Voters place Republican Melissa Bell in commissioner's office
ZANESVILLE − Republican Melissa Bell was elected county commissioner on Tuesday, defeating Democratic challenger John Furek. Bell garnered 72% of the 27,438 votes cast, winning 19,541 votes to 7,473. There was a 50% turnout on Tuesday, according to unofficial numbers by the Muskingum County Board of Elections.
Bell will replace Jim Porter, who chose not seek reelection.
"This is very exciting, I am just overwhelmed by the support," Bell said. "I am very much looking forward to serving the county."
Bell works with her husband Matt on the family farm, a hog, corn and soybean operation north of Zanesville. She works on the financial side of the business, and has extensive experience promoting the agriculture industry.
Bell said it is important to have a voice for agriculture in the commissioners chambers. "Agriculture continues to be the number one industry in our county and state, and having someone in the office that can understand, explain and identify with rural landowners and farmers is incredibly important in this community," she previously told the Times Recorder.
First up is learning the job, she said, and diving deeper into the projects the county is working on, she said. She is also looking forward to working with commissioners Mollie Crooks and Cindy Cameron. "They are both wonderful commissioners, they have done an outstanding job supporting our county. I am looking forward to joining the team and continuing to move the county forward."
Furek said that despite the loss, the Democratic Party in Muskingum County made some headway in the last election. He said he received support from unexpected sources.
"In two years we will be a lot stronger," he said, "the campaign was not a waste." The grueling campaign will preclude him from seeking election in the future, he said. Furek said he hopes the commissioners will focus on rural broadband.
ccrook@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Muskingum County commissioner's race won by Republican Melissa Bell
