Nicholas Homrighausen would focus on economic development as Dover mayor
DOVER ‒ If elected mayor of Dover, Nicholas Homrighausen said his priorities would be to strengthen the local economy, keep the community safe and make sure infrastructure is up to date.
"I plan to create and support city policies that will encourage our local businesses to grow and create jobs," he said. "I will work to balance Dover's budget, make forward-thinking investments in our community and reverse the current administration's policy of spending over $600,000 on outside legal services and alienating local businesses."
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A life resident of Dover
Homrighausen, 40, is seeking the Republican nomination in the May 2 primary to run for mayor in the November general election. His squaring off with the current Mayor Shane Gannoe.
A life resident of Dover, he has served as the executive director of community and economic development for the Harrison County Community Improvement Corp. since 2015. He said that during his time at the CIC, he helped to attract more than $2.6 billion in new economic development projects to Harrison County.
He is a 2001 graduate of Dover High School and a 2005 graduate of Muskingum University with degrees in business, economics and political science.
He is the son of former Mayor Richard Homrighausen, who was convicted on theft in office charges in November and was removed from office in January.
His tenure at the Harrison County CIC has been contentious at times. In 2022, two Harrison County commissioners demanded that the CIC fire him over what they claimed was "unethical behavior and dishonesty" or the board would no longer have a contract with commissioners to provide economic development services. The CIC board voted to retain Homrighausen.
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Homrighausen was also an unsuccessful candidate for Tuscarawas County clerk of courts in 2012.
The position of mayor pays $103,056.04 annually.
A focus on Dover's infrastructure
If elected mayor, he said, he would work to keep Dover's bridges, municipal light plant, water, sewer and highways updated.
"Regarding future infrastructure, I will work to reverse Dover's current lack of planning by developing a five-year plan and work to implement the downtown master plan that was started five years ago," he said. "I will also create new plans for a shovel-ready industrial park to attract new businesses, as well as invest in workforce training programs currently provided by the state and local partners."
Homrighausen was critical of the amount of money the city has spent using the Cleveland law firm of Ulmer & Berne to investigate the activities of Richard Homrighausen in 2021, on lawsuits filed by the former mayor against the city and defending itself from a lawsuit filed by Dover Chemical Corp.
Dover Chemical filed the suit in an effort to block enforcement of an ordinance passed by Dover City Council that would require the company to pay a surcharge on any electricity it uses over 100,000 kilowatt hours per month. The case is ongoing.
Homrighausen said he would not comment on ongoing legal cases, but he said the spending is out of control. "It should be a great concern to all residents."
Staying ahead of changing energy policy
He was critical of the current administration's operation of the municipal light plant.
"I think with the current administration's lack of planning and being short-sighted, that if you don't pay attention to the prevailing winds at the national level regarding the ever-changing energy landscape and legislation that, in my opinion, you're going to be very hard-pressed to keep a power plant running whenever it's under attack by different administrations on the national level every four years," he said.
"One thing that's constant in the energy landscape is that it's ever-changing and the policy constantly is changed and you have to stay ahead of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standards. You have to be forward-thinking."
He said Dover's mayor should have a vision to protect the power plant and the jobs there and to look to continue to add customers.
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Asked if thought the investigation of his father and his trial on theft in office charges would have an impact on how people would vote, he responded, "I'm focused on the future, and I believe that the voters have always been focused on the future in Dover. It's always been a very progressive city. In my opinion, it's been the economic engine of Tuscarawas County and the surrounding areas. So I think that the voters can see through that. That's what I'm here for is to continue to move forward and champion Dover to the state, region and throughout the nation."
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Colby Byrom in the November general election.
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Nicholas Homrighausen would work to strengthen Dover's economy
