents to many different Ohio County Recorder’s Offices throughout my years in this business. So I have extensive experience with the documents that become public record and then held in trust with the Recorder’s Office. For me, running for this office is not as much a political race as it is a job interview. I plan to take my 31 years of land records experience from the private sector and bring it into the public sector as your next custodian of the recorded land records for Morrow County.
Question: What goals do you have for the office?
Answer:
- Expand the Veteran’s DD214 recording program. Look at getting a printer that can create State ID cards for veterans like what our neighboring Delaware County has. That may entail needing to explore grants as the printers are costly.
- Public seminars with land owners to educate and inform them on the different types of land ownership and what is right for them based on their personal situation.
- Also public seminars to educate land owners about the constant threats of fraud to defraud them of the title to their property through the internet, direct mail, phone calls, text messages and even sometimes in person. Working in the real estate title industry has given me much insight into these schemes and how they are perpetrated on unsuspecting homeowners.
- Review the technology being utilized and insure that we are on top of the latest trends to make sure that the office is running at optimal efficiency.
Question: How would you define a Republican?
Answer: Republicans come in all shapes, sizes, colors, backgrounds, religions, familial situations, etc., and therefore, it would be difficult to list all of the attributes that contribute to a person's political beliefs. We are all unique individuals shaped by our life experiences that make us who we are today. A Republican is simply someone who is registered as a member of the Republican party with their local County Board of Elections. Even though some Republicans may share certain core beliefs, others may disagree on certain issues. This doesn't make them any less of a Republican; it just means that there are different types of Republicans.
Thank you,
Jerry Newell
Republican candidate for Morrow County Recorder
I am a lifelong Morrow County Resident, born at Morrow County Hospital. My Grandfather Noel Monk was the first person to Drill Oil in Morrow County.
Graduate of Mt. Gilead High School and Tri-Rivers Career Center.
I have been Married 1 time and we will celebrate 39 years in July.
We have 2 grown boys, 2 daughters-in-law and an 8 yr old Grandson.
I have worked in the same dental practice for 33 years.
I have a financial background managing for $100,000 a month and I also do patient care. So dealing with the public my whole career. I have prepared and update all manuals for OSHA, HIPAA, X-rays and Infection Control. Verifying Ohio Revised Codes codes each year for changes. And I do payroll.
I was appointed by Judge Hickson in 2019 and again in 2022 as a Board Member for the Morrow County Park District and am in my 3rd year as treasurer. I work with the Commissioners, the Auditor’s office and Treasurers office. I use the same process as other county offices as I am required to prepare a budget each year, use the same PO and voucher systems and I already know how to read the reports.
I have been a volunteer trustee with the Morrow County Conservation club educating and teaching adults and kids in safe handling and using guns, bows and arrows, fishing, trapping and conservation since 2019.
I have been a member of the Morrow County Republican Women’s organization since 2021 and am the current Treasurer.
And Pianist at First Baptist Church in Mt. Gilead.
The Recorders office has been running great. With all the past records scanned, I would continue with the fast turnaround time for recording, scanning and processing all documents received and requested. As changes are coming there may be a need to add more public-use computers and workstations.
Promoting to the public to Protect their Property and receive fraud alerts by signing up to be with “Property Check”.
Updating the Morrow County Recorders Website.
To me a Republican is a God Fearing Conservative who will protect the unborn and birthed child the same, keep small businesses in business, Use the public’s money wisely, believes a man is a man and a women is a women. Believes that the country is owned by the people not the government. We are all equal not put into categories like color, race or religion.
1) What is your family and professional background?
I am a lifelong Morrow County resident and currently live in the village of Mt Gilead with my Wife Mandy and 3 daughters (Laney, Chloe, Emmalynn), I also have a son (Gabriel) that lives in heaven. I was blessed to work in public safety for over 20 years and currently work full time in the private sector as a quality/safety coordinator, on my 9th year as a village council member for Mt. Gilead, serve on Morrow County Republican central committee, and help public safety personnel with peer support.
My goals for Morrow County Commissioner are to have open and honest communication with all elected officials with Morrow County, townships, villages, and citizens of Morrow County. I will work with others to have a solid vision for the future of Morrow County.
I would define a "republican" as being conservative, strong moral compass, leadership by example, believe in law and order.
Chris Sherbourne
Candidate for Morrow County Commissioner
1. What is your family and professional background?
I am a lifelong Morrow County resident. The youngest of six children. I am married (Ronda) and have five children (Jeremy, Jason, Andrew, Kendra, and Kirstin). Ronda and I are blessed with ten grandchildren.
I went to elementary school in Iberia, Junior High and High School in Mt. Gilead. I graduated from Mt. Gilead in 1976. I attended The Ohio State University graduating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. I taught ten years (10) in Marengo. In 1985, I received my Masters of Arts degree in Elementary Administration, from The Ohio State University. I then moved to the Morrow County Board of Education and was an Elementary Supervisor for a year and three years (3) as Highland Local School Curriculum Director. The next thirteen (13) years was spent at River Valley Local Schools as an Elementary Principal and then three (3) years back in the classroom before retirement.
2. What goals do you have for the office?
I would like to see controlled development yet keep the rural feeling that Morrow County is known for, the best of both worlds.
3. How would you define a “republican” ?
A republican is a person who believes in conservative social policies, less government control, free market, free trade while striving for individual rights, freedoms, and responsibilities. A republican must follow the rule of law and follow the true Constitution of the United States.
1. What is your family and professional background?
Brandon Joel Strain, 42, resides in Cardington, born and raised in Morrow County. Attended Mount Gilead Schools.
My professional background is as follows: 24 years of working with Morrow County’s Real Estate, Mapping and Records. in the Morrow County Engineer Tax Map Department.
- Associates Degree - Marion Technical College (Business Management/Real Estate)
- Certificate of Computer Aided Drafting Specialist - Marion Technical College
- Professionally Licensed REALTOR and Auctioneer
- Political Experience: Mt. Gilead Village Council Member, Cardington Township Trustee
- Morrow County Courthouse Safety Board
- Morrow County Technical Review Board and Subdivision Board
2. What goals do you have for the Office?
For the office, I want to be able to take the technology in place and elevate it to the next level for the public to be able to use and access. Providing the simplest way possible for those who need to access the office in house or outside.
3. How would you define a "republican"?
I would define a republican to be hard working dedicated to helping give those the rights and freedoms of this country.
My Family background:
I am engaged to a wonderful man Lee Campo, who has is my support and encouragement. I have two great adult children Abraham Candel and Ameleah Morris, both who have blessed me with granddaughters, Braelyn Candel and Mallory Morris and baby Claire Morris who hasn’t arrived yet. They are the light of my life.
My Professional background:
Everything I have done has given me qualifications for this position. I, co-owned a business in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and worked with spreadsheets, finances and invoices. While working customer service jobs in the retail industry, I learned to interact and speak with people every day. Later in life, I received a degree in Medical Records, Billing and Coding from Marion Technical College. Using my degree, I worked at Marion Correctional Institution for 4 years, accurately and efficiently keeping medical and mental health records both online and on paper. For the last 5+ years I have worked at the Marion County Recorder’s Office as a Deputy Recorder and the Customer Service Manager. My training there has been from two former recorders and one newly appointed recorder. While there, I have worked on two major projects, the first being The Veterans Grave Index, and the second being The Century Farms Project. My experience comes from working at the front counter taking in documents and working with the Ohio Revised Code. I am involved in the community by volunteering my time at my church here in Mt. Gilead. I help with Blood Drives, bazaars, baked goods, face painting and silent auctions.
If you have further questions about my experience, please see a more detailed list on my website: vanderkooiforrecorder.com
My goals for the Recorders office are to keep it running smoothly and correctly, handling the upswing of day-to-day business as the county grows and further develops. I will be helpful to other departments and local entities. I will serve Morrow County with integrity & transparency. As for modernizing and updating, I will stay within the budget designated. As a long-term goal, due to the importance of our Veterans, I would like to one day implement a Veterans ID program. This program could be used for other badge related vocations within Morrow County offices.
My definition of a Republican is someone who is conservative, holding traditional values, business oriented, and for the people, doing what is right for our county.
1. Family and Professional Background
I am at least a fifth generation Morrow County resident on my mother’s side with ties to the Mount Gilead and Johnsville area, while my father is a transplant from Toledo. I was born at the Morrow County Hospital and was raised in Morrow County, graduating from Mount Gilead High School in 2004 as a captain of the state qualifying cross country team and state qualifying mock trial team. My wife, Laura, is a 2003 Mount Gilead High School graduate and seventh generation Morrow Countian. When we got married, we chose Morrow County as the place we wanted to raise our family. We live in Mount Gilead with an eight year old son, Aiden, who attends Mount Gilead and a dog, Tavish, we rescued from the Morrow County Dog Shelter.
Politically, my family has been Republican on both sides for numerous generations with my maternal grandfather, Dale Hildebrand, being a Republican State Representative in the 50’s. Personally, I have voted in every election since I turned 18 except for twice when I was in college and planned to come home but was unable due to my job as a resident assistant prohibiting me from leaving campus and not having requested an absentee ballot. I have been a registered Republican since I first registered when I turned 18 and have volunteered for numerous local, state and national campaigns including those of George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, Troy Balderson, Bill Reineke, and Riordan McClain.
Professionally, I have experience in all areas of law having had a private practice for 11 years during which time I handled over a thousand criminal cases ranging from speeding tickets to aggravated murder. As a defense attorney I achieved enough trial experience, success and training that I was certified by the State of Ohio to represent people facing the death penalty, a certification less than 1% of attorneys hold.
After I left private practice, I have been a magistrate and oversaw the litigation of civil protection orders that are so important to protect victims.
I have been the legal counsel for the village of Chesterville since 2015.
Most recently I have been an assistant prosecuting attorney in Richland and Licking Counties. I have handled all manner of felonies and am the only candidate in this race to have prosecuted a murder trial. In addition to Aggravated Murder, I have tried 20 other felony counts to a jury and achieved a 90.5% conviction rate of cases taken to trial, including the murder which resulted in the defendant being sentenced to life in prison without any chance of parole.
Currently, I am entrusted with prosecuting serious violent felonies and sex crimes committed against minors in Licking County.
While it was not required, when I became a prosecutor, I sought out and completed trauma informed training to better help me to be able to assist victims who I interacted with to overcome hesitancy to testify, fear of the process, and to minimize re-traumatization as they face the possibility of reliving some of the worst moments of their lives at trial when a trial is necessary to achieve justice for them.
Finally, I am published with a law review article relating to death penalty subject matter.
2. Goals for the office
I plan to make the Morrow County Prosecutor’s Office more transparent by establishing a Facebook Page to share information from the office like many surrounding counties have.
I plan to budget for a temporary assistant prosecutor who will be tasked with helping to resolve the Hidden Lakes issues and will work with the numerous agencies, and office holders who are working to make that happen.
I plan to work with our amazing law enforcement community to resolve cases and restore the willingness to fight for and win at trials to get justice for victims in Morrow County while making the prosecutor’s office a place of support and guidance for victims instead of its current lack of communication and source of frustration and further victimization.
I plan to make the office more accessible for those who rely on the prosecutor’s office for legal advice by being in the office before the prosecutor’s office opens daily as well as being available after the office closes when there is a need.
3. Define a Republican
To me being a Republican is to value individual rights and believe the purpose of the government is to be a help to individuals by protecting their rights while not interfering with their freedoms. It is spending on matters when the return outweighs what is spent. And it is remembering the fundamental concepts on which the United States was founded.
Thanks for giving me this opportunity.
Andy