ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Incumbent Belmont County Commissioner Jerry Echemann is running for re-election this Nov. 8.

Echemann, a Republican, is concluding his first term and is running on his record.

“It’s a big job, there’s a lot of aspects to the job and it takes, in my opinion, a couple of years to really learn it and wrap your arms around it. I think I’ve been able to do that,” he said, adding he has established working relationships with officials around the courthouse and other elected officials.

“I feel like I’m there now, in the fourth year of my term, and that’s the advantage I think I have over my opponent. I’ve been a county commissioner now for four years. I know the ropes and how things work where obviously he would have to learn the job of being a commissioner.”

This initial term was Echemann’s first venture into politics, following a career of almost 30 years in television news. He said he is happy for the opportunity to help people.

“I hope they think I’ve done a good job. I’ve worked hard at it,” he said.

“Things move slowly in government. That’s probably the most frustrating part, and you do what you can to try and get things rolling, but there’s a lot of red tape,” he said.

He added he is most proud of the commissioners’ conservative fiscal policy. All three current members are Republicans.

“I think that goes along with being Republican. We watch the dollars very closely, we pay down debt as rapidly as we can,” he said. “The commissioners have only one piece of debt remaining out there, and that would be the Justice Center where the divisional courts are. We owe around $6 million on that, and we’re paying at least $1 million a year.

“That’s one of the traits of the Republican Party is conservative fiscal management. You can’t spend, spend and spend and give, give and give, and I think that’s why the country’s in the shape it is right now, with this higher inflation that we’re all trying to deal with,” he said. “You just have to be conservative, and that doesn’t always make everybody happy, but the most important thing is to keep the county in good financial shape and with as little debt as possible.”

He noted exceptions, such as the board continuing to provide yearly allocations to Wheeling Health Right after the public pointed out the number of Belmont County residents who receive medical services through the agency.

Echemann said he works well with fellow board members.

“We work as a team. We get along very well with one another. We think that as a team. We’re functioning very well,” he said, adding he believes he is up to the challenge of the coming years.

“I think the future looks bright for Belmont County as we emerge from the pandemic. That was one of my big challenges in my first term, just trying to keep us afloat,” he said. “When stores close, we lose the sales tax, which we rely on, but the federal government came through with a lot of money … the American Rescue Plan.”

Echemann mentioned several projects on the commissioners’ agenda, including a new health department facility and new records storage building. He added that the county cannot expect more pandemic recovery funds in the future, so sound fiscal policy will be important in the event of further economic downturns.

“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen,” he said. “I’m rooting for a strong economy.”

Echemann is being challenged by Democrat contender Jack Regis Sr.

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