Jenny Wells named Licking County prosecutor
The Republican Central Committee unanimously selected Jenny Wells as Licking County's new prosecutor during a meeting Monday night.
The election comes after former Licking County Prosecutor Bill Hayes retired mid-way through his term, which was set to expire at the end of 2024. The Licking County Commissioners appointed Wells as interim prosecutor about a month ago.
During Monday's meeting, Wells received a nomination from Licking County Auditor Mike Smith. His nomination was seconded by Etna Township Trustee Rozland McKee.
"Jenny is quite familiar with the office, has served under a couple of different county prosecutors over the years, and she certainly understands the county elected officials' needs, as well as the township trustees, therefore I nominate Jenny Wells," Smith said.
After receiving a unanimous vote of support, Wells thanked the group for their support from her appointment to election. She said she's dedicated to the job and a hard worker who has lived in the community for 22 years. She said she and husband Doug Wells, who works as a police officer at Newark Division of Police, have been married 20 years and together have two children.
Wells said she'll seek to improve communication in her office with township trustees and county officials, and improve the representation the office provides its community. She said she'll also focus on recruitment. She explained the office has struggled to keep and acquire experienced prosecutors in recent years, but noted she recently hired a felony and juvenile prosecutor.
"The bottom line - My prosecutors office will be engaged in the community. We will endeavor to protect and that's help ensure our safety in our community, that is seeking aggressive prosecution for violent offenders and drug dealers and asking for harsh sentences for those folks," Wells said. She said her office will engage in some prevention education, planning on going into community, talking to children, elderly and developmentally disabled to empower them to protect themselves.
With change and growth coming, Wells said there will be an increased demand for services and prosecution. Her appointed term last through 2024 when she said she plans to seek election to the office. Wells said she has already begun fundraising for that race.
During the meeting, Licking County Board of Elections Deputy Director Brian Meade said numbers are down for in-person voting. He estimated about 3,000 people have voted early in-person at their office in Licking County.
For the presidential election, Meade said 30,000 people voted early in person. He said he's hoping to get 15,000 from early in-person voting. He said his office estimates about 16,000 ballots received for mail-in voting.
"We need to get as many people out to vote - the earlier the better," Meade said. He went on to explain their office plans on having extra machines placed out for the election. He added the ballot for this election is a long one, including two issues.
Meade also encouraged people voting absentee to make sure their ballot is postparked before the day of the election or to drop it off at the Licking County Board of Elections office in downtown Newark.
At end of the meeting, Republican Central Committee officials announced Wells will be sworn in 3 p.m. Friday in Licking County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Marcelain's office.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Jenny Wells named Licking County prosecutor
