Two Genoa Township residents with sharply different backgrounds want to fill the open seat on the Delaware County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 3.

Republican Renee Vaughan, a township trustee since 2020, and Democrat Ryan Grissinger, a first-time candidate who works as a chief technology officer, each told the Delaware Gazette that managing the county's rapid growth is the central issue. They disagree on how to do it.

The seat belongs to Commissioner Barb Lewis, who has served since January 2015 and chose not to seek reelection. Vaughan won the Republican primary on May 5, defeating Sunbury Mayor Joe St. John with 56.73% of the vote, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Grissinger ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

What's at stake for Powell-area residents

Delaware County commissioners control sewer extensions, road funding and economic-development spending, decisions that shape where and how fast housing gets built in Liberty Township, Orange Township and along the Sawmill Parkway corridor.

The county's population hit an estimated 237,966 in 2024, a 23.3% jump since 2015, according to the county's Popular Annual Financial Report. The county’s 2024 financial report outlined nearly $200 million in road-expansion projects over a five-year horizon.

Grissinger: 'Plan the growth and protect what matters'

Grissinger, a six-year county resident, said he has no ties to corporations or developers. He has spent roughly a decade as CTO of a nationwide company, working remotely.

He said about 9,000 housing units are somewhere in the permitting or construction pipeline across the county's unincorporated townships. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) projections cited on his campaign website estimate the county could reach roughly 396,000 residents by 2050.

"The key is finding balance, because they're diametrically opposed," Grissinger told the Gazette. "On one hand, we have the highest median property value in the state. And for a young person who wants to buy their first home, there's not a lot of options."

He said he attended at least one board-of-trustees meeting in every Delaware County township during his campaign. He acknowledged that no Democrat has won a county-level seat in Delaware County in more than 50 years, by his account.

Vaughan: Local control and a broader tax base

Vaughan, elected as a Genoa Township trustee in 2019, said she ran for the seat after residents grew frustrated with development approvals that went against the township's zoning code.

She said her three reasons for running are high taxes, congested traffic and overcrowded schools. All three, she said, stem from development.

Vaughan said only about 23% of county residents both live and work in Delaware County, making it largely a bedroom community. She wants to attract corporate headquarters and manufacturing to diversify the tax base beyond residential property and retail.

"I support local control. I don't think we should have cookie-cutter development throughout the county," Vaughan told the Gazette.

Before entering politics, Vaughan taught special education for 15 years and earned a principal certification. As trustee, she said she has held monthly residents' hours to hear constituent concerns.

What comes next

The winner will join Commissioners Jeff Benton and Gary Merrell on the three-member board. The commissioners typically meet twice weekly at the Historic Courthouse, 91 N. Sandusky St., Delaware. Polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3.