SIDNEY — With petitions certified for the May 8 primary, two area candidates are “officially” annoucing their candidacy for election.

Joe Ratermann, of Sidney, is seeking the Republican nod for the House of Representative’s 85th District seat. He will face off against Justin Griffis, of Sidney, incumbent Nino Vitalie, of Urbana, and Rochiel V. Foulk, of Urbana. The winner will face Democrat Garrett Baldwin, of Mechanicsburg, in the Nov. 6 general election.

Auglaize County Commissioner Douglas A. Spencer, of St. Marys, also announced he is seeking re-election to the office he has held for 12 years. He will face Patrick McGowan, of St. Marys, in the May primary.

Joe Ratermann

Joe Ratermann, currently an at-large member of Sidney City Council, has announced that he will be a candidate in the Republican primary to serve as state representative for Ohio’s 85th District. The 85th District includes all of Champaign and parts of Logan and Shelby Counties.

Born and raised in Sidney, Ratermann graduated from Lehman Catholic. Immediately following high school, he enlisted the United States Marine Corps, where he served as both a combat engineer and as a Marine embassy guard.

Ratermann left the Marine Corps to attend college. After earning a law degree from George Mason University, he served his country another 14 years as an attorney in the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps – including a year in Yugoslavia, another in the Middle East and an additional year in Afghanistan.

Ratermann also served as the Group Judge Advocate to the 1st Special Forces Group. He was also the legal adviser to a Joint Special Operations Task Force.

After more than 22 years of military service and 30 years of travel throughout all 50 states and more than 50 other countries, Ratermann returned to west central Ohio so that his children could grow up learning the values and principles which he found specific to the region of the 85th House District.

In addition to his serving as a city councilmember, Ratermann also teaches American government at Edison State Community College. He has also spent the past three summers as a seasonal National Park Ranger, this past year earning the National Parks Travelers Club Flat Hat Award.

Ratermann is pro-life, pro Second Amendment and supports a fairer system of taxation. He is also a proponent of limited government.

Ratermann believes that his experience working with people from various cultures and nationalities around the world, often in hostile situations, will help him work effectively in Columbus. .

Ratermann fully understands the importance of representing the district in Columbus for all recorded votes. He also understands that much of the important work of state government is conducted by committee, and that it is equally important to be heavily involved within those committees.

“I believe that the most important government is not found in Washington D.C., nor in Columbus,” Ratermann stated in announcing his candidacy, “but rather at the local level. The most important government is that which is found in our townships and counties, villages and cities.”

“We simply must curb the flow of power away from local government to Columbus, and beyond. I want to work to see local government funding restored to pre-2008 levels and to eliminate unfunded mandates,” Ratermann said in making his announcement.

“I believe strongly that government officials are elected to work hard for their communities,” Ratermann said. “Just as I served my country in the military, I will serve the citizens of the communities that make up the 85th Ohio House District.”

Ratermann is a member of the Sidney Rotary Club and the Sidney-Shelby County Opiate Task Force. Active in orienteering, Ratermann has directed a number of local events at Sidney’s Tawawa Park. Ratermann also enjoys camping at state and national parks.

Douglas A. Spencer

Douglas A. Spencer, 46, and a lifelong resident of Auglaize County, is seeking re-election as Auglaize County Commissioner on the Republican ticket. Spencer is currently in his third term of office working for the residents of Auglaize County.

When Spencer first ran in 2006, he said, “My desire is to capitalize on the success that the current commissioners have achieved, in addition to analyzing what more can be done to help lead Auglaize County into the 21st century. The public can rest assured that I will perform the administrative and fiscal duties effectively and righteously to ensure that Auglaize County residents will continue to have a very effective county.”

Spencer will continue to promote that same agenda reflected in his initial campaign agenda.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to serve as county commissioner for the last eleven years. When I look back at what the past board of county commissioners accomplished, combined with what the current board of county commissioners, fellow elected officials and staff have accomplished, it makes me very proud to be part of the Auglaize County team. The success and achievements that Auglaize County realizes are never accomplished alone,” Spencer said.

Spencer acknowledges Auglaize County cannot rest on its laurels and acknowledges there may be times when decisions do not meet expectations. Thus, the board of county commissioners continually reviews, with all its partners, how it can effectively and efficiently achieve its goals.

“The perpetual foundation for success is executing a vetted vision, investing in Auglaize County’s physical infrastructure and information technology infrastructure, maintaining a discipline of fiscal responsibility, providing proper resources to safeguard public safety, and supporting the Auglaize County Economic Development Coalition in its mission to retain and attract business,” he said.

Spencer believes this is the path to preserve Auglaize County’s motto: “Great Past, Greater Future.”

Citing examples of his conservative Republican philosophy in action, Commissioner Spencer has endorsed investing in capital projects without accumulating debt, taking the 10-year .5 percent permissive sales tax question to the voters in 2015, upholding the second amendment right at the county level, and balancing budgets between sixty to ninety “true days cash” in carryover.

“What makes Auglaize County dynamic and notable is that we have a strong agrarian culture entwined with our unmistakable industrial/commercial success,” said Spenceer. “I am very excited to say the board of county commissioners has continually funded the Auglaize County Soil & Water District, as well as the OSU Extension, including 4-H, and increased support for economic development from $10,000 in 2007 to over $300,000 in 2018.”

The son of Janet and the late Charles Spencer said he believes that his desire to serve is a direct result of what his parents over the course of their adult lives believed and practiced, which is to serve and serve graciously. Spencer, who was raised in Noble Township and now resides in Moulton Township, graduated from St. Marys Memorial High School and holds degrees from Bowling Green State University and Wright State University. Additionally, he is licensed to sell property, casualty, life and health insurance and possesses a CDL B driver’s license, allowing him to fulfill his role of substitute school bus driver when needed. Prior to his entry into politics, Spencer taught government for 11 years at Memorial High School.

Spencer is married to Andrea (Nedderman) and the couple has three children — Howie (16), Lucy (14) and Charley (13).

“I hope that Andrea and I have instilled in our children what our parents instilled in us relative to the importance of service and efficacy, and I hope that I have gained the trust and confidence of the voters over these last eleven years as an effective steward who prudently has supported the use of the public’s money to address the public’s needs,” said Spencer.

For more information on the Spencer for Commissioner campaign, visit Facebook and search Spencer for Commissioner or @ReelectSpencer.