Van Wert County, OH elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities
Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Van Wert County: 197 seats on 85 elected bodies. 2 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.
Board of County Commissioners
Van Wert County Board of Commissioners
| Office | Who holds it now | Next term |
|---|---|---|
| County Commissioner | Thad A Lichtensteiger Republican source | On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet |
| County Commissioner | Todd D Wolfrum Republican source | |
| County Commissioner | Stan Dean Owens Republican source |
County officers
| Office | Who holds it now | Next term |
|---|---|---|
| County Auditor | Jami S Bradford Republican source | On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet |
| Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas | Cynthia L Mollenkopf Republican source | |
| County Coroner | Scott W Jarvis Republican source | |
| County Engineer | Kyle J Wendel Republican source | |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Dillon W Staas IV Republican source | |
| County Recorder | Kim D Hughes Republican source | |
| County Sheriff | Thomas M Riggenbach Republican source | |
| County Treasurer | Jeffrey Ray McIntosh Republican source |
School Board
Allen Co ESC
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Governing Board Member | Ann B Best source |
| Governing Board Member | Vacant source |
| Governing Board Member | David E. Mayer source |
| Governing Board Member | Lori Ringwald source |
Crestview Local School District Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Lori Ann Bittner source |
| Board of Education Member | Nanette R Grace source |
| Board of Education Member | Bradley Dale Perrott source |
| Board of Education Member | John R Auld source |
| Board of Education Member | Andrew A Perrott source |
Delphos Local School District Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Vacant source |
| Board of Education Member | Wes Ditto source |
| Board of Education Member | Lynn M Bockey source |
| Board of Education Member | Jamey B Wisher source |
Lincolnview Local School District, Boe Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Eric K Germann source |
| Board of Education Member | Lori L Snyder source |
| Board of Education Member | Mark C Zielke source |
| Board of Education Member | Ashley N Breese source |
| Board of Education Member | Michelle Lynn Gorman source |
Mercer County - Educational Service Center
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Governing Board Member | Melissa Hoying source |
| Governing Board Member | Patricia Wendel source |
| Governing Board Member | Vacant source |
| Governing Board Member | Janet Bruns source |
| Governing Board Member | Curtis Hayes source |
Parkway Local School District Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Tory Horstman source |
| Board of Education Member | Aaron R. Tong source |
| Board of Education Member | Eric L. White source |
| Board of Education Member | Amanda Peel source |
| Board of Education Member | Bryan Schoenleben source |
Spencerville Local School District, Boe Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | John Core source |
| Board of Education Member | Elizabeth Klaus source |
| Board of Education Member | Clarke Prichard source |
| Board of Education Member | Spencer R Clum source |
| Board of Education Member | Ryan McMichael source |
Van Wert City School District Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Anthony Joseph Adams source |
| Board of Education Member | Gregory S Blackmore source |
| Board of Education Member | Scott Edward White source |
| Board of Education Member | Anthony Joseph Adams source |
Wayne Trace Local School District, Boe Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Paul R. Dejarnett source |
| Board of Education Member | Jeremy L. Moore source |
| Board of Education Member | Blane Stoller source |
| Board of Education Member | Patrick Baumle source |
| Board of Education Member | Clint Sinn source |
Western Buckeye Esc, Of Esc, Mbr, Wayne Trace LSD
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Governing Board Member | Kevin Wannemacher source |
| Governing Board Member | Derek Miller source |
Also elected countywide
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Governing Board Member | Hazen Kennedy source |
| Governing Board Member | Vicki J Smith source |
| Governing Board Member | William Evan Poe II source |
Who lives in each of the 3 school districts (Census figures)
| School district | People | Median household income | Below the poverty line | Without health insurance | Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delphos City School District | 9,933 | $64,258 | 9.3% | 2.9% | 35.9% |
| Parkway Local School District | 5,885 | $62,161 | 10.4% | 9.5% | 49.9% |
| Van Wert City School District | 13,992 | $61,149 | 11.7% | 3.2% | 37.6% |
Cities and towns
- Clerk Van Wert City
- Clerk- Elgin Village
- Clerk- Scott Village
- Clerk- Venedocia Village
- Clerk- Willshire Village
- Convoy Village
- Delphos City
- Elgin Village
- Harrison Township
- Hoaglin Township
- Jackson Township
- Jennings Township
- Liberty Township
- Middle Point Village
- Ohio City Village
- Pleasant Township
- Ridge Township
- Scott Village
- Tully Township
- Union Township
- Van Wert City
- Venedocia Village
- Washington Township
- Willshire Township
- Willshire Village
- Wren Village
- York Township
How many local governments Van Wert County has
The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 33 local governments in Van Wert 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 (9 municipal, 12 township) | 21 | 27 |
| School districts (school boards) | 4 | 7 |
| Special districts (elected boards) | 7 | 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 Van Wert County
28,826people
41.6median ageU.S.: 38.9
$67,917 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
9%below the U.S.: 12.5%
17.1%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$152,000median home valueU.S.: $332,700
3.4%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
1.3%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
6.5%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
4%U.S.: 8.4%
37%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
17%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%
Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 4.2% · White 91.7% · Black 0.5% · Asian 0.3% · Other or more than one race 3.3% (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 Van Wert County
2.9%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 3.8%. Ohio: 3.3%.
421people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
13,895people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
14,316in the September 2026, preliminary.
Every month, last two years
| Month | Rate | Unemployed | Employed | Labor force |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 (preliminary) | 2.9% | 421 | 13,895 | 14,316 |
| August 2026 | 2.9% | 416 | 14,118 | 14,534 |
| July 2026 | 2.9% | 420 | 13,910 | 14,330 |
| June 2026 | 3.1% | 447 | 13,923 | 14,370 |
| May 2026 | 2.5% | 351 | 13,707 | 14,058 |
| April 2026 | 2.7% | 371 | 13,617 | 13,988 |
| March 2026 | 3.4% | 481 | 13,672 | 14,153 |
| February 2026 | 4.1% | 584 | 13,542 | 14,126 |
| January 2026 | 4.2% | 586 | 13,426 | 14,012 |
| December 2025 | 3.5% | 502 | 13,664 | 14,166 |
| November 2025 | 3.7% | 527 | 13,777 | 14,304 |
| October 2025 | not collected (2025 federal shutdown) | |||
| September 2025 | 3.8% | 543 | 13,709 | 14,252 |
| August 2025 | 4.0% | 580 | 13,933 | 14,513 |
| July 2025 | 4.5% | 656 | 13,926 | 14,582 |
| June 2025 | 4.4% | 642 | 13,809 | 14,451 |
| May 2025 | 4.1% | 593 | 13,749 | 14,342 |
| April 2025 | 4.4% | 627 | 13,621 | 14,248 |
| March 2025 | 5.0% | 722 | 13,611 | 14,333 |
| February 2025 | 5.0% | 718 | 13,606 | 14,324 |
| January 2025 | 4.9% | 710 | 13,728 | 14,438 |
| December 2024 | 3.9% | 571 | 14,002 | 14,573 |
| November 2024 | 5.2% | 775 | 14,084 | 14,859 |
| October 2024 | 3.3% | 485 | 14,121 | 14,606 |
Yearly averages
| Year | Rate | Unemployed | Employed | Labor force |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (11 months) | 4.3% | 620 | 13,739 | 14,359 |
| 2024 | 3.9% | 577 | 14,244 | 14,821 |
| 2023 | 3.0% | 441 | 14,275 | 14,716 |
| 2022 | 3.4% | 488 | 13,905 | 14,393 |
| 2021 | 4.2% | 601 | 13,832 | 14,433 |
| 2020 | 7.1% | 1,038 | 13,657 | 14,695 |
| 2019 | 3.3% | 502 | 14,567 | 15,069 |
| 2018 | 3.5% | 511 | 13,903 | 14,414 |
| 2017 | 3.9% | 575 | 13,994 | 14,569 |
| 2016 | 4.1% | 588 | 13,794 | 14,382 |
Crime reported in Van Wert County
211.0 per 100,0002020. Ohio: 308.8.
1,365.7 per 100,0002020. Ohio: 1,850.3.
2murders2020, 53 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
| Year | Violent | Rate | Property | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 53 | 211.0 | 343 | 1,365.7 |
| 2019 | 39 | 155.3 | 447 | 1,780.1 |
| 2018 | 58 | 230.9 | 427 | 1,699.6 |
| 2017 | 39 | 153.9 | 442 | 1,744.7 |
| 2016 | 38 | 149.7 | 493 | 1,942.6 |
By police agency (2)
| Agency | Year | Violent | Property | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Wert County Sheriff's Office | 2025 | 25 | 76 | 13,600 |
| Van Wert Police Department | 2024 | 26 | 358 | 11,018 |
Quick answers
- Who is the Van Wert County County Auditor?
- Jami S Bradford (Republican) is the County Auditor of Van Wert County, Ohio. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
- Who is the Van Wert County Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas?
- Cynthia L Mollenkopf (Republican) is the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Van Wert County, Ohio.
- Who is the Van Wert County County Coroner?
- Scott W Jarvis (Republican) is the County Coroner of Van Wert County, Ohio.
- Who is the Van Wert County County Engineer?
- Kyle J Wendel (Republican) is the County Engineer of Van Wert County, Ohio.
- Who is the Van Wert County Prosecuting Attorney?
- Dillon W Staas IV (Republican) is the Prosecuting Attorney of Van Wert County, Ohio.
- Who is the Van Wert County County Recorder?
- Kim D Hughes (Republican) is the County Recorder of Van Wert County, Ohio.
- Who is the Van Wert County County Sheriff?
- Thomas M Riggenbach (Republican) is the County Sheriff of Van Wert County, Ohio.
- Who is the Van Wert County County Treasurer?
- Jeffrey Ray McIntosh (Republican) is the County Treasurer of Van Wert County, Ohio.
- Who are the Van Wert County commissioners?
- Thad A Lichtensteiger (County Commissioner); Todd D Wolfrum (County Commissioner); Stan Dean Owens (County Commissioner).
- Who is on the Van Wert County School Board?
- Ann B Best (Governing Board Member); David E. Mayer (Governing Board Member); Lori Ringwald (Governing Board Member); Lori Ann Bittner (Board of Education Member); Nanette R Grace (Board of Education Member); Bradley Dale Perrott (Board of Education Member); John R Auld (Board of Education Member); Andrew A Perrott (Board of Education Member); Wes Ditto (Board of Education Member); Lynn M Bockey (Board of Education Member); Jamey B Wisher (Board of Education Member); Eric K Germann (Board of Education Member); Lori L Snyder (Board of Education Member); Mark C Zielke (Board of Education Member); Ashley N Breese (Board of Education Member); Michelle Lynn Gorman (Board of Education Member); Melissa Hoying (Governing Board Member); Patricia Wendel (Governing Board Member); Janet Bruns (Governing Board Member); Curtis Hayes (Governing Board Member); Tory Horstman (Board of Education Member); Aaron R. Tong (Board of Education Member); Eric L. White (Board of Education Member); Amanda Peel (Board of Education Member); Bryan Schoenleben (Board of Education Member); John Core (Board of Education Member); Elizabeth Klaus (Board of Education Member); Clarke Prichard (Board of Education Member); Spencer R Clum (Board of Education Member); Ryan McMichael (Board of Education Member); Anthony Joseph Adams (Board of Education Member); Gregory S Blackmore (Board of Education Member); Scott Edward White (Board of Education Member); Anthony Joseph Adams (Board of Education Member); Paul R. Dejarnett (Board of Education Member); Jeremy L. Moore (Board of Education Member); Blane Stoller (Board of Education Member); Patrick Baumle (Board of Education Member); Clint Sinn (Board of Education Member); Hazen Kennedy (Governing Board Member); Vicki J Smith (Governing Board Member); William Evan Poe II (Governing Board Member); Kevin Wannemacher (Governing Board Member); Derek Miller (Governing Board Member).
- What is the population of Van Wert County?
- About 28,826 people, with a median age of 41.6; the median household income is $67,917 and 9% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
- What is the unemployment rate in Van Wert County?
- 2.9% in September 2026 (preliminary): 421 people unemployed in a labor force of 14,316, against 3.8% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
- How many local governments are there in Van Wert County?
- 33 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 9 municipal, 12 township, 4 school district and 7 special district governments.
- What cities and towns are in Van Wert County?
- 63: Clerk Van Wert City, Clerk- Elgin Village, Clerk- Scott Village, Clerk- Venedocia Village, Clerk- Willshire Village, Convoy Village, Convoy Village, Convoy Village, Convoy Village, Delphos City, Delphos City, Delphos City, Delphos City, Delphos City, Delphos City, Elgin Village, Elgin Village, Harrison Township, Harrison Township, Hoaglin Township, Hoaglin Township, Jackson Township, Jackson Township, Jennings Township, Jennings Township, Liberty Township, Liberty Township, Middle Point Village, Middle Point Village, Middle Point Village, Ohio City Village, Ohio City Village, Ohio City Village, Pleasant Township, Pleasant Township, Ridge Township, Ridge Township, Scott Village, Scott Village, Tully Township, Tully Township, Union Township, Union Township, Van Wert City, Van Wert City, Van Wert City, Van Wert City, Van Wert City, Van Wert City, Venedocia Village, Venedocia Village, Washington Township, Washington Township, Willshire Township, Willshire Township, Willshire Village, Willshire Village, Willshire Village, Wren Village, Wren Village, Wren Village, York Township, York Township. Each has its own page with its mayor and council.
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