POLK — Burton Williams has announced his candidacy for Ashland County Commissioner for the upcoming May Republican Primary.

Williams currently serves as Perry Township Trustee, sits on the board of the Polk-Jackson-Perry Fire Department, and is the National Account Manager at Hedstrom Fitness, LLC.

“Over the past couple of years, I have witnessed leaders take on authority that was never delegated to them by the citizenry,” Williams said. “Although this is most evident in higher office, it is vital to our local community that the leaders we put in office stand by the principals for which they ran on, limited government, in particular.

“When we make exceptions to those principles for short-term gain at the local level, we should not be surprised that those occupying higher office think they can do the same.

“I am a firm believer that government was and always has been ordained by God and the lack thereof always leads to anarchy and pain.”

Williams resides in Polk with his wife, Alisha, and their four children.

He is a submarine veteran of the U.S. Navy, an Ohio State University graduate, and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Ashland for over 20 years.