DARKE COUNTY — With 100 percent of the vote in from Tuesday’s primary election, Matt Aultman has defeated Fred Dean and Joe LeMaster for the Republican nomination for a seat on the Darke County Board of Commissioners.
According to the unofficial results posted by the Darke County Board of Elections, Aultman was leading with 5,322 votes (52.49 percent). LeMaster was in second place with 3,791 votes (37.39 percent) and Dean in third with 1,026 votes (10.12 percent).
Aultman will face Greenville City Councilman Leon Rogers, the Democratic nominee, in the November 8 general election. Rogers ran unopposed for the Democratic Party nomination.
Incumbent Commissioner Mike Rhoades, a Republican, will be reelected to his seat in November after running unopposed in the primary.
Upon learning of his victory in the primary, Aultman said, “I would like to thank the people of Darke County for voting me to compete for the Commissioner seat in the fall election. This has been the experience of a lifetime and I am looking forward to serving the county when elected this fall. The past nine months has allowed me to learn more about the county and those of you who live and work here. I look forward to what my experiences in agriculture, business, and education can bring to the table to benefit our county.”
He added, “I cannot say it many times over — Thank You — for all your support throughout this process so far, and I look forward to thoughts and comments as I work toward the fall election.”
To his fellow candidates, Aultman said, “Thank you for your thoughts throughout this process as well, it has pushed me to strive to another level. I think the race for this contested seat has brought a new perspective about what Darke County has to offer.”
Aultman, a grain buyer and salesman for Keller Grain & Feed Inc., is President of the Darke County Farm Bureau, Chairman of the Darke County Chamber of Commerce, and a Darke County Fairboard director, among other local organizations.
Aultman said if he is elected in November he would have to give up his seat on the Fairboard, but not on the Farm Bureau.
“The others are private organizations and I can sit on those boards. I retire as board chairman of the Chamber in May so that will change that board position naturally. I have been on that board since 2007,” he said.
