ASHLAND — Brandon Carpenter spent Tuesday evening surrounded by friends, family and members of his campaign team.
By 9:30 p.m., Carpenter’s primary election watch party had reason to celebrate.
According to final, unofficial vote totals Tuesday night from the Ashland County Board of Elections, the 38-year-old claimed victory in the Republican primary for Ashland County commissioner.
Pursuing a seat on the three-member board for the first time, Carpenter defeated incumbent Denny Bittle and additional challengers Jeff Hardman and Burton Williams.
Bittle was seeking his fourth, four-year term as a county commissioner. It was the second time Hardman and Williams sought election to a seat on the board.
- Brandon Carpenter: 1,722 votes (30.87 percent)
- Denny Bittle: 1,520 votes (27.25 percent)
- Jeff Hardman: 1,330 votes (23.84 percent)
- Burton Williams: 1,006 votes (18.04 percent)
“It’s a great feeling. At the end of the day, the people spoke,” Carpenter said Tuesday night.
“It was a hotly contested election and I think Ashland County got out and they voted and they spoke for who was the best candidate,” he said. “I’m excited to represent this community and I can’t wait to give the community a voice in local government.”
The lifelong Ashland County resident said his campaign was a bit more “outspoken” than those of his opponents. Carpenter also said his campaign used social media heavily.
“Social media was really what got the word out there,” he said. “If you look at the other campaigns, none of them utilized social media the way we did and I think that kind of gave us a competitive edge.”
Carpenter has frequently hosted live Facebook conversations throughout his campaign to speak with residents and answer questions.
Also the owner of two businesses — Hollerback Trucking and Carpenter’s Customs, a custom truck building company — Carpenter said several people he spoke with on the campaign trail complained about a lack of communication from commissioners.
If successful in November’s general election, one of the initiatives Carpenter said he would like to start would mirror Ashland Mayor Matt Miller’s monthly updates for city residents.
“I would like to start doing the monthly county updates on social media and speak to residents that way,” he said.
Carpenter will challenge Democrat Sandy Bally in November. Bally was uncontested in the primary, but still received 1,522 votes.
“I just need to roll up my sleeves like I have been and get to work and keep working for this county,” he said. “The people want representation that represents them and they want to have a voice in this community.
“I think as long as I continue to give them a voice in local government and work hard for them I think that’s going to win the election for me in November.”
