Election results for Grant County council and commissioner

By Reilly Gaunt and Kenzie Ogden

Photo of Jim McWhirt. Photo Credit: jimmcwhirt.com.

While the county council electoral results in Grant County were predetermined, the race among county commissioners in District II had two candidates of opposed parties competing for the seat. 

On the 2024 ballot, three county council at-large seats are available and three candidates are running. 

Jim McWhirt served as an at-large member on the county council from 2005-2018. McWhirt served as the council president for the final ten years of this stretch.

“I feel good about helping our local government be the best it can be and helping out in that area (finances),” McWhirt said. “No time like the present … I just want to be involved and just use my abilities and my experience to help county government run as good as it can.”

McWhirt said that his degree in accounting, experience in auditing and previously held local government positions will equip him to serve again as a councilperson. 

After serving for 12 years on the Eastbrook school board, Greg Brankle said he had an interest in county politics.

“I think I have quite a bit of knowledge on how the county is run,” Brankle said. “Although I don’t know everything, of course … owning a business and being a former member of a school board, I feel like the combination of those two gives me a little bit of insight on how the county works and I’m excited to take a part in that.”

Greg Kitts said he was motivated to run for an at-large member position due to a decision regarding building a new jail.

“It seemed like there’s some people jumping out there and wanting to build a $120 million or $150 million facility, but I really don’t believe our community can afford something that expensive,” Kitts said. “I think we have to have money in order to help these people who haven’t seen the light of day … and I think we’ve still got the|money for programs in order to help these folks.”

While the county council is responsible for fiscal matters, the county commissioners obtain legislative powers and oversee various county boards and departments.

County Commissioners

County Commissioners work as the executive body of the county. In each county, three commissioners are elected based on districts where they reside. 

Shane Middlesworth is a third-generation farmer with deep roots in Grant County. He has served on the Grant County Council, the county government’s fiscal body, for the past 12 years and is their current president. 

Middlesworth said he has no intentions of leaving Grant County and wants to see it improve in his term as County Commissioner. 

“I want to see Grant County, along with all its cities and towns, thrive and grow,” Middlesworth said. 

Middlesworth is running unopposed for the District I Commissioner seat, so his plans for Grant County will begin after he officially takes his place in office. 

“I will bring a focus on strengthening our local economy, increasing assessed valuations and ensuring fiscal responsibility,” Middlesworth said. “By supporting local businesses and prioritizing them for county projects and bids, we can keep money within our community and boost property values.”

As the only Democrat running for office in Grant County, Michael Spaulding wants to be a voice for those who feel unheard in local government. 

“I want to be that person who’s gonna listen regardless of what the topic is,” Spaulding said. “If someone has a concern, whether it’s a pothole or a major ordinance, I want to be the one person they got down there who they can talk to and treat them with respect.”

Spaulding said he felt unheard by the local politicians on issues concerning adding solar near citizen property and getting funding for emergency supplies for the volunteer fire department of which he is President, Treasurer and Deputy-Chief. 

When the primary passed and no democrats were on the ballot for commissioner, Spaulding took the opportunity to fill in the spot. 

At the end of Election Day, Spaulding lost to opponent Chuck Poling at 33.39% of the votes to Poling’s 66.61%. 

Spaulding’s opponent for the District II Commissioner seat, Chuck Poling Jr., declined to comment for this story.