Republicans choose Vero to run for commissioner

MANSFIELD - Lexington village council member Tony Vero was chosen Wednesday by the Richland County Republican Party Central Committee to replace Dan Hardwick as candidate for county commissioner in November.

Hardwick recently withdrew from the race, saying he had a job opportunity that would conflict with his ability to focus on the campaign, going into the general election. Hardwick, a former county commissioner, was slated to run against incumbent Gary Utt, a Democrat.

Vero was chosen by the Republican Central Committee precinct representatives from around the county as the party's nominee over two other candidates.

He is an attorney at Arcelor-Mittal (Copperweld) in Shelby, working in the area of human resources, labor relations and worker's compensation.

Vero has served on Lexington council since Oct. 15, 2012. His term is set to expire Dec. 31, 2017. He chairs council's rules and personnel committee, and served on its finance and streets/sidewalks committees.

The 37-year-old said he was appointed to council in 2012 after Jeff Price resigned, after having gotten involved in public events, including Lexington's Bicentennial celebration. He later ran for the current full four-year term he is serving.

Vero said he married two years ago and since he and his wife have not yet had children, he "felt the timing was right" to run for countywide seat.

The Republican central committee Thursday chose from Vero, Neil Chitwood and Kevin Nestor as prospective replacements for Hardwick.

Vero stressed to the committee that he has "a passion for Richland County," is qualified to hold public office, having been a councilman, and believes he is electable, given help from the party.

"This obviously is not going to be an easy election. You're running against a three-term incumbent," Vero told the News Journal.

Central Committee Chairman Bob Entenmann said he was pleased to see three strong candidates step forward. "We had three of the best qualified people we could have had," he said.

Two of the three applicants are in their 30s, fitting in with his goal of recruiting young candidates, he said.

"We look to get younger and grow in Richland County (as a party)," Entenmann said. "I see Tony and Neil and I see the future of the Republican Party here."

Entenmann said the party had not yet begun to invest campaign funds for Hardwick, freeing those funds up to help Vero.

The party's major summer fundraiser for November candidates, the Corn and Watermelon, will be held Aug. 27 in Lexington.

A second commissioner's race pits Republican Darrell Banks, who bested incumbent commissioner Tim Wert in the primary election, against Democrat Ron Davis. The current board has two Republicans (Marilyn John and Wert) and one Democrat (Utt).

lmartz@gannett.com
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