Monroe announces run

They can’t make it official for more than a month, but Jay County already has its first contested race for the 2024 election.

Jefferson Township resident Duane Monroe in a press release issued Tuesday afternoon announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Jay County Commissioner south district seat.

“I am proud and excited to announce my candidacy for the Republican nomination for Jay County Commissioner South District,” said Monroe in the press release. “I believe, more than ever, that we need strong leadership that will unite Jay County. For the past few years we have seen dysfunction in how our county government operates and it needs to stop.”

Incumbent Republican Brian McGalliard subsequently confirmed to The Commercial Review that he plans to run for a second term.

"I fully intend to run again, but I feel it’s a little early for me to start campaigning or to make a formal announcement," said McGalliard. "There are some major projects that the county has started since I have been in office, and I would certainly like to see them through to fruition."

The race will be a rematch of the 2020 Republican primary that saw McGalliard receive 1,345 votes (45%) to win a three-way race for the south district nomination. Monroe was second at 1,102 (36.8%) and Barb Street was last at 544 (18.2%). McGalliard went on to defeat independent Bruce Counterman in the general election.

Monroe is a Jay County native who graduated from Jay County High School in 1993. He received an automotive degree from the University of Northwestern Ohio and earned an associate’s degree from Ivy Tech Community College.

He has worked for Jay County REMC for 25 years. He is a member of Jefferson Township Advisory Board, is on the Jay County Road Committee and has coached youth sports.

Monroe pointed to a need for county unity as the key factor that led him to decide to run again.

“If I am elected, I will work with the different county agencies, the cities and towns, Jay County Development Corporation, and other interested parties to create an environment in which we can all be successful,” he said in the release. “I want to be able to say, ‘Look what we accomplished,’ not ‘Look what I accomplished.’ Jay County will win if our leaders agree on a unified vision and work together on fulfilling that vision.”

McGalliard, a Dunkirk resident, owns Pizza King in Portland and is in the midst of his first term as a county commissioner. A 1988 graduate of Jay County High School, he attended Ball State University and bought into the family business in 2006. He previously trained race horses and worked for Prudential Security, and has been a trustee of the Portland Eagles Lodge and Portland Elks Lodge.

County offices up for election in 2024 include the north and south district commissioner seats, three at-large county council seats, surveyor, clerk, coroner and treasurer.

Filing for the 2024 primary elections begins Jan. 10. The deadline is Feb. 9.