County

Licking 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.

The seat's current commissioner, Richard E. Black (term expiring 12/31/2026), is not on the ballot. Brian Belcher is a certified write-in candidate for this seat.

Candidates Compare by issue

Kathy McLeish

Democratic

Retired educator and nonprofit director · Newark

The gist

Proposes making data centers pay for road damage
Proposes independent EPA study of data centers' long-term damage
Supports data centers paying for power grid costs
Proposes rules for data centers that refuse community benefits
Pledges to address rising costs, homelessness and housing
Supports resident input through the Licking County Forward plan

More about Kathy

View sources (2)

Proposes making data centers pay for road damage
Questions about data centers in Licking County swirl ahead of November election (The Reporting Project, Sept. 15, 2026)
News coverage · The Reporting Project (Denison University) · thereportingproject.org
“They have to pay for the roads that they’re destroying.”
Proposes independent EPA study of data centers' long-term damage
Questions about data centers in Licking County swirl ahead of November election (The Reporting Project, Sept. 15, 2026)
News coverage · The Reporting Project (Denison University) · thereportingproject.org
“They have to pay an independent EPA to find out what the long-term damage is going to be.”
Supports data centers paying for power grid costs
Questions about data centers in Licking County swirl ahead of November election (The Reporting Project, Sept. 15, 2026)
News coverage · The Reporting Project (Denison University) · thereportingproject.org
“if they pay for the power grid that has to be run to do that”
Proposes rules for data centers that refuse community benefits
Questions about data centers in Licking County swirl ahead of November election (The Reporting Project, Sept. 15, 2026)
News coverage · The Reporting Project (Denison University) · thereportingproject.org
“then you start to put some rules in place”
Pledges to address rising costs, homelessness and housing
County commissioner hopefuls McLeish, Van Buren set sights on November (Newark Advocate, May 12, 2026)
News coverage · Newark Advocate · yahoo.com
“rising costs, homelessness and housing are some of many issues Licking County faces and which she would seek to address in the role”
Supports resident input through the Licking County Forward plan
Questions about data centers in Licking County swirl ahead of November election (The Reporting Project, Sept. 15, 2026)
News coverage · The Reporting Project (Denison University) · thereportingproject.org
“residents should give their input on a website called Licking County Forward”

Mark A. Van Buren

Republican

Farmer; Harrison Township trustee · Hebron

The gist

Supports managing growth so costs don't fall on residents
Voted to reduce Harrison Township's inside tax millage
Pledges resources for fire, EMS and law enforcement
Pledges to protect farmland from unchecked development
Supports local communities deciding their own development
Pledges to seek state funding for roads, public safety

More about Mark

View sources (3)

Supports managing growth so costs don't fall on residents
Issues | Citizens for Van Buren
Campaign website · Citizens for Van Buren · Responsible Growth · citizensforvanburen.com
“that growth must be managed so costs don't fall on residents”
Meet the candidate: Harrison Township Trustee Mark Van Buren is ready to address growth in Licking County (The Reporting Project)
News coverage · The Reporting Project (Denison University) · thereportingproject.org
“I’m not against growth. It just has to be done right.”
Voted to reduce Harrison Township's inside tax millage
Issues | Citizens for Van Buren
Campaign website · Citizens for Van Buren · Fiscal Responsibility · citizensforvanburen.com
“As Harrison Township Trustee, Van Buren voted to reduce inside tax millage”
Pledges resources for fire, EMS and law enforcement
Issues | Citizens for Van Buren
Campaign website · Citizens for Van Buren · Public Safety · citizensforvanburen.com
“He's committed to supporting fire, EMS, and law enforcement with the resources they need to protect Licking County families.”
Pledges to protect farmland from unchecked development
Issues | Citizens for Van Buren
Campaign website · Citizens for Van Buren · Farmland & Rural Character · citizensforvanburen.com
“committed to protecting farmland from unchecked development”
Supports local communities deciding their own development
Meet the candidate: Harrison Township Trustee Mark Van Buren is ready to address growth in Licking County (The Reporting Project)
News coverage · The Reporting Project (Denison University) · thereportingproject.org
“The people living in these communities can determine what they want their identity to be”
Pledges to seek state funding for roads, public safety
County commissioner hopefuls McLeish, Van Buren set sights on November (Newark Advocate, May 12, 2026)
News coverage · Newark Advocate · yahoo.com
“collaborating with the state to secure funding for roads and public safety”

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.