Athens County, OH elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities
Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Athens County: 187 seats on 81 elected bodies. 2 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.
Board of County Commissioners
Athens County Board of Commissioners
| Office | Who holds it now | Next term |
|---|---|---|
| County Commissioner | Lenny Eliason Democratic source | On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet |
| County Commissioner | Charlie R Adkins Democratic source | |
| County Commissioner | Chris Chmiel Democratic source |
County officers
| Office | Who holds it now | Next term |
|---|---|---|
| County Auditor | Jill A Davidson Republican source | On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet |
| Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas | Candy S Russell Democratic source | |
| County Coroner | Carl Ortman Democratic source | |
| County Engineer | Jeff Maiden Democratic source | |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Keller J Blackburn Democratic source | |
| County Recorder | Jessica Markins Democratic source | |
| County Sheriff | Rodney Smith Democratic source | |
| County Treasurer | Taylor Sappington Democratic source |
School Board
Alexander Local School District Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Ben Ashcraft source |
| Board of Education Member | Jay Barnes source |
| Board of Education Member | Aaron Ramsey source |
| Board of Education Member | Stephen Crook source |
| Board of Education Member | Blake Regan source |
Athens CSD Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Paul Grippa source |
| Board of Education Member | Jason Heinrich source |
| Board of Education Member | Charity Wilhelm source |
| Board of Education Member | David Hayden source |
| Board of Education Member | Robert Rittenhouse source |
Athens-Meigs ESC
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Governing Board Member | Kevin Dugan source |
| Governing Board Member | Donald Frederick Davis source |
Federal Hocking LSD Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Mary Mitchell source |
| Board of Education Member | Gem S Stone source |
| Board of Education Member | Angela R Williams source |
| Board of Education Member | Jennifer Leigh source |
| Board of Education Member | Aaron A Tate source |
Membr Of Educational Service Center - Ohio Valley ESC
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Governing Board Member | Patrick E Lang source |
| Governing Board Member | Randolph W Shrider source |
| Governing Board Member | Robert Jewell Caldwell source |
| Governing Board Member | Mary R Hess source |
| Governing Board Member | Trina L Jackson source |
Nelsonville York CSD Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Micah J Covert source |
| Board of Education Member | Michael S Elliott source |
| Board of Education Member | Albert Brooks source |
| Board of Education Member | Lacey Douglas source |
| Board of Education Member | Gary Ray Edwards source |
Trimble LSD Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Gary W Arnold source |
| Board of Education Member | Carl Fouts III source |
| Board of Education Member | John R Standley source |
| Board of Education Member | Vacant source |
| Board of Education Member | Kayla Simons source |
Warren Local Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Bob Allen source |
| Board of Education Member | Robert Crum source |
| Board of Education Member | Cliff Pettey source |
| Board of Education Member | Stacey Greenup source |
| Board of Education Member | Jesse C Roush source |
Also elected countywide
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Governing Board Member | Gary Dicken source |
| Governing Board Member | John Greg Bailey source |
| Governing Board Member | Jeffrey N Koehler source |
| Governing Board Member | Mick Davenport source |
| Governing Board Member | Edward Mony Wood source |
| Governing Board Member | Steve Wheeler source |
| Governing Board Member | Connie L Talbert Dugan source |
Who lives in each of the 6 school districts (Census figures)
| School district | People | Median household income | Below the poverty line | Without health insurance | Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Local School District | 9,152 | $74,884 | 9.1% | 6.2% | 40.6% |
| Athens City School District | 33,656 | $49,120 | 30.8% | 4.7% | 62.4% |
| Federal Hocking Local School District | 8,681 | $60,919 | 11.4% | 6.8% | 34.4% |
| Nelsonville-York City School District | 8,013 | $55,361 | 14.2% | 8.2% | 48.2% |
| Trimble Local School District | 4,174 | $58,100 | 19.3% | 6.7% | 59.9% |
| Warren Local School District | 14,445 | $78,298 | 9.5% | 7% | 44% |
Cities and towns
- Albany Village
- Alexander Township
- Ames Township
- Amesville Village
- Athens City
- Athens Township
- Bern Township
- Buchtel Village
- Canaan Township
- Carthage Township
- Chauncey Village
- Coolville Village
- Dover Township
- Glouster Village
- Jacksonville Village
- Lee Township
- Lodi Township
- Nelsonville - Statutory City
- Nelsonville City
- Rome Township
- Trimble Township
- Trimble Village
- Troy Township
- Waterloo Township
- York Township
How many local governments Athens County has
The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 43 local governments in Athens County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.
| Kind of government | Census count (2022) | Listed on this page |
|---|---|---|
| County government | 1 | 1 |
| Cities, towns, villages and townships (10 municipal, 14 township) | 24 | 25 |
| School districts (school boards) | 6 | 6 |
| Special districts (elected boards) | 12 | 0 |
About these counts
The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.
Who lives in Athens County
61,737people
33.2median ageU.S.: 38.9
$56,001 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
21.5%below the U.S.: 12.5%
34.9%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$185,000median home valueU.S.: $332,700
6.5%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
3.7%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
5.9%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
5.7%U.S.: 8.4%
57.7%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
22.1%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%
Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 2.3% · White 88.6% · Black 2.2% · Asian 2% · Other or more than one race 4.9% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)
About these figures
The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.
Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.
Jobs in Athens County
4.0%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.9%. Ohio: 3.3%.
1,099people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
26,234people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
27,333in the September 2026, preliminary.
Every month, last two years
| Month | Rate | Unemployed | Employed | Labor force |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 (preliminary) | 4.0% | 1,099 | 26,234 | 27,333 |
| August 2026 | 4.5% | 1,098 | 23,546 | 24,644 |
| July 2026 | 4.4% | 1,079 | 23,359 | 24,438 |
| June 2026 | 5.0% | 1,245 | 23,484 | 24,729 |
| May 2026 | 3.3% | 909 | 26,271 | 27,180 |
| April 2026 | 3.3% | 968 | 28,190 | 29,158 |
| March 2026 | 4.2% | 1,239 | 28,061 | 29,300 |
| February 2026 | 5.4% | 1,625 | 28,225 | 29,850 |
| January 2026 | 5.6% | 1,588 | 26,529 | 28,117 |
| December 2025 | 4.9% | 1,412 | 27,560 | 28,972 |
| November 2025 | 4.6% | 1,353 | 28,213 | 29,566 |
| October 2025 | not collected (2025 federal shutdown) | |||
| September 2025 | 4.9% | 1,381 | 26,993 | 28,374 |
| August 2025 | 5.7% | 1,477 | 24,221 | 25,698 |
| July 2025 | 6.3% | 1,619 | 24,013 | 25,632 |
| June 2025 | 6.3% | 1,625 | 24,244 | 25,869 |
| May 2025 | 5.2% | 1,440 | 26,392 | 27,832 |
| April 2025 | 4.8% | 1,422 | 28,158 | 29,580 |
| March 2025 | 5.9% | 1,710 | 27,512 | 29,222 |
| February 2025 | 6.3% | 1,873 | 27,648 | 29,521 |
| January 2025 | 7.2% | 1,906 | 24,547 | 26,453 |
| December 2024 | 5.1% | 1,487 | 27,416 | 28,903 |
| November 2024 | 5.5% | 1,635 | 27,917 | 29,552 |
| October 2024 | 4.4% | 1,301 | 28,155 | 29,456 |
Yearly averages
| Year | Rate | Unemployed | Employed | Labor force |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (11 months) | 5.6% | 1,565 | 26,318 | 27,883 |
| 2024 | 5.3% | 1,472 | 26,218 | 27,690 |
| 2023 | 4.3% | 1,155 | 25,642 | 26,797 |
| 2022 | 4.4% | 1,166 | 25,536 | 26,702 |
| 2021 | 5.2% | 1,354 | 24,862 | 26,216 |
| 2020 | 7.1% | 1,928 | 25,051 | 26,979 |
| 2019 | 4.9% | 1,404 | 27,495 | 28,899 |
| 2018 | 5.2% | 1,494 | 27,321 | 28,815 |
| 2017 | 5.5% | 1,614 | 27,780 | 29,394 |
| 2016 | 5.9% | 1,705 | 27,391 | 29,096 |
Quick answers
- Who is the Athens County County Auditor?
- Jill A Davidson (Republican) is the County Auditor of Athens County, Ohio. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
- Who is the Athens County Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas?
- Candy S Russell (Democratic) is the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Athens County, Ohio.
- Who is the Athens County County Coroner?
- Carl Ortman (Democratic) is the County Coroner of Athens County, Ohio.
- Who is the Athens County County Engineer?
- Jeff Maiden (Democratic) is the County Engineer of Athens County, Ohio.
- Who is the Athens County Prosecuting Attorney?
- Keller J Blackburn (Democratic) is the Prosecuting Attorney of Athens County, Ohio.
- Who is the Athens County County Recorder?
- Jessica Markins (Democratic) is the County Recorder of Athens County, Ohio.
- Who is the Athens County County Sheriff?
- Rodney Smith (Democratic) is the County Sheriff of Athens County, Ohio.
- Who is the Athens County County Treasurer?
- Taylor Sappington (Democratic) is the County Treasurer of Athens County, Ohio.
- Who are the Athens County commissioners?
- Lenny Eliason (County Commissioner); Charlie R Adkins (County Commissioner); Chris Chmiel (County Commissioner).
- Who is on the Athens County School Board?
- Ben Ashcraft (Board of Education Member); Jay Barnes (Board of Education Member); Aaron Ramsey (Board of Education Member); Stephen Crook (Board of Education Member); Blake Regan (Board of Education Member); Paul Grippa (Board of Education Member); Jason Heinrich (Board of Education Member); Charity Wilhelm (Board of Education Member); David Hayden (Board of Education Member); Robert Rittenhouse (Board of Education Member); Gary Dicken (Governing Board Member); John Greg Bailey (Governing Board Member); Jeffrey N Koehler (Governing Board Member); Mick Davenport (Governing Board Member); Edward Mony Wood (Governing Board Member); Steve Wheeler (Governing Board Member); Connie L Talbert Dugan (Governing Board Member); Kevin Dugan (Governing Board Member); Donald Frederick Davis (Governing Board Member); Mary Mitchell (Board of Education Member); Gem S Stone (Board of Education Member); Angela R Williams (Board of Education Member); Jennifer Leigh (Board of Education Member); Aaron A Tate (Board of Education Member); Patrick E Lang (Governing Board Member); Randolph W Shrider (Governing Board Member); Robert Jewell Caldwell (Governing Board Member); Mary R Hess (Governing Board Member); Trina L Jackson (Governing Board Member); Micah J Covert (Board of Education Member); Michael S Elliott (Board of Education Member); Albert Brooks (Board of Education Member); Lacey Douglas (Board of Education Member); Gary Ray Edwards (Board of Education Member); Gary W Arnold (Board of Education Member); Carl Fouts III (Board of Education Member); John R Standley (Board of Education Member); Kayla Simons (Board of Education Member); Bob Allen (Board of Education Member); Robert Crum (Board of Education Member); Cliff Pettey (Board of Education Member); Stacey Greenup (Board of Education Member); Jesse C Roush (Board of Education Member).
- What is the population of Athens County?
- About 61,737 people, with a median age of 33.2; the median household income is $56,001 and 21.5% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
- What is the unemployment rate in Athens County?
- 4.0% in September 2026 (preliminary): 1,099 people unemployed in a labor force of 27,333, against 4.9% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
- How many local governments are there in Athens County?
- 43 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 10 municipal, 14 township, 6 school district and 12 special district governments.
- What cities and towns are in Athens County?
- 57: Albany Village, Albany Village, Alexander Township, Alexander Township, Ames Township, Ames Township, Amesville Village, Amesville Village, Athens City, Athens City, Athens City, Athens City, Athens City, Athens City, Athens Township, Athens Township, Bern Township, Bern Township, Buchtel Village, Buchtel Village, Canaan Township, Canaan Township, Carthage Township, Carthage Township, Chauncey Village, Chauncey Village, Coolville Village, Coolville Village, Dover Township, Dover Township, Glouster Village, Glouster Village, Jacksonville Village, Jacksonville Village, Lee Township, Lee Township, Lodi Township, Lodi Township, Nelsonville - Statutory City, Nelsonville - Statutory City, Nelsonville - Statutory City, Nelsonville - Statutory City, Nelsonville - Statutory City, Nelsonville City, Nelsonville City, Rome Township, Rome Township, Trimble Township, Trimble Township, Trimble Village, Trimble Village, Troy Township, Troy Township, Waterloo Township, Waterloo Township, York Township, York Township. Each has its own page with its mayor and council.
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