ASHLAND – The Ashland County Democratic Party Central Committee has voted to nominate Michael Zickefoose as the party’s candidate for Ashland County Clerk of Courts.
Zickefoose will run against Republican incumbent Deborah Myers in the Nov. 6 election to fill the unexpired term of Annette Shaw, which runs through December 2020.
After Shaw resigned to take a position as Ashland Municipal Court clerk of courts, the Republican party chose Myers to serve as clerk through the end of 2018 and to be the party’s candidate in November. Myers has been in the new role since June.
Zickefoose, 40, said he accepted the nomination because he loves being part of the Ashland community and has spent the past few years trying to be more involved.
Along with his wife, Rebecca, Zickefoose has two children, Gemma and Atticus.
“We just try to be as active as possible to set great examples for other members of the community and also our children,” Zickefoose said.
Zickefoose has served on the board of Ashland Public Library for about four years. He and Rebecca are also active participants in Ashland Main Street, United Way of Ashland County and Liz’s Crusaders Relay for Life team.
“The library has been a good segway into this,” Zickefoose said of his first run for public office. “It’s made me a better person and has made me more connected.”
Zickefoose is also known in the community for his bread-baking business, Brot Baking. He sells his breads at Vines Bakery and at the Saturday Farmers Market at Christ United Methodist Church. He said he enjoys interacting with people through the business.
Though Zickefoose does not have experience in the courts, he believes his 20 years in customer service has prepared him for the role of clerk.
Zickefoose recently began a job in claims processing at Walmart, a role he said gives him experience with paperwork, inventory and organization. Prior to that he worked 12 years as a wireless phone specialist with Walmart, developing his customer service skills and working with vendors.
Ashland County Democratic Party Chair Paula Watson called Zickefoose “a good, young prospect” for the party.
“We’re very happy to have him as our candidate. He’ll make a good candidate,” Watson said. “The clerk of court’s office was run very well by Annette Shaw, but we do feel that it is time that the county has a change in administration in some areas, and he will make a good candidate for that.”
