Building a Better Future

 

A little history: I grew up on a forty acre farm learning to work from a young age. I learned early how to manage resources, not only farm resources, but monetary resources. My Father, Mother and I, and eventually my younger brother started in the water business in 1964. We sold and serviced water softeners, well pumps, and pressure tanks.  In 1973, we added drilling rigs, and I learned to run them. We changed the name to Hardman Drilling. Between 1973 and 2016, we drilled over 2000 wells in Ashland, Richland, Wayne, Holmes, Huron, Crawford, Erie and Medina Counties. I have intimate knowledge of the underground aquifers and what water resources we have in Ashland County.

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This is another knowledge set I would bring to the job of County Commissioner. After my Mother and Father retired, I co-owned and ran the business Hardman Drilling, had a payroll, managed and performed the sales, procurement, HR, job completion, accounts payable and accounts receivable all with the assistance of my very competent and capable wife, Lora. In 2018, my Brother and I decided to sell our name to an acquaintance of mine. This freed me up to work part time and focus on family, my Daughter Brittany, who is an Intervention Specialist at Hillsdale and has a Daughter, and my Daughter Whitney who is currently living in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan raising our second Granddaughter. I still work part time in the water industry. In 2023, I was asked to test for and received My EPA water license so I could operate small public water systems. I currently operate 14 Dollar Generals, one factory and a couple small businesses that are on wells, that I also test water for on a quarterly basis. 

 

I served 20 years on the Ashland County Board of Health, being elected 4 times to the Presidency of that board. There, I learned how to manage finances on a larger scale. We handled HR issues, approved expenditures, successfully floated a small tax levy, (I made sure it was a small levy, I hate taxes), made policy for the internal workings of the Dept., hired, and in one case, fired a Health Commissioner that did not share our Ashland County values. We also started the accreditation process while I was there. I am proud of my time spent there.

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I am still on, and a past President of, the Ohio Water Well Association board at the State level. Again, managing a budget, planning yearly conventions and  consulting with State Representatives about water issues.

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I also was employed part time by Blue Northern, a locally owned pipeline patrol Company where I was an official observer flying in Cessna 182’s. Had a wonderful time. I am unofficially involved at the Ashland County Airport attending all of their board meetings.

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So, What does all of this mean to you, the voter? What am I going to do for you? I am who I am. I am a strict Constitutionalist, strongly support the First and Second Amendments. I am not a rubber stamper, I have been accused of holding up meetings for too long, asking pertinent questions about the decisions being made. I ask questions. Why are we doing it this way? I do not accept the answer “because that’s how it’s always been done.” I am somewhat a disrupter. I am a registered Republican but have Libertarian leanings with just a touch of anarchy. I  will patiently listen to public input from all sources. I ran for County Commissioner before, in 2007. At that time, I said “If I’m elected all of you will be County Commissioner.” It’s about time that elected officials in all offices listen to the people that pay their salaries. Besides, some of the best ideas come from the public mind.

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I have a couple of ideas about the Dog shelter as I love dogs and don’t want to see any of them un homed. I would propose that we help more with adoption and maybe figure out a way to incentivize the process. No Paws Left Behind is a wonderful program.

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I am extremely concerned about our out of control property taxes. There has to be a better way. The algorithm being used at the State level to figure taxes is obviously out of whack. It’s bad enough that property values have risen so high that young families can’t afford a home of their own, and crushing property taxes on top of that. That is just one thing I’ll look into. 

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To finish, I will not make promises that I can’t keep or are beyond the scope of County Commissioner. I will, however use the leverage of the office to dig into things that are brought to my attention both at the local and State levels. I am not a politician, nor do I intend to became one.

 

I ask for your vote on May 5th      

 

Thank you. 

Jeff Hardman - Candidate for Ashland County Commissioner