James Witker

for Wood County Commissioner

 

James Allan Witker is running for Wood County commissioner on the Republican ticket. He is a candidate for the seat presently held by Alvin Perkins.
 
Witker is a life-long resident of Freedom Township, where he served 16 years as a township trustee. While in that position he served as president and vice president of the Wood County Trustee and Fiscal Officers Association, and was a member of the TMACOG committees for area transportation and the Portage River Basin Council.
 
After graduating from Eastwood High School in 1968, he attended The Ohio State University. A self-employed farmer for the past 39 years, Witker has taken leadership roles in many agriculture related organizations. He has served as president of The Fremont Sugar Beet Growers Association, vice president of the former Pemberville Elevator now County-Line Co-op, and a board member of both Fremont and Bowling Green Pickle and Tomato Growers Association.  
 
He is a life-long member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where he has served as president and trustee. He also is active in the church choir and men’s group.
 
“I believe that Wood County has great potential in the years to come as a leader in agriculture and in the manufacturing sector. Wood County is located within a one-day’s drive to many large population centers of this country, giving us opportunities to supply raw goods or manufactured goods to the large cities,” he said.
 
“We in Wood County need to work together whether on the farm or in our urban areas to understand each other’s needs and goals, we need to keep green spaces in our urban areas and practice good land use management in our agricultural areas,” he added.
 
“I believe that the years I have spent as a trustee and my familiarity with the region will allow me to serve the county well, representing the rural townships as well as the larger cities and villages.  Additionally, my experience in the private sector will help bring a better understanding what business faces in today’s markets.”
 
He and his wife DeAnn have been married 32 years. They have four children and three grandchildren. His children, Amy, Allan, Andy and Arik, and his grandchildren all live in the Freedom Township area.