Party: Rep
Occupation: Clermont County Commissioner
Position you are seeking: Re-election to Clermont County Commissioner
Work Experience: Commissioner David Painter has been a full time Commissioner since taking office in 2017. He is the President of the Clermont County Board of Commissioners for 2024.
Mr. Painter’s previous experience includes a forty-year career in project management, construction, engineering, and environmental restoration. He has held numerous key positions in government and private industries.
Commissioner Painter represents Clermont County on various boards including the Environmental Protection Agency Local Government Advisory Council, Vice President of the County Commissioner’s Association of Ohio (CCAO), and is a member of the Area 12 Work Force Investment Board of Directors (WIBBCW).
Commissioner Painter and his wife, Karla, are lifelong residents of Clermont County, Ohio. They have been married for over 45 years and have three children and six grandchildren.
Mr. Painter received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio.
Education: Bachelor of Science Degree – University of Findlay, Ohio
Campaign email: paintbrush507@gmail.com
Website: electdavidpainter.com
Facebook: David Painter for Clermont County Commissioner
Age: 66
What in your background qualifies you to serve in this position?
Mr. Painter was elected in 2016 and is currently serving his 2nd term after being re-elected in 2020. In his capacity as Clermont County Commissioner, he has responsibility for general administration of county government. He provides leadership and collaborative management to improve the community in which we all live. He is committed to “raising the bar for all Clermont County citizens.” He is responsible to adopt the annual budget, levy taxes, provide annual appropriations for county offices and approve county expenditures.
Why are you running for this position?
Although Clermont County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family, we can do so much better. Although new infrastructure like the Bethel – Batavia Pipeline, the Wayne Township Sewage Treatment Plant, and improved roads and bridges have started to make a difference, a lack of infrastructure is still holding us back. To improve the life experience in our county, we must make investments in our infrastructure. In addition, the opiate epidemic continues to impact our county. After taking on the opiate distributors and manufacturers and winning a multi-district lawsuit, the ball is in our court to use the money to ensure we don’t lose another generation of young men and women to substance use disorder. I will work hard to ensure that our path forward includes crisis intervention, prevention and education. We have one chance to do this right. I want to ensure we do just that.
What is your platform?
No increase to Clermont County sales tax. We currently outperform our surrounding counties with a 6 ¾% sales tax. Let’s keep it that way
I will defend our Constitution, the Bill of Rights and our fundamental freedoms. No exceptions.
Clermont County will always operate on a balanced budget.
We will continue to make Clermont County a great place to live, work and raise a family.
What are the most pressing issues facing Clermont County that come before someone who is elected to the position you seek?
Clermont County is one of the few counties in Ohio that continue to grow. Housing availability will be a challenge in the future. Townships, villages, cities and the county will need to work together on this issue to ensure our next generation of workers has a place to call home. Infrastructure is needed to ensure we are ready for the future. Whether it’s broadband access, highways, gas lines, sewer or water the next generation will need infrastructure that works.
If elected, what would you seek to enhance and improve Clermont County?
Although we are a county experiencing growth, we can never forget our Appalachian roots. We love green spaces, parks, lakes, walking paths, and sports venues. An improvement that could greatly enhance Clermont County would be a lodging option at East Fork Lake. Our Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has studied this option and the commissioner’s office would love to work with them. A recent study has identified a need for water and sewer infrastructure south of SR 125. This area has been underserved for years. Let’s not forget, SR 32 has taken too long. We need to expedite this work anyway we can.