Thurber
Estes
SIDNEY — Three candidates are vying for the position of Franklin Township fiscal officer during the Nov. 7 election.
Ronald F. Thurber, 65, of Anna, Jessica M. Estes, 46, of Sidney, and Alexander Berner are seeking election to the office.
Berner did not respond to a request for comment.
Thurber does not currently hold the position and has no prior township fiscal officer experience. He is a maintenance worker and he and his wife have two children.
Estes does not currently hold the position. She is a cemetery business office manager and previously held the caretaker job with Franklin Township. “I feel with that experience and the position I currently hold with another municipality I could bring a unique set of skills to the position,” Estes said. Her husband is Joe Estes, who is running for Franklin Township trustee.
Why are you running for office?
Thurber: “(I am) running to fill the seat that is being vacated.”
Estes: “I would like to give the township a new level of trust and transparency.”
What do you hope to accomplish if you are elected?
Estes: “Public engagement would encourage everyone to become more involved and to be able to voice their opinions and have questions and concerns addressed at the monthly meeting.”
Thurber: “If elected I hope to help keep the township fiscally sound.”
What do you feel needs to be done to make your township be more successful?
Thurber: “We need to keep the Township residents informed and involved to be more successful.”
Estes: “We as a small group would need to work together with the people of the township to make sure that the decisions being made are for the future of the township as a whole. Fiscal officers and trustees alike are working for the people and need to stay involved to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard.”
If elected, how will you open the lines of communication between yourself and the people you represent?
Estes: “I feel being more accessible to the public and encouraging more people to come to the meetings would give everyone a better feel for our local government.”
I spoke with the public on a daily basis when employed with the township previously, and feel being available to listen to concerns is a big part of local government.”
What challenges do you feel your township faces today and in the future?
Thurber: “Future challenges are keeping cost of improvements and maintenance projects down and keeping up with technology.”
