County

Delaware County Commissioner

Full term commencing 1/1/2027

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A county commissioner is one of three officials who run county government, set its budget and approve its contracts.

Candidates Compare by issue

Ryan Grissinger

Democratic

Founder and CEO of Polaris Pixels, an AI consulting firm · Genoa Township

The gist

Proposes an annual public 10-year growth impact forecast.
Supports requiring developers to fund their infrastructure impact upfront.
Pledges to keep emergency services ahead of population growth.
Proposes requiring data center projects to disclose their corporate owners.
Supports using county sewer, platting and incentives for starter homes.
Supports license plate cameras only with strict, verifiable guardrails.
Pledges to keep the county's share of property taxes small.

More about Ryan

View sources (6)

Proposes an annual public 10-year growth impact forecast.
Plan the Growth. Protect What Matters. | Ryan Grissinger for Commissioner
Campaign website · Friends of Ryan Grissinger · Three Priorities: Plan the Growth · ryangrissinger.com
“Growth Impact Forecast”
Meet the candidates for Delaware County commissioner ahead of May 5 primary
News coverage · Delaware Source · Apr 29, 2026 · delawaresource.com
“impact forecast that projects how current and approved development will affect infrastructure, services and budgets”
Supports requiring developers to fund their infrastructure impact upfront.
Plan the Growth. Protect What Matters. | Ryan Grissinger for Commissioner
Campaign website · Friends of Ryan Grissinger · FAQ: position on Intel · ryangrissinger.com
“development agreements must require developers to fund their proportional infrastructure impact upfront”
Pledges to keep emergency services ahead of population growth.
Plan the Growth. Protect What Matters. | Ryan Grissinger for Commissioner
Campaign website · Friends of Ryan Grissinger · Three Priorities: Protect What Matters · ryangrissinger.com
“emergency services ahead of the rooftops”
Proposes requiring data center projects to disclose their corporate owners.
Data Centers in Delaware County | Grissinger for Commissioner
Campaign website · Friends of Ryan Grissinger · What Ryan will do · ryangrissinger.com
“incentives, or approvals discloses its real corporate parent and beneficial owner … annual reporting against actuals and clawbacks when promises”
Supports using county sewer, platting and incentives for starter homes.
Housing | Grissinger for Commissioner
Campaign website · Friends of Ryan Grissinger · ryangrissinger.com
“tools, sewer, platting, and incentives, pointed at starter homes and the smaller lots they”
Supports license plate cameras only with strict, verifiable guardrails.
Privacy | Grissinger for Commissioner
Campaign website · Friends of Ryan Grissinger · ryangrissinger.com
“strict verifiable guardrails, and no blank checks”
Pledges to keep the county's share of property taxes small.
Taxes | Grissinger for Commissioner
Campaign website · Friends of Ryan Grissinger · ryangrissinger.com
“Ryan will keep the county's slice small and”

Renee Vaughan

Republican

Genoa Township Trustee; former special education teacher · Galena

The gist

Supports planning infrastructure before new development occurs.
Supports responsible budgeting and eliminating waste.
Supports local control by townships, cities and villages.
Pledges to prioritize public safety and support for first responders.
Supports weighing infrastructure and safety impacts in development decisions.
Pledges transparency and accountability in county government.

More about Renee

View sources (1)

Supports planning infrastructure before new development occurs.
Vaughan For Delaware | Delaware County Commissioner
Campaign website · Vaughan for Delaware · Responsible Growth · vaughanfordelaware.com
“infrastructure need to be considered before development occurs rather than constantly trying to catch up afterward”
Supports responsible budgeting and eliminating waste.
Vaughan For Delaware | Delaware County Commissioner
Campaign website · Vaughan for Delaware · A Record of Fiscal Responsibility · vaughanfordelaware.com
“She supports responsible budgeting, eliminating waste, and protecting Delaware County's strong financial position.”
Supports local control by townships, cities and villages.
Vaughan For Delaware | Delaware County Commissioner
Campaign website · Vaughan for Delaware · A Strong Voice for Local Control · vaughanfordelaware.com
“She respects the role of townships, cities, and villages and believes residents deserve a voice in decisions”
Pledges to prioritize public safety and support for first responders.
Vaughan For Delaware | Delaware County Commissioner
Campaign website · Vaughan for Delaware · What will Renee focus on as commissioner? · vaughanfordelaware.com
“Public safety and support for first responders”
Supports weighing infrastructure and safety impacts in development decisions.
Vaughan For Delaware | Delaware County Commissioner
Campaign website · Vaughan for Delaware · Understands Delaware County's Growth · vaughanfordelaware.com
“development decisions need to consider the infrastructure, public safety, transportation, utilities, and quality-of-life impacts”
Pledges transparency and accountability in county government.
Vaughan For Delaware | Delaware County Commissioner
Campaign website · Vaughan for Delaware · What will Renee focus on as commissioner? · vaughanfordelaware.com
“Transparency and accountability in county government”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.